You could. Keep in mind the Rhode Islands Red and New Hampshire from hatcheries are Production Reds. They have been bred for amazing egg production and are not to weight of birds from breeders. It's a trade off. If you want a breed that is true to the sense of dual purpose in that you can cull for butcher your young cockerels and grow out a few for breeder selection and roast the others and keep all pullets for layers that will give you over 200 eggs first laying year then I'd get New Hampshire from a breeder. This is a great true dual purpose bird. New Hampshire especially will mature faster, gain weight young so culling out a bunch of cockerels at grilling age (12-14 weeks) will still give you near if not at 4 lbs dressed weight. Other standard bred birds will give you near 3.5 lbs dressed weight at same age if you choose wisely. Delaware is one and Possibly White Plymouth Rock.
I actually started this exact research today as I'm bored and the question of heritage meat birds comes up a lot so figured I'd look into it. So far the evidence to pointing to New Hampshire as the prime dual purpose. This is not Hatchery stock but from reputable breeders. As for which lines will best represent with meat high in high regard, early big butcher weight, the verdict is still out.
A pure German New Hampshire line I found here but still awaiting her email reply with any details:
Eight Acres Farm-
Another source for New Hampshire I have high regard for is Matt1616 here on BYC. He crossed the American New Hampshire to German and says he's now getting consistent offspring so has set the line. Have mailing to him also and awaiting some details. If he says something about his birds (I asked regarding weight and age) it's not going to be hogwash.
And there are more sources. Frank Reese New Hampshire are the main source of american New Hampshire. His is an old not outsourced flock. The color of Germans is stunning and believe performance of Reese is good and why you'll be hard pressed to find distinct lines anymore. About everyone has crossed them.
The Delaware was also a prime suspect but so far evidence is showing it's not been kept to faster maturing that the original bird was. But with effort a line may yet be found. Still looking. In general this breed will give cockerels dressed at 3.5 lbs in 12 weeks but the better 4lbs weights in that time in days of old has not been proved yet in recent stock.
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