Alsacienne

The Alsacienne or French: Poule d'Alsace is a breed of domestic chicken from Alsace, in eastern France.[6] It was selectively bred in the 1890s, at a time when Alsace was part of the German Empire.[7] Unlike most other French breeds, it has not been cross-bred with imported Oriental stock.[2]

Alsacienne
Conservation statusFAO (2007):
  • standard: not at risk
  • bantam: endangered[1]
Other namesFrench: Poule d'Alsace
Country of originFrance
Distribution
Usedual-purpose, eggs and meat
Traits
Weight
  • Male:
    2–3 kg[2]
  • Female:
    2–2.5 kg[2]
Comb typerose comb, ends in a spike
Classification
APAnot listed[3]
EEyes[4]
PCGBnot listed[5]

History

The Alsacienne is an ancient breed, perhaps as long-established as the Bresse Gauloise, which it closely resembles. The present type was formed in the late nineteenth century by selective breeding for a dual-purpose bird; Alsace was at this time a part of the German Empire. The Alsacienne may be related to the German Rheinländer breed,[6] but is differentiated from it by the shape of the comb. In the twentieth century the breed came close to disappearance, and is still regarded as being at risk.[7] A bantam was created in Alsace by Herscher, Hirschner and Trog; it was on the "endangered" list of the FAO in 2007.[1]

Characteristics

Four colours are recognised for the Alsacienne: black, blue-laced, golden salmon and white.[4] The ear-lobes are white.[2]

Use

The Alsacienne is a good layer of large white eggs, which weigh at least 60 g.[2]

In a tasting of the meat of 30 traditional French chicken breeds by a jury of well-known chefs including Pierre Troisgros, the Alsacienne was placed second, after the poulet de Bresse.[7]

See also

References
  1. Barbara Rischkowsky, D. Pilling (eds.) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Accessed October 2014.
  2. Alain Fournier (2005). L'élevage des poules. Paris: Artémis. ISBN 9782844163509.
  3. APA Recognized Breeds and Varieties: As of January 1, 2012. American Poultry Association. Archived 4 November 2017.
  4. Liste des races et variétés homologuée dans les pays EE (28.04.2013). Entente Européenne d’Aviculture et de Cuniculture. Archived 16 June 2013.
  5. Breed Classification. Poultry Club of Great Britain. Archived 12 June 2018.
  6. Breed data sheet: Poule d'Alsace/France. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed October 2014.
  7. Races de volailles françaises (in French). ProNaturA France (Fédération Française des Associations pour une Protection non Anthropomorphiste de la Nature et des Animaux). Accessed October 2014.
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