The Poultry Keeper

Lisleoise

I've been looking at various breeds on-line (before going to a show an saturday - shopping list?!) and found out an interesting thing.

It is often said that Light Sussex in France aren't pure breed. I think I've found the answer. They could be in fact Bourbourg and not Light Sussex. It is a French breed from the town of Bourbourg, east of Calais. They are the result of a cross between a Brahma Coq and a Light Sussex hen in 1850 to produce a new regional breed, and do look exactly like a Light Sussex. Or, as on another page a Brahma coq of the same colours as LS with a local white hen.

http://pagesperso-orange.fr/Animavia/la_bourbourg.htm

http://pagesperso-orange.fr/volaillepoultry/franc1.html

http://www.la-basse-cour-du-nord.fr/page_bourbourg.html

newby · Joined: 11 Feb 2008 Posts: 147 Location: Dordogne

That is brilliant, they look just like mine, but when I bought them I bought Sussex. so don't the french recognise their own breeds.

Lisleoise · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 10:40 am Post subject:

Interesting isn't it. Maybe because they look like LS and they are very popular that's what they get sold as. I don't know, maybe they don't either. Or they sell them as LS because they are a well known, popular breed. Maybe our's are LS - who knows?

Sylvia · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 10:41 am Post subject:

The second link is the same as the one that I posted a while ago and have been looking at with a view to getting some original French Breeds.
Rather fancy the Flanders Cuckoo and will be on the look out for some hatching eggs next year.

Lisleoise · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 10:44 am Post subject:

The Coucou de Flandres does sound rather good from the description given.

mojo · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 10:51 am Post subject:

i think unless sold by very serious pure race breeders most french poultry are sold as their nearest look alike..........having been a member of the local aviculture club for over two years now am convinced that if it looks like .it is...............someone local had a pair of "pure" black silkies ..........only thing is some of the chicks are white.........and market sellers say" yes they are marans look at the feathered legs"...............and lots of birds have feathered legs but that dont make them marans..............so after over a decade in france to all poultry keepers .....BUY what birds YOU like .....never mind the breed name ........remember you have those birds in your garden for the rest of their lives so you must like their looks

vanessa · Joined: 24 Sep 2005 Posts: 1269 Location: Correze

Strange that if the cross was Brahma - LS that the birds sold as LS are so scrawny! I'd have expected a meaty coq-bird ...

I know Brahmas are "lots of clothes (and comparatively) not a lot of bird", but even so, they're big!

tuzo2k · Joined: 09 Jun 2007 Posts: 216 Location: charente sw france

the bourbourg has feathered legs and is a diferent shape to a sussex

mojo · Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 9:25 pm Post subject:

but looked at the LS in the market today...........oh heck feathered legs........so call them what you like and buy what YOU like

Elodel62 · Joined: 15 Aug 2006 Posts: 57 Location: North of France

If anyone want Coucou des Flandres (Bantam or LF), Estaires or other breeds from the north of france, I can help you to get some.

However, Bourbourg and Hergnies eggs are really difficult get, even for me.

Sylvia · Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 11:19 am Post subject:

Thank you Elodel, a very kind offer. I would love to try a get some Coucou des Flandres LF hatching eggs in the spring but not sure how they would stand up to the postal system.

mojo · Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 1:25 pm Post subject:

not too well (french la poste use xray machines)just order twice as many as you want and mark tres fragile

Elodel62 · Joined: 15 Aug 2006 Posts: 57 Location: North of France

Ok Sylvia,

it will be possible to try in the spring.

Even if sometimes french postal service is a disaster (with eggs), you may have some chicks, we'll see.

vanessa · Joined: 24 Sep 2005 Posts: 1269 Location: Correze

Surely better to try for a PKFranglais courrier relay? I'm sure with a bit of planning and a goodly dose of lucky timing, this could be achieved? Depends where in North of France Elodel is, mind ... but if somewhere "vaguely en-route from a main ferry port" I'd have thought it was feasible?

Elodel62 · Joined: 15 Aug 2006 Posts: 57 Location: North of France

It can be possible, I live near Béthune.