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Edited by Frank Povah

In cooperation with: Yvon Castien, Avifede, and ENRx, .

The region -Pas-de-Calais, Northern Picardy, is the cradle of five major breeds: Trait du Nord and Boulonnais horses, the Rouge Flamande and Bleue du Nord cattle breeds, the Boulonnais sheep breed. And our regional poultry heritage counts twenty breeds.

These local breeds have almost disappeared from our regional bestiary! The Centre Régionale de Ressources Génétiques, in collaboration with the Fédération Régionale Avicole Nord-Pas-de-Calais, has been working for 30 years to save them and each year put out a trophy rewarding the Winners in each breed. 199 breeders with 2199 animals have participated in this challenge..

See also the website of AVIFEDE and Espaces naturels régionaux ENRx

FLEMISH GOOSE

HISTORY

The Flemish goose can be described as a French-Belgian breed, obtained by improving the common goose by using methodical selection. At the beginning of the twentieth century they were reared in complete freedom; it is a walker goose that returns only for the bad weather season.

CHARACTERISTICS

They come in two varieties : white and pied.

They are larger than the common goose. In the pied variety, the head is greyish brown with a white ring around the base of the bill. Only the upper third of the neck is coloured. The shoulders are greyish brown. Seen from above this produces a dark heart shaped marking on the back. The flights are pure white. The stern is ash grey and the flanks are greyish brown. The rest of the plumage is white.

At the time when goose feathers were the object of a rather interesting trade and the birds were plucked up to four times a year, it was important that the plucke feathers were white because they had more value in the trade. There was, however, also a white variety, a little smaller and lighter, which was bred to lay 60 to 100 eggs a year.

Weight : Gander 5 to 6 kg – Goose 4 to 4.5 kg

THE BREED TODAY

The Flemish Goose joined the Poultry Club Club Coucou des Flandres in 2005, to date and in full development there are 5 breeders.

BOURBOURG DUCK

HISTORY

Originally from the city of (department 59), this duck was practically unknown outside the region of Nord-Pas-de-Calais, where it was the subject of a large trade. Appearing in the nineteenth century, its standard was established in 1924 by a Mr. Fontaine, President of the Poultry Farmers of Northern France.

CHARACTERISTICS

The Bourbourg duck is rather big, resulting from a cross between a local duck, the Merchtem duck (Belgium) and Aylesbury duck (England). It is named after a town located in the Dunkerque region "the city of Bourbourg" whose important agricultural market served as a hub for neighbouring municipalities. This farm-type duck is sought for its hardiness, its meat and its rapid growth.

To avoid as much as possible crossbreeding with other white ducks, this duck has a pinkish white beak, which distinguishes it from other breeds.

Weight: Drake 3.2 kg. – Duck 3 kg.

THE BREED TODAY

Since 1998, the population of Bourbourg ducks has been increasing, even outside its region, thanks to its ease of rearing and, of course, its delicate meat.

ESTAIRES DUCK

HISTORY

This duck is native of the city of and lived on the edge of the river . It never attracted much attention outside the Region Nord-Pas-de-Calais.

CHARACTERISTICS

The Estaires duck is much smaller than the Bourbourg. It is a farm-type duck, rustic, quick growing, good laying and its flesh is a little less fine than that of the Bourbourg duck. It was created from a cross between local ducks and the American Pekin duck. Unlike the Bourbourg, its beak is yellow and forms a line with the forehead without making a curve. Its plumage is white and its eyes are dark.

Plumage: white or slightly cream. The female is an excellent breeder and very good mother. If seasonal conditions are right, she can brood a second time.

Weight: 2.2 kg for both drake and duck.

THE BREED TODAY

Its population remains low but the breeders try to value it by preaching its outstanding brooding qualities.

