Are Heritage breeds edible?

[Tonyroo]

Leghorns are beyond heritage and into production egg layers. They're definitely not edible.

Hey if your starving, leghorn will be on the menu, minus the fact it will be a snack. Lol.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I think bantams are a good starter for children that want to learn how to cook give them something small to start with and then work their way up to a full sized hen.


But going back to my original post... has anyone tried peafowl?

I haven't, but I've heard that while edible, they're just not good. Like eating a ram or goat buck instead of a lamb/kid.

I think when people eat them, it's more because they simply want to show off that they can afford to than because it's good

 

[Borders3]

I haven't, but I've heard that while edible, they're just not good. Like eating a ram or goat buck instead of a lamb/kid.

But doesn't that go back to the method of cooking? I love mutton, I also love lamb but I would not cook them the same way.

 

[Silexian]

Heritage breeds have been eaten for a long time. Being developed breeds and not hybrids. They breed true and go broody. They can be sustained without having to order new chicks every or every other year. It was common practice to eat the extra roosters and non-productive hens. From a subsistence farmer’s flock. Which can still be done. When comparing how fast and well the meat producing hybrids. Convert feed to meat versus a heritage breed. The heritage breeds cannot produce the pounds of meat per pound of feed that a hybrid does. With a heritage breed you are not reliant on a hatchery. Some also say that although not as much meat is produced from the feed provided. That the slower growing heritage breeds. Produce better tasting and better textured meat. Also peafowl are edible. Their beauty and financial worth usually saves them from being used as table fowl. Not always though. An old poultry farmer from my youth that raised peafowl. Told me they taste a lot like a pheasant.