TheRealCliffordWilliams
In the Brooder
- Apr 15, 2020
- 29
- 57
- 43
Hello!
I am wondering if anyone here has raised any heritage dual purpose breeds as meat birds?
I just got 9 Delawares, 15 Buff Orpingtons and a Light Brahma to raise as meat birds. I know they are much slower growing and more expensive than Cornish X or the Rangers, but as a former chef, I really want to try a heritage chicken for the first time and see how it compares. I also like the idea of being able to hatch my own meat birds in the future, and will be keeping an Orpington rooster, some Orpington hens, as well as a Barred Rock and a Brahma hen.
Has anyone raised heritage breeds for meat? Any tips, tricks or advice for a relative newbie? What feed schedule worked for you (did you use high protein broiler feed)? What breed did you raise? What age did you slaughter at? Did you cure the meat before freezing? What was the carcass weight, and how was the meat?!?!
Thanks for reading and replying! I'm excited to hear how this has gone for others!
I am wondering if anyone here has raised any heritage dual purpose breeds as meat birds?
I just got 9 Delawares, 15 Buff Orpingtons and a Light Brahma to raise as meat birds. I know they are much slower growing and more expensive than Cornish X or the Rangers, but as a former chef, I really want to try a heritage chicken for the first time and see how it compares. I also like the idea of being able to hatch my own meat birds in the future, and will be keeping an Orpington rooster, some Orpington hens, as well as a Barred Rock and a Brahma hen.
Has anyone raised heritage breeds for meat? Any tips, tricks or advice for a relative newbie? What feed schedule worked for you (did you use high protein broiler feed)? What breed did you raise? What age did you slaughter at? Did you cure the meat before freezing? What was the carcass weight, and how was the meat?!?!
Thanks for reading and replying! I'm excited to hear how this has gone for others!