Best meat birds

[Mikefoldsben]

I’ve been told that dual purpose birds are better than just standard broilers. I’ve also heard the opposite. I just wanted to get some opinions from all of you if you wouldn’t mind.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

I think it depends on your personal goals.

If you want chicks and eggs... DP is great... but you deal with livestock full time. And don't generally get those giant breast so many people like, but a lot more "chicken" flavor.

With broilers you can do all in all out which helps eliminate any parasite or disease concern. They have giant breast and being so young and thin skinned have more variety in how to prepare. It's a softer textured meat with virtually no flavor unless you add it.

Just carcass alone.. broilers are cheaper and faster to raise without any rooster antics. But my DP breeds... I can (and do) sell chicks... which offsets my cost... but NOT my time... however... hatching joy benefits my mental health in ways that may not be measurable!

I also consider ALL chickens to be edible... and raise what I like even layer and bantam strains and eat the extra cockerels. Eh, maybe less meat... but better enrichment to MY lifestyle! I have a hobby with the side bonus of feeding my family.

 

[Ms Biddy]

It's a matter of preference. I prefer a heritage meat bird but they will never be ready to process at 8 wks old and some people don't want to wait longer than that. I get 4-5 lb dressed carcasses at 4.5 months from extra cockerels. The are excellent foragers and can breed naturally. The hens lay pretty well and are good moms.

 

[speedy2020]

I only raise dual purpose White Bresse. If you want broiler, go Costco and buy it $4.99 cooked per bird.

 

[Acre4Me]

Dual purpose has more of a taste, and take longer to grow out. We culled 3 unwanted cockerels st approx 16 weeks and they were stringy, and not much meat. Flavor was good, texture not so much.

We also raised white feathered meat birds (“Super Roaster” and “White Mountain Broiler” strains). We processed large carcasses at 7.5 weeks. Daily work to keep them watered and fed, and to clean their poop out of the brooder. Once we put them outside during the day the poop was not as big of a problem, but keeping them cool and well watered became the concern.

I would disagree they were tasteless. We quite enjoyed them as they had more flavor than a store bird, and a better, more natural, texture than store bought birds as they didn’t have extra salt solution pumped into them. But, overall, less flavor than a DP.

The advantage to a meat bird is in/out in 7-8 weeks on average. Often butchering all at same time, or across 2 days. Can set up temporary accommodations since it is only a short grow-out period.

The advantage to DP, is eggs, and/ability to cull when convenient or when you need a meal. And some people greatly prefer the flavor of DP. And no separate grow out area.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

And no separate grow out area.

All my DP cockerels do need a separate grow out area or they will aggressively compete to mate the hen... not aggressive toward each other... but get a bunch of stags and they will hold down the weakest hen and take turns mating her.

Made it easier to cull my first though.

 

[Acre4Me]

All my DP cockerels do need a separate grow out area or they will aggressively compete to mate the hen... not aggressive toward each other... but get a bunch of stags and they will hold down the weakest hen and take turns mating her.

Made it easier to cull my first though.

Sorry was thinking more along the lines that meat birds (big and eat a lot) need to be separate from the regular chicks/chickens, egglayers. But, true males need to be separated as they grow out if using DP males for meat.

 

[Mrs. K]

I have done both, and will do the meat birds again. I thought they were very flavorful, but have found the dual purpose birds really only good for soup and casseroles, they were much tougher than the meat birds.

I am fortunate that I have two coops. I would not recommend raising the meat birds with the laying flock. But I have that option.

Mrs K

 

[sunny022]

I’ve been told that dual purpose birds are better than just standard broilers. I’ve also heard the opposite. I just wanted to get some opinions from all of you if you wouldn’t mind.

Hi. I personally dont care for the idea of cornish cross. I prefer Heritage Birds. Ive bred Dorkings for several years and and switching to another breed. LOVE the dorkings, but they love to tree roost and I'm over getting them out of the trees. Considering Delawares, also Orpingtons. But never an industrial bird for this girl. Good luck

 

[RoosterML]

Considering Delawares, also Orpingtons. But never an industrial bird for this girl. Good luck

I have Delaware's in the incubator now, plan on mating them with my Orpington roos. Hoping to have a nice size with fairly quick growth.
I laughed so hard the other day. My Black Orpington Rooster (big boy). Tried getting air born to come meet me at the fence. I think he raised up about 12" total off the ground and maybe lasted for 3-4'. I still have him an A for effort.