Barred Rocks!!

[OrganicFarmWife]

I sure will, next week we should have the cooler bator done just waiting on part to arrive that couldn''t get locally.

My flock didn't have a problem with the cornish x hens just the roosters, but it's funny cause the poor cornish x so wants to get up and roost with the rest of the flock but  she is just to big, trick was we got them really small and tossed them in with the others so they learned that is what they were supposed to do only really only had to chase em out for about a week, roosters again were the problem so they went to freezer camp first we decided as they were so active and got along with the flock to leave 2 hens.

I imagine I kept them seperated too long. I should have tried combining them when they were younger, but was scared the cats would get them as chicks. I may try again this summer, figured I would still get a couple cornish x along with several other breeds, then keep back the best for breeders.

 

[slordaz]

sounds like a good plan to me, I hatched this winter as all my hens layed for the most part without additional light or heat, and the 2 roosters barred rock and Rhode Island Red have been really busy

this is what we got outta the barred rock rooster over a white leghorn, white chick with a scattering of grey

this was pretty cute and think if it was brown instead of the barred rock colors would make them pretty good at camoflauge out free ranging, it's barred rock rooster over a buff orpington

 

[DesertChic]

So I was looking at a hatchery for meat birds this summer and was surprised to find Barred rocks on the list. I raise mine for eggs, not meat. Has anyone used Barr Rocks for meat? Are they truely big enough?

Barred Rocks are delicious! Hatchery stock is definitely smaller than breeder quality, but I've butchered one BR rooster and one 18-week old cockerel that came from the hatchery and the meat was fabulous. The rooster processed out at nearly 6 pounds, and the cockerel around 5 lbs. I know a woman who breeds heritage BRs and they're nice big birds.

 

[DesertChic]

I had a few Cornish cross, they are currently in the freezer. They were such stupid lazy birds, I am looking at other breeds. I realize none will be like the cornish x just looking for an acceptable alternative. My Barr Rocks just do not seem nearly big enough.

Have you considered Naked Neck Turkens? My extra cockerels reach 5-6 pounds at 18 weeks, and are much easier to process since they have fewer feathers. The meat is so good, and the skin crisps up better than any other bird I've eaten. Here's one of my former 18-week old birds:

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

Have you considered Naked Neck Turkens? My extra cockerels reach 5-6 pounds at 18 weeks, and are much easier to process since they have fewer feathers. The meat is so good, and the skin crisps up better than any other bird I've eaten. Here's one of my former 18-week old birds:

Thank you I will add that breed to my watch list

 

[Shadow920]

sounds like a good plan to me, I hatched this winter as all my hens layed for the most part without additional light or heat, and the 2 roosters barred rock and Rhode Island Red have been really busy

this is what we got outta the barred rock rooster over a white leghorn, white chick with a scattering of grey

this was pretty cute and think if it was brown instead of the barred rock colors would make them pretty good at camoflauge out free ranging, it's barred rock rooster over a buff orpington

you would be surprised how well my sebrights blend in with tall grass. they are gold but they completely disapear.

 

[slordaz]

Thanks for that info, might have to check into those. Are they cold hardy?

 

[DesertChic]

Thanks for that info, might have to check into those. Are they cold hardy?

Which breed are you asking about?

 

[slordaz]

you would be surprised how well my sebrights blend in with tall grass. they are gold but they completely disapear.

sebrights that shadow mentioned, got so many things going on right now haven't had time to look them up yet

 

[Shadow920]

sebrights that shadow mentioned, got so many things going on right now haven't had time to look them up yet

This is a Sebright.

They are a pure bantam chicken. they come in gold which are my two above, and silver. this is a silver.

they were bred so that the rooster had "Hen Feathering". the rooster and hen look the same except for the comb and size.