Poulet de Bresse may be produced only from white chickens (the Bresse de Bény variety) of the
Bresse breed, raised within a legally defined area of the historic region and former
province of
Bresse, in eastern France. The area is roughly rectangular, approximately by , and includes parts of the
départements of
Ain,
Jura and
Saône-et-Loire, in the
regions of
Rhône-Alpes,
Franche-Comté and
Bourgogne respectively. It lies mainly between the towns of
Mâcon,
Chalon-sur-Saône,
Dole and
Lons-le-Saunier;
Bourg-en-Bresse is within the area.
Lyon is not far to the south, and
Dijon not far to the north. Approximately 1.2 million poulet de Bresse birds are produced each year, about 0.1% of the total annual production of chickens in France; about 10% are exported. The chickens are raised under strict controls. There are about 200 breeders; each must have a minimum of 0.5 ha of pasture in the area of production, and allow a minimum of 10 m2 per bird. Each bird must pass inspection by the Centre de Sélection de la Volaille de Bresse, the only breeding centre for the Bresse chicken. The birds are kept free range for at least four months. From about 35 days they are fed cereals and dairy products; the diet is intentionally kept low in protein so that the birds will forage for insects. They are then "finished" in an épinette, a cage in a darkened fattening shed, where they are intensively fed on maize and milk.
Poulets or
pullets are fattened for two weeks, and slaughtered at a minimum age of four months and a minimum weight of ;
poulardes or large hens are fattened for four weeks and slaughtered at five months, when they weigh at least ;
chapons or
capons are also fattened for four weeks, and are slaughtered at eight months or more, at a minimum weight of . The birds are marketed with the head and characteristic slate-blue legs, traditionally a sign of authenticity. The left leg carries a metal leg-ring with the name of the producer. Poulet de Bresse commands premium prices. In 2002 producers of poulet de Bresse received an average of €4.00 per kg (whole chicken, ready to cook); comparable prices received by producers of organic and standard chickens were €2.70 and €1.60 respectively. Retail prices are much higher; a price of £19.50 per kg was reported from London in 2011. == References ==