Best Dual Purpose Bird?

[Backyard Bob]

I am glad to hear about the meat of the Black Copper Marans, because I am going to caponize two roos this weekend or next. I have 3 BCM's laying, and my husband LOVES the eggs. They really are richer than some of the other layers, and their eggs are usually extra-large to jumbo). In fact my husband wants to breed BCM's for the eggs, so the roos will likely end up capons to get them bigger but still tender before harvesting. This will be the first summer with the hens(bought them all this past fall during molt), so good to know about the reduced laying in the heat.

Where did you purchase your birds from?

 

[BCMaraniac]

@BackyardBob, I live in NE TN, and found a local listing on Craig's list. turns out, she is breeding, and I think I got some that didn't fit her breeding program. I bought two hens and a pullet, the hens coming out of their first molt....looking a bit scraggly. I bought a pair of Lavender Orpington's from her as well, and the roo protects the girls. The BCM"S have turned out to be beautiful birds, and lay wonderful eggs. My husband separates the BCM eggs from the rest of our eggs.....Private Stock, he says. I found a guy at the local lumbar yard who has BLUE Copper Marans, and is going to sell me some pullets. I have a juvenile BCM roo, so I may breed the black and the blues to the black roo. Then I may get blues, blacks, or speckled( think that is what they call them). As long as they lay good eggs, my hubby will be happy. I will caponize the roos