Content
The French breed of Barbézier chickens, bred in the Middle Ages in the Charente region, is still unique among the European poultry population. It stands out in everything: color, size, productivity.
Nowhere is it indicated why this breed practically became extinct by the end of the 20th century. Most likely, due to the emergence of large poultry farms, which required rapid growth and rapid turnover of generations from chickens, and not the unique appearance and special taste of meat.
But by the end of the twentieth century, trends towards the consumption of rustic, “organic” as they are called in Europe, products began to prevail. And village chickens also became in demand. Fortunately for the breed, a group of enthusiasts united in 1997 and began reviving the Barbesier chickens.
Thanks to this association, the Barbeziers were revived, and their meat again took its rightful place in the chicken market.
The Americans, sensing a profit, quickly became interested in this bird. They realized that this breed, even if it did not make it onto the chicken market, would be in demand by poultry farmers who loved rare breeds. A small group of Barbeziers was exported to the USA, where they are now being promoted on the market of rare breeds and high-quality chicken.
In Russia, a small population appeared simultaneously with the import of these chickens to the States.But only private amateurs became interested in this original breed. The same lovers of rare breeds as potential buyers of Barbezier in the States.
Story
Chicken scientists agree that the breed arose as a result of crossing only local breeds with subsequent selection for productive indicators. Before the development of capitalism, no one tried to raise poultry on an industrial scale, and chickens lived on pasture and were even found in poor families.
Although poultry was not considered meat in those days. Since the chickens grew on their own, no one was concerned about their early maturity. This circumstance later played a cruel joke on Barbezier: at a time when every penny began to be counted, large, but very late-ripening birds ceased to be in demand.
Descriptions of the Barbezier chicken breed always emphasize their high adaptive abilities to various climatic conditions. Barbezier developed this ability due to the climatic conditions of the region in which the breed was bred. The Charente department has a rather harsh climate. Many swamps and the proximity of the sea coast provide high air humidity not only in summer, but also in winter. Winter cold, superimposed on high humidity, creates a dank dampness, which is many times worse than dry frost. But the breed was formed precisely in such conditions. The dank dampness has hardened the Barbeziers, who are now not afraid of even quite severe frost, as long as they are dry.
Standard
In the photo, the Barbesier chicken breed rooster looks very long-legged and “athletic.”In fact, long legs are a distinctive feature of the breed, which is the tallest in Europe. Barbeziers are tall due to their long legs, but the bird itself is classified as medium-heavy. Roosters weigh 3-3.5 kg, chickens - 2-2.5 kg. Meat-egg direction.
The head is small, with a large crimson crest. The height of the comb can reach 7.5 cm, length 13 cm. The earrings are long, crimson in color. The face is the same. The lobes are white. Chickens have relatively small lobes, but the comb is not inferior in size to a rooster's. In roosters, the lobes grow very long, level with the earrings. When the rooster shakes his head, all his decorations create a rather funny picture.
The eyes are large and brown. The beak is long, black with a yellow tip.
The neck is long, set vertically. The cock holds its body almost vertically. The body shape is Shark. The chicken has a more horizontal body. The top line of the rooster is completely flat. The back and lower back are wide. The chest is well muscled, but this point is hidden by the toned abdomen, which is clearly visible due to the high-set body. Shoulders are broad and powerful.
The rooster's tail is long but narrow. The braids are short and do not cover the outer feathers. Barbezier chickens, as can be seen in the photo, have a very short tail, set almost horizontally.
The legs are much shorter than those of a rooster. The body is wide, with a well-developed belly.
The thighs are well muscled. The metatarsals of birds have wide, long bones, the skin on the metatarsus is gray in color. There are 4 toes on the paw widely spaced at equal distances.
The color is always black with a green tint. White lobes in combination with a crimson comb and earrings give Barbezier a special charm. The plumage fits tightly to the body, helping the birds stay dry during rainy periods.
The owners claim that this is due to the heavy weight. But 3 kg is not so much that a chicken cannot fly over a 2-meter fence. Therefore, there are other reviews where farmers directly say that chickens need to have their wings clipped. According to the second version of the description, Barbezier is a very restless bird and is prone to flying over fences.
Defects leading to culling from the breeding herd:
- light legs;
- white patches in plumage;
- orange eyes;
- lobes of any color except white;
- five-fingered;
- a littered rooster's comb.
The defects mainly indicate signs indicating that the bird is not purebred.
Productivity
The description of Barbezier chickens states that they lay 200-250 large eggs per year. The weight of one egg is more than 60 g. The egg production period begins at 6-8 months. Meat productivity is worse. According to reviews of the Barbezier chicken breed, the meat tastes like game. But due to the late maturity of the birds, there is no point in breeding them for commercial purposes. Usually, lovers of rare breeds keep Barbeziers for themselves, and raise earlier ripening chickens for sale.
Barbezier roosters can be produced for meat no earlier than 5 months of age. Until this time, all nutrients are used for bone and feather growth. Due to these features, cockerels intended for slaughter must be fed with high-protein feed, which increases the cost of meat.
Character
Barbeziers have a calm nature, although they can move quickly. But these chickens do not enter into conflicts with other domestic animals.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of the breed include good frost resistance, very tasty meat with a gamey taste, large eggs and a calm character.
The disadvantages include the almost lost brooding instinct and the slow feathering of chickens.
Breeding
There is no need to talk about breeding in Russia yet. The best way to acquire a purebred bird is to order a certified hatching egg from abroad and hatch Barbezier chicks in an incubator.
After forming your own flock, only large eggs without shell defects and two yolks can be selected for incubation.
There is no direct description of Barbezier chickens, but the photo shows that in “infancy” they should have black backs and a white lower part of the body.
Reviews
Conclusion
Judging by the description and photo of the Barbesier chicken breed, today Russian poultry lovers are only deterred from buying by the price. If the population of this breed increases in Russia, Barbezier chickens may appear on almost every farmstead. They will be kept not for sale for meat, but for themselves, as one of the best meat breeds.
