France-to-Table: Year-Long Journey of Poulet Rouge® Chicken

How long does it take to raise a chicken that chefs rave about? Nearly a year, if you do it right! Our Poulet Rouge^® Heritage Chicken begins with carefully sourced breeder eggs from France’s heritage poultry lines—birds known for their signature featherless neck trait and exceptional culinary qualities. From there, through natural mating, careful incubation, and 12 full weeks (~84 days) of pasture-centered grow-out on our North Carolina farms, the result is a bird rich in flavor and rooted in tradition. Scroll the infographic to learn more about the journey of this special bird.

Six-step path of the Poulet Rouge® production cycle: 1) The Egg Comes First – fertile eggs sourced from France. 2) Raising Them Right – pullets grow slowly for ~21 weeks to reach breeding age. 3) The Mating Game – natural mating on the breeder farm. 4) Watching & Waiting – 21-day incubation of hatching eggs. 5) 12 Weeks of TLC – broiler chicks grow for 84 days with outdoor access and pasture. 6) Let’s Eat! – same-day air-chilled processing for peak flavor.

Step 1 – The Egg Comes First

We begin with fertile eggs from traditional French Cou Nu breeder flocks—known for their featherless neck trait and rustic genetics. These eggs arrive at our hatchery in Winston-Salem, NC under strict care and handling to protect viability and future flavor.

Step 2 – Raising Them Right

Those hatchlings become breeder hens and roosters. For about 21 weeks, they grow slowly on a clean, all-vegetable diet, building strength for natural reproduction.

Step 3 – The Mating Game

On our breeder farm, roosters and hens mate naturally—no artificial insemination. Strong, healthy genetics and low-stress care produce fertile eggs for the next generation of Poulet Rouge® chickens.

Step 4 – Watching & Waiting

The hatching eggs spend 21 days in temperature- and humidity-controlled incubators. Our team carefully monitors the environment until each chick is ready to break shell.

Step 5 – 12 Weeks of TLC

Newly hatched broiler chicks are raised in spacious barns with access to fresh pasture and plenty of natural light. Over 12 full weeks (about 84 days)—double the life of conventional birds—they slowly develop the marbling and muscle structure that gives Poulet Rouge® its signature flavor.

Step 6 – Let’s Eat!

Our birds are processed using a same-day air-chilling method, preserving flavor and texture without water absorption. The result: crisp skin, juicy meat, and a clean, chef-preferred finish.

Taste the Difference

This isn’t fast food. It’s slow-grown, chef-tested poultry with deep roots and even deeper flavor. From golden skin to tender meat, our Poulet Rouge® is proof that when you take your time, it tastes better.

Ready to taste a year of craftsmanship?

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