New genes for the poultry flock : Black, grey and white La Bresse

Black La Bresse

There has been steady demand for my white Bresse Gauloise hatching eggs during the last three years and the surplus are sold in the village or at the gate. Twenty hens have produced a bigger margin in that time than the sheep unless you count the the "Single Farm Payment" and the "Less Favoured Area Supplement" as earned by the ewes.

To maintain the genetic variation of the flock I have to bring in some new genes, in the past this has been from Ireland. France and Germany. This year its Germany and I have ordered eggs from Ralf  Jakob in Gutersloe. I am wondering if I should also import some black La Bresse eggs.

Scarcity and rarity is attractive to small domestic poultry keepers and as far as I know there aren't any black La Bresse hens in the UK. I did bring some back

Grey La Bresse

from Burgundy in 2010 but they were all killed by a mink. Keeping two breeds complicates life, they have to be kept apart in the breeding season and this means more fences and housing.

On the other hand there could be strong demand for fertile eggs and it would entail a trip to France to get them as the only source I know of is in Burgundy where these photographs were taken.