Club: Palgalli Estaires Club

GRAND (LARGE)

COMBATTANT DU NORD

HISTORY

It is a very old breed,, dating back at least to the time when Julius Caesar invaded Gaul (a region of Western Europe that during the Iron Age was inhabited by Celtic tribes, who considered game cocks sacred. Editor.) as described in the “Gallic Wars” written (or dictated) by Julius Caesar. This makes it at least 2035 years old. It had an obligatorily single comb, the only type known in Europe until the arrival of Asian poultry, at the earliest in the 16th century. The cocks of this breed are real fighters and a game breed par excellence. They have always been bred by amateurs for cockfighting, so popular in the North of France. It is one of the most beautiful, most rustic and most interesting breeds that exist, and it is also very productive.

CHARACTERISTICS

The body shape of the cock must be round, not angular, its carriage is horizontal and straight, its gait is elegant. It has very rich colours, the farmers call it “Pheasant Rooster”.

The pullets grow fairly quick and yield delicate table meat. At the age of two months, the cockerels are already fighting fiercely, but at this age are still harmless. They have a single comb and yellow legs.

LES COMBATS DE COQ

Cockfighting takes place in Gallodromes, small rings of 3 to 4 metres, surrounded by wire mesh one metre heigh. Shortly before the fight, the rooster is armed with steel spurs, fixed on its own spurs. The fight lasts 6 minutes and the one who remains standing at the end is declared the winner; if both are standing or lying the fight is declared void.

Weight : Cock 4 to 5 kg. - Hen 2.5 to 4 kg.

Alphonse (Leonard) SIMONS, painter, poet and Chansonnier in the dialect of the region, left us many illustrations that embellished the old court yards. An illustrated book dated 1978 is devoted to Ziguomar, Coq de Combat. (Ziguomar the Fighting Cock.

PETIT (SMALL) COMBATTANT DU NORD

According to Robert Fontaine, except for the size, all the characteristics and points of the Small Combattant du Nord are the same as those of the Large Combattant du Nord.

Weight: Cock 1.250 to 1.500 kg. Hen: 1 kg to 1.250 kg.

Note: No bird whose weight falls outside these limits should be shown, let alone rewarded, in a poultry show.

The Small Combattant du Nord always has yellow legs.

COMBATTANT DU NORD BANTAM

Only differs from its larger brothers in size and weight :

Weigt 625 grams to 750 grams.

Club du Combattant du Nord

BOURBOURG CHICKEN

HISTORY

It appeared in the nineteenth century around the cities of Bourbourg, , Ardres, Saint Omer, and surrounds, its main breeding centres.The breed originated from a cross of Sussex hens and Brahma cocks (an Asian race). Its Standard was established in 1898.

A native of , the Bourbourg chicken is a very rustic breed. Its owes its popularity to its eggs and its meat.

CHARACTERISTICS

The Bourbourg chicken is of average size. A dual purpose breed with a rather elegant appearance, without “heaviness” in spite of its mass. The hens are good brooders and the eggs are of good size. They come in the white-black columbian colour variety only, with a single comb, low stance and slightly feathered legs.

Cock: A beautiful, large bird, compact, with fairly short legs. The tail has a green sheen, in strong contrast to the rest of the plumage which is white. (except for the neck hackle. Editor). He is a good-looking country lord with excellent fertility, an upright and proud carriage and measured tread.

Weight: Cock 3 to 4 kg - Hen 2.5 to 3 kg.

THE BREED TODAY

This chicken has a number of breeders. Before becoming the Bourbourg chicken, it was nicknamed the “Faverolles of the North”, although being lighter than the chickens of this breed.

The Club de la Bourbourg was founded in the 90s.

FLEMISH CUCKOO

HISTORY

On June 1, 1880, Edouard Henri Labbé de exhibited this chicken at Quesnoy-sur-Deûle during the agricultural competition. Its Standard was approved in 1914.

A mounted chicken was offered to the Natural History Museum of by Alexandre Detroy in 1924.

This breed is very old and named for the marking of its plumage, reminiscent of the cuckoo.

CHARACTERISTICS

The Flemish Cuckoo is of good size, rustic, well built, and not very high on its legs. A very hardy breed, particularly suited to the northern region, because of its usually moist soil. It broods well, the chicks are reared easily and their growth is fast enough. The plumage of the roosters is lighter than the hens and the chicks can be sexed at three weeks.

