- Mar 2, 2009
- 1,133
- 13
- 176
We just recently finished our first batch of meat birds and it was a totally positive experience from start to finish.
After some research, we decided that a slow grow bird would be best for our family as we really didn't want the health issues associated with fast growing broilers. So we raised Naked Necks and Rainbows that we purchased from S & G Poultry. We only ordered the Naked Necks... but, S&G sent us 12 Rainbows to try out - they rock (both S&G and their Rainbows that is)!
The birds were delightful happy healthy chickens and were easy to keep from day one. We didn't have a single casualty or issue of any kind with them. They were allowed to free range all day in a big yard, fed a 20% Protein Organic Mash Diet and had full access to just being chickens (dust bathes, lounging in the sun, running around and wing flapping).
We kept all of the Rainbow pullets as they are a dual purpose breed and lay a large brown egg... plus, we really like their spunky and sweet little dispositions. We also kept "Lucky", one of the Naked Neck roos to watch over these girls.
Here are some pictures of our birds.
the NN's look very distinguished in B&W don't you think
... and here are a couple more in color
photo with the Ideal NN Roo (he's pretty easy to spot, he is the small white bird )... here are a couple of pics of the Rainbows
Our Average Dressed Weights -
S&G Hens - 3 1/2 lbs
S&G Roos - 4 3/4 lbs (this is a low estimate because my postal scale tops out at 5lbs and many exceeded that weight)
Ideal NN Roo - 2 1/2 lbs (we got him from a fellow 4H member and raised for comparison, he was a week or so older than the S&G's)
I think we did pretty great on the dressed weights... I used Joyce Foods as a comparison. https://www.joycefoods.com/shop/shop.html?cat=10
As for the taste... they are absolutely delicious and we will be enjoying them for quite awhile as we have over 100lbs out in the deep freeze.
After some research, we decided that a slow grow bird would be best for our family as we really didn't want the health issues associated with fast growing broilers. So we raised Naked Necks and Rainbows that we purchased from S & G Poultry. We only ordered the Naked Necks... but, S&G sent us 12 Rainbows to try out - they rock (both S&G and their Rainbows that is)!
The birds were delightful happy healthy chickens and were easy to keep from day one. We didn't have a single casualty or issue of any kind with them. They were allowed to free range all day in a big yard, fed a 20% Protein Organic Mash Diet and had full access to just being chickens (dust bathes, lounging in the sun, running around and wing flapping).
We kept all of the Rainbow pullets as they are a dual purpose breed and lay a large brown egg... plus, we really like their spunky and sweet little dispositions. We also kept "Lucky", one of the Naked Neck roos to watch over these girls.
Here are some pictures of our birds.
the NN's look very distinguished in B&W don't you think
photo with the Ideal NN Roo (he's pretty easy to spot, he is the small white bird )... here are a couple of pics of the Rainbows
Our Average Dressed Weights -
S&G Hens - 3 1/2 lbs
S&G Roos - 4 3/4 lbs (this is a low estimate because my postal scale tops out at 5lbs and many exceeded that weight)
Ideal NN Roo - 2 1/2 lbs (we got him from a fellow 4H member and raised for comparison, he was a week or so older than the S&G's)
I think we did pretty great on the dressed weights... I used Joyce Foods as a comparison. https://www.joycefoods.com/shop/shop.html?cat=10
As for the taste... they are absolutely delicious and we will be enjoying them for quite awhile as we have over 100lbs out in the deep freeze.
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