Anything wrong with this DP plan?

[EricaD]

So, for those who use DP birds, here's my plan and I just wanted a sanity check.

After spending loads of time here reading about CX's, DP's, all the different breeding projects, etc. my head is spinning!

I have 10 chicks coming in August (9 females, 1 roo). All are full size, assorted breeds based very simply on the egg and chicken colors I like best

My plan was to simply raise them up for eggs, allow them to breed some each year, and cull the extra roosters and any non-producing hens (who we're not attached to as pets, that's the key, lol) for meat. I found a local farm who will process them for $5/each (spendy, I know, but we just won't do it ourselves).

I'm not out to stock my freezer with a years worth at a time, or selling anything for profit. I just want fresh eggs, garden help, and enough meat for my family's use (we're not big meat eaters to begin with).

Now I'm finding myself obsessing about the breeds I've chosen, thinking I should pick different breeds that are better suited for dual purpose.

So I need a reality check. Anyone else out there keep it really simple? Just pick a selection of chickens they like for eggs and eat the extras?

(I chose the following, but I can still change my order: golden campine, welsummer, cuckoo marans, blue laced red wyandotte, ancona, golden laced wyandotte, barred rock, 2 EE's and an EE roo).

Now I'm wondering if I should switch to a different roo, and get different hens altogether. Like maybe a couple of Jersey Giants, more BR's, some Cornish, more marans, etc.

There's so much different info out there - what's a good basic mixed breed flock to give me a colorful egg basket, good temperaments, pretty birds AND will make (and breed) a nice general purpose meat bird too?

I know, I know, if there was a single answer to that question, everyone would be doing it, right?

But, if I had to choose my "top" 5 breeds for DP use, what would they be?

(PS - for a multitude of reasons, I'm not interested in Cornish X or any other of this type of chicken.)

 

[jcatblum]

My experience is limited. I have butchered barn yard mix, RIR, EE & NN the oldest I have ever butchered was 6 months old. The NN carcass is huge compared to the others. EE are scrawny-- RIR is ok (but still only about 3 lbs after butcher). Don't remember weighing my NN, but they are the only ones that even come close to resembling the look of a store bought bird. The other birds I butcher won't even make a meal for my family of 4. I personally LOVE dual purpose birds, but the reality is we are use to large chickens since that is what is available commercially. My NN Roos will be as large as a RIR hen within 10-12 wks. They grow fast & big. No not like a meat bird, but well enough that I will raise NN with the intention of nothing more than dinner.
I hope to make Capons of my next batch!!!

 

[EricaD]

Sorry, what does NN stand for?

 

[jcatblum]

Naked neck. My NN came from 2 different people who had worked to create a large fast growing bird, not hatchery stock. The look of them will grow on you. And it is so much fun when people visit. They always asked what happened to that bird?? Is it ok??

 

[NovaAman]

I have wyandottes and faverolles. Good dual purpose. Not as meaty as CXs, but then again, they are dual purpose. Nice fat roosters.

 

[EricaD]

Good to know! I want to add a Salmon Faverolles to my list too.

Naked Neck! Aha! Now, where the heck am I gonna find some, lol?

I'm ok with slower growth and a less meaty bird as a trade off for health, quality of life, temperament, eggs, richer taste, and the ability to breed future generations in my own backyard.

Ok, so my revised list has begun!

Wyandotte
Faverolles
Nekkid necker
EE (still want those green/blue eggs!)

I've also read that Jersey Giants have potential in this area (was thinking ultimately of a JG cross as a potential DP). And I've read that marans are also tasty (cuckoo or BC, don't remember).

Now, my next question - what breed of roo to put over these different types of hens in order to get good DP offspring? Barred rock? BC or Cuckoo Marans? Buff Orp? Australorp? Wyandotte?

 

[EricaD]

And I just saw this in another thread and it's really interesting!

http://goodfoodrevolution.wordpress.com/2010/02/11/slow-food-heritage-breeds-chicken-tasting/

 

[Aeropennchick]

What a cool article! Thanks for sharing that!

 

[EricaD]

So here's my revised (and maybe final?) list of hens. Again, the goal being good layers producing a colorful egg basket, and eventual breeding for dual purpose.

BLR Wyandotte
Salmon Faverolle
Nekkid necker (if I can locate some)
EE or Ameracauna (still want those green/blue eggs!)
Buff Orpington
Jersey Giant
Barred Rock
Cuckoo and/or BC Marans
Some kind of white layer, maybe an Ancona?

And, of the above breeds, I'll need to select a rooster. Any suggestions for what I want to accomplish via breeding? If one roo is as good as another, I'll just get straight run chicks and keep the best roo for the flock.

Thanks everyone - let me know if you have any comments about the list!

 

[jcatblum]

I would check your local state thread & look for the biggest happiest rooster you can find. The rooster is 50% of your breeding program. You need the best one you can find.
I took a red NN rooster & crossed it with my RIR hens. The boys grew nice & plump (I marked the 2 fastest growing ones to save for future breeding). We just hatched NN eggs that was blue NN crossed with black australorpes & jersey giants. The eggs came from a local BYCer.
Here is a thread where they talk about using jersey giants for meat.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/619459/jersey-giants