The Flemish Cuckoo hens are good layers and its meat is delicate. This rustic breed is lively, alert and a good forager. The hens are good mothers and rear the chicks very well.

Weight: Cock 3 to 3.5 kg - Hen 2.5 to 3 kg.

THE BREED TODAY

In 1999, the Club de la Coucou des Flandres (the Flemish Cuckoo Club) was founded by Mr Adolphi. This speciality club expanded and under the chairmanship of Mr Dacheville, decided to amalgamate under the name “Club des Volailles Coucou des Flandres et de l’Oie Flamande”. In 2003, the Coucou des Flandres finished third in the second national competition for taste in French breeds, which took place in Palinges, under the support of Grand Chef Pierre Troisgros.

HERGNIES

HISTORY

The is the old form of the Braekel from the late 19th century. Its Standard was approved on February 15, 1898. This breed was widespread in the Conde-sur-Escaut and sectors.

Its origin has been much discussed. It is a local chicken, created by crossing two local or not very widely separated breeds.

Some people think it was created by crossing the black Braekel cock with the Gauloise grise. Others think it was a cross between a German Braekel cock and an Ostfriesische Möwe hen.

CHARACTERISTICS

It is a farm-type chicken, dual purpose, early maturing, lively, rustic, single comb with white earlobes and elegant, although giving the impression of being very meaty. It is remarkable for the size of its single, straight and well-serrated comb. The only colour variety is silver – white with black bars across the feathers. It is a precocious (early maturing) chicken, indeed, laying starts from the age of 3 months and can reach up to 250 white eggs per year.

Weight: Cock 2.5 to 3 kg – Hen 2 to 2.5 kg.

THE BREED TODAY

The breed had totally disappeared by 1950, but reappeared in 1974 at Animavia de Lille, thanks to the breeder M. Carnières. Having met neither the expected success nor received the help of other breeders, this breeder abandoned his research. The Hergnies did not resurface until 20 years later.

DID YOU KNOW ? Some authors think that the Hergnies was imported into Belgium, in the 15th century, with the Burgundian Army of Charles the Bold. The study of Flemish painters’ works could certainly prove it.

Club de la Bourbourg et de la Hergnies

ESTAIRES chicken

HISTORY

It was in 1872 that this breed was brought from Langshan, in China, by Major Croad and spread rapidly in France. M. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire pointed out its great qualities, and M. Foucault made near Calais an important breeding centre.

It was mainly found in the region of Merville, La Gorgue, Laventie and especially the poultry market at Estaires, which supplied the restaurants of Lille.

CHARACTERISTICS

The Estaires has a great many qualities: hardiness, early maturing, fertility, substantial flesh and a prolifict layer. It produces early matured chicks that are easy to fatten. The delicacy and whiteness of its meat make the Estaires among the best for the production of table chickens. It is also a good winter layer.

Nice, chubby-looking, heavy-weighted, with simple crest, red earlobes, medium-tailed, dark leaden legs, medium length, strong and lightly feathered. Its plumage is black with green highlights. It can also have golden or silver neck hackles.

Weight: Cock 3.5 to 5 kg – Hen 2.5 to 3.5 kg.

THE BREED TODAY

In 1999, M. DEDOURS founded the Estaires Club under the name "Palgalli Estaires Club". Since then the breed has again become very popular, even outside our region. In 2004, the Centre Régional de Ressources génétiques, the Gabnor and the Palgalli Estaires Club launched a joint initiative to promote this breed.

DID YOU KNOW ?

Since 1994 an Estaires hen holds France’s record for the biggest egg: 202 grams (Guinness Book of Records). On October 21, 2000 the Estaires was ranked second in the first Competition of Taste of the French breeds in Monceau-Cluny, by the grand chef Pierre Troisgros.

Club: Palgalli Estaires Club

In the next issue, February 2018, you can read about the pigeon breeds of the Region Nord-Pas-de-Calais.

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