Best meat bird (not chicken)?

[PotterWatch]

It's inaccurate to say they can't stand and that they die by 10wks. If you keep them in a confined space where they don't get to forage at all and you feed them heavily then it is possible for those things to be true. However, if you raise them as many people do in their backyards, they don't have leg problems and can live far beyond 10wks. Ours never live longer than that because we raise them to be butchered at 8 or 9wks, not because they all keel over. We rarely have one with leg problems though it does happen sometimes and the instance off flip (heart failure), is exceedingly low.

 

[Spifflove]

It's inaccurate to say they can't stand and that they die by 10wks. If you keep them in a confined space where they don't get to forage at all and you feed them heavily then it is possible for those things to be true. However, if you raise them as many people do in their backyards, they don't have leg problems and can live far beyond 10wks. Ours never live longer than that because we raise them to be butchered at 8 or 9wks, not because they all keel over. We rarely have one with leg problems though it does happen sometimes and the instance off flip (heart failure), is exceedingly low.

If it can happen it is not inaccurate. Most of us have to learn the hard way before we learn the right way. I suggested a slow growing breed to avoid the above said problems.

 

[Duckchick2011]

I think I get what you guys are saying.

These birds are made to grow as big and as fast as possible and then be butchered. The slower growing purer cornish have less problems with heart and legs giving out than the faster growing crosses right? This way I could raise meat birds but avoid all the escapes and such. The idea is okay but to be truthful I'd rather raise a critter that could escape every now and then and have some quality of life than something made to sit around and get fat. I would feel guilty just looking at them sitting there, maybe I'm being a little silly (sorry

) but it's just how I feel.

Besides, how can something that dies so soon and can never stand reproduce ...or is that just the crosses? Alright, so maybe I'm still a tiny bit confused, haha.

Anyway guys, I have settled on Rabbits for meat, it makes the best sense especially since I already have a few does due in about a week.

If I do get into some species of bird this spring it will be most likely for eggs. I was already talking to my dad and we are discussing a way to keep ducks that will cut out on the mess. Perhaps find some way of moving them between the lake behind us and a coop at night (which we should have done with the last ducks).

Thank you for all your input, sorry for being so picky, haha.

 

[Spifflove]

I think I get what you guys are saying.

These birds are made to grow as big and as fast as possible and then be butchered. The slower growing purer cornish have less problems with heart and legs giving out than the faster growing crosses right? This way I could raise meat birds but avoid all the escapes and such. The idea is okay but to be truthful I'd rather raise a critter that could escape every now and then and have some quality of life than something made to sit around and get fat. I would feel guilty just looking at them sitting there, maybe I'm being a little silly (sorry

) but it's just how I feel.

Besides, how can something that dies so soon and can never stand reproduce ...or is that just the crosses?

Personally guys, I have decided to stick with Rabbits for meat, it makes the best sense especially since I already have a few does due in about a week.

If I do get into some species of bird this spring it will be most likely for eggs. I was already talking to my dad and we are discussing a way to keep ducks that will cut out on the mess. Perhaps find some way of moving them between the lake behind us and a coop at night (which we should have done with the last ducks).

Thank you for all your input, sorry for being so picky, haha.

Np, nothing wrong with musing things through. Why didn't you list the lake in your assets? Looks like you answered your own question.

 

[Duckchick2011]

Yep, I guess I did didn't I? haha, but that is what I love about forums, you get to talk through things and explore all your options. Half the time I find I had the answer right under my nose the whole time but I like to see if there is another answer out there beyond what I can think of.

 

[PotterWatch]

It's inaccurate to say they can't stand and that they die by 10wks. If you keep them in a confined space where they don't get to forage at all and you feed them heavily then it is possible for those things to be true. However, if you raise them as many people do in their backyards, they don't have leg problems and can live far beyond 10wks. Ours never live longer than that because we raise them to be butchered at 8 or 9wks, not because they all keel over. We rarely have one with leg problems though it does happen sometimes and the instance off flip (heart failure), is exceedingly low.

If it can happen it is not inaccurate.  Most of us have to learn the hard way before we learn the right way.  I suggested a slow growing breed to avoid the above said problems.

It is inaccurate when you state it as though it is an unavoidable problem with every bird. That would be like saying egglayers will get egg bound and die early. Just because it can happen doesn't mean it will. With proper management, meaties are great birds that are healthy and a very efficient source of meat. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to raise a great batch of cornish cross with very little loss.

 

[NYboy]

There is no free lunch. Any animal kept correctly is going to be a lot of work.

 

[LightningTFarm]

If you want to raise Cornish crosses with minimal problems, take a look at the thread on fermented feed. It looks easy to do and makes them grow only slightly slower but with fewer health problems, and eliminates the really stinky diarrhea they seem to have. The thread gives you all the info you need to do it.