[Sanxay smallholder]

We have a varied bunch of hens and cockerels.  The main cock is a rather beautiful cuckoo Maran and we have a a black maran and a couple of french rustic red hens who lay good sized eggs, and an assortment of mongrels most of whom are bantam crosses, most of whom lay small but good eggs.  The problem is in trying to raise any chicks to a decent size for the pot, cos they never really get to a descent size, so we are looking to bring in a few hens from a good table breed and cross them with the maran, and keep the rest separate and just for egg production.  Any advice on good breeds to go for and the best way of importing them to France, as we don't seem to be able to get anything other than market 'poulet rustique' around here.