Are Delewares good meat birds?

[joletabey]

OK, I just taste tested the Del cockerel I put in the crock pot this morning. I didn't season or do anything else except put a little organic chicken broth in the bottom of the pot. I wasn't sure I could eat him, as these were my first babies, but I kept snuffing up that wonderful smell all day. . . . . .AND. . . . . . .this is one good chicken. Very tender, very flavorful. My DH is going to be in heaven.

I may need to rethink my whole life with chickens. . . . .

 

[shelleyb1969]

As for the taste of a Delaware? One hyphenated word....YUM-O!

I raise heritage Dels and have eaten several at around 16-18 weeks. Honestly, I don't know how much their dressed weight was because it really didn't matter to me at the time. I've actually got a dark Cornish pullet that I'm going to cross with my Del rooster...I'm going to raise those chicks with the sole purpose of putting them on the dinner table. But I wouldn't hesitate a bit to process any 1 of my Delawares. They're big and meaty...at least my heritage stock is.