Best Double Purpose Breed?

[Bullitt]

I'm actually planning on killing and eating my extra cockerels. I don't see a problem with it if it is done humanely. However, I've heard of hatcheries grinding up live chicks. http://greenfirefarms.com/2012/08/the-case-for-inefficiency/

I know My Pet Chicken doesn't, but their chicks are also more expensive. So I'd rather just breed my own.

Grind up live chicks? Where did you read, see, or hear this? I have not heard of that.

You would rather breed your own. Okay, but you have to purchase chickens to breed, and if you do not plan to show your chickens, there are many hatcheries that you can order chickens from.

Did you look at some of the possible breeds suggested? What do you think of those?

 

[Coopacabana]

The idea behind SQ birds was that they would be heavier & better for eating. How much worse are they at laying?

 

[Coopacabana]

Grind up live chicks? Where did you read, see, or hear this? I have not heard of that.

You would rather breed your own. Okay, but you have to purchase chickens to bred, and if you do not plan to show your chickens, there are many hatcheries that you can order chickens from.

Did you look at some of the possible breeds suggested? What do you think of those?

http://greenfirefarms.com/2012/08/the-case-for-inefficiency/ https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/628392/cruel-disposal-of-unwanted-chicks

I'm really interested in the mottled Javas. That rooster is beautiful.

 

[Bullitt]

The idea behind SQ birds was that they would be heavier & better for eating. How much worse are they at laying?

I said in general the hatchery chickens are better at egg-laying. That is because hatcheries breed for that. I do not think there is a significant size difference. It all depends on the particular breeder and the hatchery.

Here is a link to Cackle Hatchery's website that shows pictures of their Speckled Sussex. http://www.cacklehatchery.com/speckledsussexpage.html

And their Delawares: http://www.cacklehatchery.com/delaware.html

 

[Coopacabana]

I also wanted to buy from a breeder because I think that the birds are treated better.

 

[Bullitt]

http://greenfirefarms.com/2012/08/the-case-for-inefficiency/ https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/628392/cruel-disposal-of-unwanted-chicks

I'm really interested in the mottled Javas. That rooster is beautiful.

I started reading the post from Greenfire Farms until I read this: "The egg industry uses leghorn hens or some close variant. We need to say good-bye to these breeds that are completely unsuited for life outside an energy-intensive industrial agricultural model."

That is total garbage. White Leghorns are excellent chickens and many people have White Leghorns in their small flocks. In fact, White Leghorns are the most efficient chickens.

 

[Bullitt]

http://greenfirefarms.com/2012/08/the-case-for-inefficiency/ https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/628392/cruel-disposal-of-unwanted-chicks

I'm really interested in the mottled Javas. That rooster is beautiful.

Here is the answer. The type of hatcheries that sell to individuals are different than the hatcheries producing chicks for commercial operations.

"In most hatcheries that sell to the everyday public, extra roosters are often sold as extra warmer chicks, or in things like "fry pan specials" and the sort. They aren't ground up or instantly culled like hatcheries like Hyline does. That's what commercialized production layer hatcheries do."

 

[Coopacabana]

I starting read the post from Greenfire Farms until I read this: "The egg industry uses leghorn hens or some close variant. We need to say good-bye to these breeds that are completely unsuited for life outside an energy-intensive industrial agricultural model."

That is total garbage. White Leghorns are excellent chickens and many people have White Leghorns in their small flocks.

Yeah, I don't agree with that either. I loved my leghorn! The ground up chick thing was the reason I linked to that page.

 

[Bullitt]

I'm really interested in the mottled Javas. That rooster is beautiful.

Ideal Poultry sells Mottled Javas.

http://www.idealpoultry.com/assortment.html

 

[Coopacabana]

I said in general the hatchery chickens are better at egg-laying. That is because hatcheries breed for that. I do not think their is a significant size difference. It all depends on the particular breeder and the hatchery.

Here is a link to Cackle Hatchery's website that shows pictures of their Speckled Sussex. http://www.cacklehatchery.com/speckledsussexpage.html

And their Delawares: http://www.cacklehatchery.com/delaware.html

They look sort of thin to me. I have a Speckled Sussex from my local feed store (so from some hatchery) that is fatter. I have a couple Coronation Sussex and they dwarf my SS. I know they are the English style, but they look like a totally different breed.