Which meat bird - no crow?

[Heffalump]

Apologies, I know similar questions to this have been asked many times before.

I initially wanted to avoid cornish X as I want a dual purpose bird that will lay plenty of eggs and go broody. I wanted to use the cockerels for meat and keep the hens for eggs. It just feels more self sustaining to me. But now that I'm looking into all the different heritage breeds I'm realising I might have to prioritise their cull date due to crowing.

We have neighbours close enough to us that they could potentially complain if we have a dozen cockerels welcoming the dawn. I don't want to cause issues or be forced to cull early.

So are there any heritage breeds or cornish X alternatives that will reach their table weight before crowing?

 

[Heffalump]

Should just add, ideally we want a large carcass. We have a big family so would like each bird to carry a food amount of meat.

 

[ShrekDawg]

There are actually breeds that are in between the processing times of the Cornish X and the heritage breeds. I believe they usually take about 12-14 weeks so somewhat longer than the CX but not quite as long as heritage breeds.

Although they may still potentially crow at that age and not sure about the girls but should be better than CX at least.

You could also look at some of the breeds that grow fairly fast. Like my Delaware I had was HUGE and grew really fast and she was a girl so boys would likely be bigger. New Hampshire Reds are supposed to grow quite big and fast too. I know my RIR did so I’m sure a NHR would too. My Orpington did too although lots of feathers lol but if you butcher them around maybe 4 months? 16 ish weeks? They should be pretty big!

But you could still have crowing which I understand you’re trying to avoid but they don’t have to be butchered super late or anything. Also it does depend cause I had some crowing and even successfully breeding by 4 months while others didn’t crow till like 6-8 months.

Here’s some of the alternate breeds though.

https://www.freedomrangerhatchery.com/product-category/day-old-chicks/broilers/

https://www.myerspoultry.com/product-category-meat-birds

 

[ShrekDawg]

Whoops, I guess it’s more like 9 weeks now, even better! Hahah they must have been improving them cause I swore it used to be more but yeah.

 

[Molpet]

Could get color broilers hens. They will get to size before they get tough. But they don't breed true, will have different sizes.
https://www.freedomrangerhatchery.com/product-category/day-old-chicks/broilers/

 

[Heffalump]

I am UK based so I don't have the same selection of hatchery options.

 

[Molpet]

I am UK based so I don't have the same selection of hatchery options.

https://www.piggottspoultry.co.uk/meat.html
The Ross in above link is a CX. The other 2 are like ranger sells in USA.

I have a dark standard Cornish. He is built like a tank and didn't start growing or mating until he was over a year old. But they take longer to get meaty.
ETA Cornish is known as Indian game in UK

 

[ShrekDawg]

I am UK based so I don't have the same selection of hatchery options.

OHHH whoops, sorry probably should have checked that first

 

[Heffalump]

OHHH whoops, sorry probably should have checked that first

My fault, I should have mentioned!

 

[Heffalump]

Thank you both.