Barred Rock rooster or New Hampshire rooster?

[Chickenheadmate]

Looking at doing some crossing. (First time). Looking to buy white cornish and barred rocks hens (Open to suggestions on any additional breeds). Question which roo should i buy in a attempt to getting some decent meat on the table? After possibly builduing the courage to take them to be slaughtered. Lol

 

[Ducksandchickens]

You would do new hamshire

 

[Ducksandchickens]

I*

 

[Ridgerunner]

Where are you getting the rooster? If it is from a hatchery it probably doesn't matter. Hatcheries don't breed for meat birds. You are not likely to find much difference in a hatchery Barred Rock and a hatchery New Hampshire. If you can find someone that is breeding either one, a Delaware, or some other dual purpose breed for meat you are probably better off with whatever they have.

Another issue with hatchery cockerels is that they are tremendously inconsistent. I once got 18 Buff Rock cockerels to pick a flock master. There was a tremendously huge difference in maturity and size at the same age. I rejected 15 of them from consideration without even trying, the final three were so much better. If you go with hatchery birds I suggest you get a lot and only keep the best one. Eat the rest.

A New Hampshire will make black sex links with your Barred Rock hens. I don't know if that is a consideration for you.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

NHR are bred for meat purposes,as well as eggs and pets.
I would go for a New Hampshire

 

[Ridgerunner]

Up until the 1950's New Hampshire, Delaware, and some strains of White Rock were bred for meat production. Then the Cornish X was created and took over the meat market. Commercial hatcheries and practically all private breeders stopped breeding them for meat so they became like other dual purpose chickens. The 1950's was a long time ago.

There are a very few breeders out there that are trying to maintain them as meat birds but good luck finding one and bring your wallet. Several people are breeding them to the SOP for show. These birds may not have the early maturity or feed to meat conversion ratio good meat birds should have but they are a pretty good choice, even the culls from these breeders if they will sell them. But once again bring your wallet. Those breeders go through a lot of expense developing and maintaining birds like that. In my opinion, they deserve a good price for their product.

 

[Chickenheadmate]

Where are you getting the rooster? If it is from a hatchery it probably doesn't matter. Hatcheries don't breed for meat birds. You are not likely to find much difference in a hatchery Barred Rock and a hatchery New Hampshire. If you can find someone that is breeding either one, a Delaware, or some other dual purpose breed for meat you are probably better off with whatever they have.

Another issue with hatchery cockerels is that they are tremendously inconsistent. I once got 18 Buff Rock cockerels to pick a flock master. There was a tremendously huge difference in maturity and size at the same age. I rejected 15 of them from consideration without even trying, the final three were so much better. If you go with hatchery birds I suggest you get a lot and only keep the best one. Eat the rest.

A New Hampshire will make black sex links with your Barred Rock hens. I don't know if that is a consideration for you.

Haven't found a place near me. I've only seen them for sale on offerup and Craigslist but very skeptical of them actually being Nh roosters.