Any meat birds that you can breed and get more meaties?

[kstaven]

Quote:
Cornish roo is what I have done. I have had some say it can be reversed but I have never tried it yet.

 

[erinm]

I agrre with the dual purpose breed. barred rocks are supposed to be a good meaty bird. ErinM

 

[MamaDragon]

I've been studying this problem for quite some time now... as I too would like a self-replenishing meat / egg flock..... the way our grandparents did.

I've decided to cross 6 varieties of chickens, with two years for each cross to stabilize a bit, build up numbers, and "select prime specimens" for the next breeding; so a minimum of 12 years to get this project well underway. I'm also working on chickens that can handle the extremes of weather here. We get 100+ degrees w/ 85% humidity in the summer, and days below freezing in the winter. AFTER I get the bird's conformation the way I want, THEN I'll work on coloring, etc. I may also add the Dorkings and Minorcas at a later time, both are also Heritage Dual Purpose birds.

I've just gotten some Buff Orps, and a RIR roo, I already have NHR hens. Let the fun begin!!

Good Luck!
Kathy

Rhode Island Red / New Hampshire Red - 6.5-7.5 lb. early maturing, daily layer, winter layer; hardy in both heat and cold.

Delaware - 6.5 lb/2.9 kg crossing Barred Plymouth Rocks and New Hampshires, nearly white, rapid growing, dual purpose fowl developed to figure into broiler crosses, with single comb and brown egg shells.

Faverolles - Standard: 7.5 lb/3.4 kg the 1850s of composite blood from the Houdon, Brahma, Crêve-Cour, Dorking and common fowl of the area. Some references have been made to the CouCoo and Cochin being used in addition. They make excellent back yard fowl and have a genteel personality. originally known for its table qualities. Density and mass of the bird are what should be looked at.

Orpington - Standard: 8 lb/3.6 kg; moderately early maturing; hardy; very cold hardy; good brooder; excellent mother; It was developed from Langshan-Rock-Minorca crosses. Developed as a dual purpose breed, Orpingtons make fair table fowl and are excellent winter layers of large brown eggs. Orpingtons have a deep broad body, the back appearing short with a somewhat concave shape. The head is neat with a single comb. Dark colours have dark eyes and legs, paler colours have red eyes and white legs. Chicks can take longer to feather up than some other breeds.

Sussex - Standard: 7 lb/3.2 kg; moderately early maturing; robust; very cold hardy; good brooder & mother; English heavy breed; famous as a table fowl and the cocks should weigh in at 9 pounds, with the hens reaching 7 pounds; One of the best of the dual purpose chickens, a good all-around farm fowl. prized as a table fowl more than 100 years ago; Sussex is one of the oldest breeds that is still with us today in fair numbers. Sussex go broody and make good mothers

Welsumer or Welsummer - Standard: 6 lb/2.7 kg; moderately early maturing; economical eater; well adaptable to confinement or free range; lively, but not especially flighty; energetic; friendly; hardy; cold hardy; large dark brown egg, a rich deep flower-pot red brown, almost glowing. Although considered a light, soft feathered, nonsitting breed, the hens frequently do go broody. Welsummers are good foragers on free range. Black/red is the standardized color of the large form. Predominantly a utility breed, the breed is hardy and thrives under free range conditions producing good numbers of its dark brown, 'flowerpot' coloured eggs. However, although classified as a 'Light' breed and usually very active, their bodies are fairly large and the birds quite docile. Most people consider the colouring very attractive and reminiscent of a traditional 'farmyard' bird.

 

[walkswithdog]

Mamadragon okay way kewl set of choices.

Here the first batch to stabilize is delaware and barred rock.

Then Dorking and if that reduces size - dark cornish.

I'm going to try keeping in that range. Colored rangers might feed into it. I will be raising them intermittently for meat while I'm doing the other.

That part really depends on the rangers.

I'm using delaware and BRs to increase the size and lay of the Partridge rock flock I'm working on (and cochins) so I'll have them around easily the first few years.

So I can throw co/barred partridge leftovers into the meat flock. The colors will at least be a total hoot. Waste not want not.

I love being able to eat what doesn't work for breeding.

I'm putting together two tractors for orts that don't work for meat breeding or PR's. I need a bigger freezer.

 

[Cason]

I have Silver Laced Wyandottes, Barred Rock hens. Light and Buff Brahmas + dark cornish on the way...
I'm going to cross these with a Delaware rooster and possibly one of the Brahmas. We'll see what happens.

 

[Bassleg]

Delaware chickens that is what you need they have it all for duel purpose.