Best Meat Birds

[meleewarrior5]

What are considered the BEST chickens for meat? I ran into a situation of getting too many birds for the coop I have and now need to "off" a few more than I intended. I have Black Australorps, White leghorns, and Rainbows. Which would be the smartest to butcher? Thanks!!

 

[popsicle]

What are considered the BEST chickens for meat? I ran into a situation of getting too many birds for the coop I have and now need to "off" a few more than I intended. I have Black Australorps, White leghorns, and Rainbows. Which would be the smartest to butcher? Thanks!!

I usually process the poorest layers first--of course that's after any egg eaters or feather pickers have seen their last tortilla.

For meat quality with your breeds: first Rainbows, then Australorps, last Leghorns. Probably also keeps in line with keeping the best layers around longer, though I'd be inclined to eat some Leghorns before some Australorps.

 

[meleewarrior5]

My birds are all babies at this point. 2 weeks old. When would be the prime time to take out the rainbows or australorps?

 

[blucoondawg]

Rainbows are a fast grower comparable the the Red broilers or red rangers they should have a decent carcass at 12 weeks if roosters id wait a couple weeks longer on hens they run smaller.

Australorp are a different story they're more a dual purpose breed than a straight meat bird I'd leave the roosters to at least 15 or 16 weeks, you can go a little longer and they'll put some more meat on but they will start to toughen and gain a stronger flavor the older they are

 

[meleewarrior5]

thank you so much for the advice!