Gascon Chicken

     The Gascon is an old Chicken breed, that has been found and raised in Gascony, in France for centuries. It was the rural dual-purpose chicken in the area until industrialized breeds took its place in the last century. Fortunately, Gascons’ number gradually increases thanks to passionate breeders, that are fans of the good-taste and the beautiful scene.

     The Gascon has a shiny beautiful black plumage indeed, which is thick and dense. It also has a single comb, red earlobes, and slate-blue legs. The Gascon is closely related to the Landaise, which it closely resembles, but differs in having white earlobes instead. Generally, Gascons are hardy and healthy birds, that prefer free-range rearing conditions. They lay plenty of eggs, and yield meat of great fineness too.

     Gascon hens lay about 200 white eggs per year of weight 60 – 65 per each. They also go broody and make great mothers. A bantam version is also available for the Gascon, but it’s rarer than the large bird.

 

Country of originFrance
UseDual-purpose
Weight

Standard, male: 2.5 – 3 kg

female: 1.8 – 2.3 kg

Bantam, male: 900 g

female: 800 g

Comb typeSingle comb
Skin colorWhite
Egg colorWhite

 

rooster 142470939769X 1 1 - Gascon Chicken
A Gascon cockerel
5 4 - Gascon Chicken
A Gascon hen by Camille Gillet
6 9 - Gascon Chicken
A couple of Gascon chickens by Régis Corbet