Best dual purpose bird?

[Beekissed]

I vote for New Hampshire Reds, White Rocks or Buff Orpingtons. All three finished out the same size and matured earlier 4 1/2-5 mo. than the rest of my flock. The WR grew faster but the others caught up in size around the egg-laying time.

 

[beakkeeper]

What about Black Stars?

 

[silkiechicken]

Black stars are a sexlink thus a egg producing mutt. They probably aren't as meaty as a true "dual" and won't really breed true.

 

[danrut101]

New Hampshire Red is, in my opinion, the best dual purpose bird. With Delaware's coming in 2nd.
When I raised birds for the live bird markets, NHR was the best. I select bred for several years to get birds that would reach 5 lbs at 15 weeks. These are roos, of course. The hens would come in around 4.5 lbs. I didn't put any emphasis on egg production but would still get about 70-75% lay each day.
What you really want to look at is feed to weight gain. With dual purpose meat birds, you really want no more than a 4 to 4.5 lb of feed to equal 1 lb of weight gain on your birds. I was actually down to 3.75~4 / 1 on mine. But I live in south Texas and it stays warm here and they don't need any extra feed for warmth.
Also, here in TX, the bird markets didn't want Delawares as they did not want a white bird as it reminded them too much of Broilers. But Delawares do have a very similar weight gain to feed ratio as NHR's. Maybe even a bit better.

Hope this helps.

Danny D

 

[danrut101]

Also, as mentioned earlier. Seperate your roos from hens early. This keeps them from getting their hormones all in an uproar.
It will also allow you to feed your roos a higher protein and dress them out a bit quicker. This is especially what you want to do if you plan to sell your hens as laying hens and sell your roos as meat birds.

You want to keep your hens on regular chick starter(or something similar) until week 16 or so, then go to layer feed.
But your roos you could get them a broiler starter(about 24% protein) for 4 weeks, then drop them down to something similar to a chick starter(about 22%) until they reach 2 weeks before butcher. Then you need to take them off any kind of medicated feed. If they are at the weight you want, put them on a 16-18% feed to maintain them. IF you still want more weight keep them on a non medicated 20~22%.

This isn't exact because every breed at every different part of the country is different. But it's a start.

All I can say is find you a good local feed mill that will mix feed for you. It'll save you a bundle. Also, if you let them eat plenty of bugs n stuff, the meat will be way better.

Oh yeah, your Buff Orps will also grow very slowwwww and they will eat wayyy too much. About a 10/1 feed to weight gain.

Danny D

 

[Bassleg]

Delawares they are meat bird they lay brown eggs and they feather out at early and that's my vote. Good luck there just is to many good ones to have.

 

[beakkeeper]

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Thanks for your help, as always, silkiechicken! What would I do without you?