Alsacienne
{{Short description|Breed of chicken}}
{{use dmy dates|date=October 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2014}}
{{use list-defined references|date=October 2014}}
{{infobox poultry breed
| name = Alsacienne
| image = Poule d alsace F SDA2013.JPG
| image_size =
| alt =
| image_caption =
| status = FAO (2007): {{unbulleted list|standard: not at risk|bantam: endangered{{r|barb}}}}
| altname = {{langx|fr|{{noitalic|Poule d'Alsace}}}}
| country = France
| distribution = {{unbulleted list|Bas-Rhin|Haut-Rhin}}
| standard =
| use = dual-purpose, eggs and meat
| nickname =
| apa = not listed{{r|apa}}
| aba =
| ee = yes{{r|ee}}
| pcgb = not listed{{r|pcgb}}
| maleweight = 2–3 kg{{r|fournier}}
| femaleweight = 2–2.5 kg{{r|fournier}}
| skincolour =
| eggcolour =
| comb = rose comb, ends in a spike
| note =
| type = Chicken
| latin = Gallus gallus domesticus
}}
The {{lang|fr|Alsacienne|italic=no}} ({{IPA|fr|alzasjɛn|-|LL-Q150 (fra)-Lyokoï-Alsacienne.wav}}) or {{lang|fr|Poule d'Alsace|italic=no}} ({{IPA|fr|pul dalzas}}) is a breed of domestic chicken from Alsace, in eastern France.{{r|dad}} It was selectively bred in the 1890s, at a time when Alsace was part of the German Empire.{{r|pronatura}} Unlike most other French breeds, it has not been cross-bred with imported Oriental stock.{{r|fournier}}
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,{{r|dad}} 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.{{r|pronatura}} A bantam was created in Alsace by Herscher, Hirschner and Trog; it was on the "endangered" list of the FAO in 2007.{{r|barb}}
Characteristics
Four colours are recognised for the Alsacienne: black, blue-laced, golden salmon and white.{{r|ee}} The ear-lobes are white.{{r|fournier}}
Use
The Alsacienne is a good layer of large white eggs, which weigh at least {{Convert|60|g|oz|abbr=on}}.{{r|fournier}}
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.{{r|pronatura}}