Best meat bird for me?

[LaynaDon95]

the meat is a lot different too between a muscovy and a pekin (at least it is to me).. when I cook a muscovy I treat it more like beef or veal

I am about to place an order from Ideal, so I might order some Pekins. I read more about Muscovies last night and they take forever to mature. I also prefer lighter meat, and Muscovies are mostly dark. Do Pekins have more dark or light meat? I haven't read much about them because we didn't have any available locally, but since I'm ordering from Ideal anyways, I guess it doesn't matter.

 

[Oregon Blues]

Ducks are all dark meat, and very rich. If you want white meat, I seriously suggest Cornish Cross chickens. You can't breed them, but they are cheap to buy, have excellent feed conversion, and they have enormous breast meat.

 

[yinepu]

Ducks are all dark meat, and very rich. If you want white meat, I seriously suggest Cornish Cross chickens. You can't breed them, but they are cheap to buy, have excellent feed conversion, and they have enormous breast meat.

X2

the difference between pekins and muscovys (in my experience) is that the muscovys have more of the "flavor and texture" of veal or beef... (not identical mind you.. just seem to resemble veal or beef more so than tasting like a regular duck)
so we use them as a "beef substitute" around here

 

[LaynaDon95]

Okay, thanks.

 

[kopeck]

I'm in the same boat as you. I'm going to try Delawares. They were the meat bird of choice before the Cornish cross came about.

I've got eggs coming today or tomorrow. Kind of the building block for my flock. Once I get things going I can hatch out what I need, keep the pullets for laying and the guys can hang out in the freezer.

I'm not sure I would put to much stock into hatchery stock heritage breeds for meat. The RIRs I have are not big at all and nothing close to the SOP.

K

 

[LaynaDon95]

I'm in the same boat as you. I'm going to try Delawares. They were the meat bird of choice before the Cornish cross came about.

I've got eggs coming today or tomorrow. Kind of the building block for my flock. Once I get things going I can hatch out what I need, keep the pullets for laying and the guys can hang out in the freezer.

I'm not sure I would put to much stock into hatchery stock heritage breeds for meat. The RIRs I have are not big at all and nothing close to the SOP.

K

I have a couple RIRs that I got from my grandmother for my birthday and they are full grown. I've hatched a few of their babies and I've found the same thing. They aren't nearly big enough. The rooster, sure. But the hen isn't very big and the babies aren't getting big very fast either. My Barnevelder hen on the other hand... she's massive. She takes a good heave to lift up. I have no idea where she came from because I got her from a friend, who acquired her from another friend. I'm ordering 2 Barnevelder roosters today. If they end up big, too, then I'll probably use their babies for meat. We'll see.
If you think to, will you let me know how the Delawares go?

 

[kopeck]

I'll try and post something when it's all said and done.

Right now I just need to get these guys hatched. One step at a time!

K

 

[wyoDreamer]

Some on BYC have been raising Freedom Rangers and keeping some as foundation stock for their meat flock. Sound like there is some success hatching out their eggs for a new batch of meaties. I don't recall if they had any go broody or not, but that is what incubators are for, right?

 

[LaynaDon95]

I'll try and post something when it's all said and done.

Right now I just need to get these guys hatched. One step at a time!

K

I know the feeling. XD

Some on BYC have been raising Freedom Rangers and keeping some as foundation stock for their meat flock. Sound like there is some success hatching out their eggs for a new batch of meaties. I don't recall if they had any go broody or not, but that is what incubators are for, right?

I'm looking into Freedom Rangers, actually. It sounds like they have the most potential for me, so far.

 

[BethM]

I am looking for a different meat bird now too. We have 8 Cornish Crosses and I am not enjoying them. The first day outside our hens (everyone is the same age) pecked their vents and I had some serious wounds. Now thanks to the stress and antibacterial ointment most of them have vent gleet. I have spent more time cleaning chicken butt in the past week than I want to admit. A fast growing bird is a good thing, but these guys do it too fast. I will be slaughtering them in a week or two (sooner if the gleet doesn't clear up) and am looking for another bird to try this summer. I was thinking of Delawares or Freedom Rangers. My only complaint about the Freedom Rangers (or Rainbow Rangers) is that you have to get 25 other than that they seem great. I have 11 other birds and 36 is a little more than I want to take on right now.