Best breed for meat?

[Compost King]

28 would take me 28 weeks if plucking. After plucking one bird I demand a week off. I skin mine now.

 

[archeryrob]

I've been curious about Dark Cornish, personally. Try those and report back for us (me) haha

I have a flock at 10 weeks, but these will be my breeders and I am only going to kill 2 roosters to try out. Just trying to figure out what week buy weighing them every week.

 

[Chef JimmyJ]

If you have the time, 16 Weeks to about 5 pounds, to approx 1 year, 10 to 13 pounds, Jersey Giants, are big, meaty, docile and will give eggs until harvest time. The breed was developed in the 19th century as an alternative to Turkey during the holidays. I've not tasted one but the 5 I own are pretty meaty...JJ

 

[Compost King]

If you have the time, 16 Weeks to about 5 pounds, to approx 1 year, 10 to 13 pounds, Jersey Giants, are big, meaty, docile and will give eggs until harvest time. The breed was developed in the 19th century as an alternative to Turkey during the holidays. I've not tasted one but the 5 I own are pretty meaty...JJ

I do not like them because it takes so much feed to get them up to size. Maybe if they could size up on free ranging and I had the pasture to do it I would consider them. I have 2 young Jersey Giants and they are the slowest growers from their brooder. I have them to cross with my rapid growing meat hybrids (red rangers, Slow White broilers, and their mixed offsprings). I am just curious if it is possible to get their giant size to come in much faster. I doubt it works out great but its worth the experiment.
If I had a choice between Leghorns and Jersey Giants for meat birds I would take Leghorns. Sure Leghorns do not have much meat but they put on that little amount of meat fast and on very little feed. I do not recommend Leghorns as meat birds though. But I can see why people who like to grow birds all the way out before they harvest would like Jersey Giants.

 

[Parront]

I do not like them because it takes so much feed to get them up to size. Maybe if they could size up on free ranging and I had the pasture to do it I would consider them. I have 2 young Jersey Giants and they are the slowest growers from their brooder. I have them to cross with my rapid growing meat hybrids (red rangers, Slow White broilers, and their mixed offsprings). I am just curious if it is possible to get their giant size to come in much faster. I doubt it works out great but its worth the experiment.
If I had a choice between Leghorns and Jersey Giants for meat birds I would take Leghorns. Sure Leghorns do not have much meat but they put on that little amount of meat fast and on very little feed. I do not recommend Leghorns as meat birds though. But I can see why people who like to grow birds all the way out before they harvest would like Jersey Giants.

Leghorn males need to be eaten early, they start to crow so soon! They are just a by-product of laying hens. I really like Leghorn layers, I just broke down and added some pullets only to an order from Ideal. I usually order st. run because I hate to think of wasted chicks, but I will have some of their meat birds, Red Broilers st. run and White Rocks st. run. So, if they are any good at sexing, no little boys here (this time)!

 

[Compost King]

Leghorn males need to be eaten early, they start to crow so soon! They are just a by-product of laying hens. I really like Leghorn layers, I just broke down and added some pullets only to an order from Ideal. I usually order st. run because I hate to think of wasted chicks, but I will have some of their meat birds, Red Broilers st. run and White Rocks st. run. So, if they are any good at sexing, no little boys here (this time)!

When it comes to egg production alone Leghorns are by far my favorite breed. Its not so much the egg size and amount of eggs they produce (for a production strain) Its how little they eat and how well they forage that makes them so great. One of my concerns about ordering straight run is that I always feared that the hatcheries might throw their males into the straight run bin after sexing them. But so far I have gotten 50% on my straight run orders.

 

[Parront]

When it comes to egg production alone Leghorns are by far my favorite breed. Its not so much the egg size and amount of eggs they produce (for a production strain) Its how little they eat and how well they forage that makes them so great. One of my concerns about ordering straight run is that I always feared that the hatcheries might throw their males into the straight run bin after sexing them. But so far I have gotten 50% on my straight run orders.

I got roughly 50% when I ordered 25 from Murray McMurray's, years ago. After that I let an Orpington hatch them and for a small batch it was all over the map! I just wanted a few, and our new place is not rooster-friendly. Brown Leghorns are my favorite egg-layers, so busy. Rocks are better eating, though! All the talk about the red meat birds has made me want to try some of those, too. Looks like 2 flocks in the chicken house. It's big enough!

 

[VictoriaTemple]

In defense of my beloved Jersey Giants, let me just say, there are meat birds and there are meat birds. If what you want is fast harvest, JG is not for you. They are much too beautiful, much too well mannered, and much too rare to raise steps away from the abattoir. And if you have ever tasted their eggs, you know better than to waste those precious fowl. They are a phenomenal dual purpose breed, IMHO the best around for someone who values quality and is patient. If patience doesn't work for you, there are plenty of hybrids that die young well enough. Different birds for different folks. But I am so sick of people complaining about time and feed bills. The Black brothers (who invented Jersey Giant) were professional poulterers, and would have known when to harvest their birds to hit the peaks. Some would have gone at 1 year (10-13 lbs.), Some would have seasoned another year, many would have gone at 3-4 years (peak, up to 22-25 lbs of good solid muscle), the granddads would likely have gone at 5. Finishing was also a priority, which puts a little polishing fat on a mature bird. What's more, you kill what you sell when you sell it. No refrigerator, no problem. That's humane, worthwhile meat production. A lost art, to be sure.

Ok rant over. If Jerseys eat too much, feed them grass. Mine eat about 1/5 of a pound of feed a day, plus weeds and scratch. Meat hybrids average 1/3 to 1/2 a pound daily. Please don't tell me JGs are hogs anymore!

 

[Mosey2003]

Not everyone wants to wait a year.

 

[wyoDreamer]

Don't ever want to raise CX again. Don't ever ever want to do BR for meat so that's a no go.[/QUOTE]

Why are you dead set against CX. If we know why you don't like them, you may get better recommendations. How do you plan to raise your meat birds? what are you looking for - besides meat.