Caussade

The Caussade is a scarce French chicken named for Caussade in the Tarn-et-Garonne of southwestern France. It belongs to the group of old regional farm fowl that were selected for utility before poultry breeding became highly industrialized. Descriptions usually present it as a clean-legged, dark or black bird of practical size, kept for eggs and table use, with some influence from the black Mediterranean and French utility types that circulated in the region.

Modern Caussades are encountered mainly in preservation flocks, so provenance matters more than hatchery-style color labels. Breeding work should follow the current French standard where available and prioritize fertility, hardiness, body type, and productive females rather than appearance alone. They can be managed like other medium heritage chickens, with dry roosting quarters, outdoor space, and protection from summer heat as well as winter damp. Buyers should expect limited availability and ask whether the birds descend from maintained Caussade lines or from general black farm chickens.

Colors: Barred, Birchen, Black, Blue, Brown, Buff, Columbian, Crele, Cuckoo, Duckwing, Gold, Gold Laced, Laced, Lavender, Mille Fleur, Mottled, Partridge, Penciled, Porcelain, Red, Silver, Silver Laced, Spangled, Splash, Wheaten, White