Best meat breeds?

[gabbyliberty]

I am on week 3 with 25 Delaware “Broilers” from Murray McMurray.

This is my 3rd set of chicks lifetime. Most of them are growing well. They are about double the size of the layer chicks I have in the brooder with them. Some of them are actually out growing their feathering.

They are quite friendly and expect food whenever my hand goes into the brooder.

I do plan to keep 7-10 for breeding purposes.

at what age do you usually slaughter?

 

[Folly's place]

If you do Cornishx, plan around your weather, specifically the heat index. They are pathetic little guys, and really can't handle high heat. We grew some this year, and had a fan for them at their part of the coop, which helped keep them alive. Even at 80F they were panting!
Home raised will taste best, but can't ever compete with the super cheap grocery store birds. Personally I like the Freedom Rangers better; real chickens who aren't miserable most of the time, and who 'taste like chicken', not like the grocery birds. It's an acquired taste though.
Also, if you plan to use a processor rather than doing it at home, make an appointment very early!!! We made our appointment three months ahead of time, the earliest available when I called. Then, counted backwards and got chicks when they would be ready for that date. This has been true both in 2020 and this year, so be prepared for next year. Holding especially Cornishx birds longer is very tricky, and unlikely to go well.
Mary

 

[MildlyOffensiveChicken]

at what age do you usually slaughter?

I haven’t yet, 1st meat birds.

My plan is 13-15 weeks.

But my plans rarely work out.

They continue to grow well. A few runts in the 25.

 

[MildlyOffensiveChicken]

The largest of the McMurray Delaware’s at 3 1/2 weeks. There are a few a slightly smaller. And the rest are 70-80% this size. Also 3 runts.

 

[tmarsh83]

The largest of the McMurray Delaware’s at 3 1/2 weeks. There are a few a slightly smaller. And the rest are 70-80% this size. Also 3 runts.

Are you keeping a running thread of your experience with this line anywhere? They got my attention as soon as I saw them, and just as soon as I can extricate myself from town and get back to where I want to be, these were on my experiment list. So your experience is very intriguing to me, and I like the start they seem to be off to.

 

[MildlyOffensiveChicken]

I am not. I have too much going on currently

 

[Aviation1016]

I live in Polk city FL. We have 5 acres that I allow my chickens access to during the day. The meat chickens would be in a large coop with a large run. I have done a ton of research and I know this is what I want to do so all advice helps! Since I'm in Florida it's hot almost all the time... what are some things I could do to keep them cool? They will be in a shaded area so hopefully that will help a bit.

I live in Polk city, fl my self and have 6 acres. I have egg chickens and would like to get meet chickens that I can breed myself just for my family. I what to stay away from the Cornish x. What’s the next best breed?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I live in Polk city, fl my self and have 6 acres. I have egg chickens and would like to get meet chickens that I can breed myself just for my family. I what to stay away from the Cornish x. What’s the next best breed?

I liked the Asian Black's, but I don't think they're around anymore.

 

[Folly's place]

Cornishx birds do not manage heat well, so avoid them in warm weather. I prefer the Freedom Ranger types, and have had good experiences with them from that hatchery in Pennsylvania. There are several choices of birds that are similar, from them and from other hatcheries.. Slower growing, ready a few weeks later than those pathetic Cornishx birds, so more expensive to grow out, but healthier and taste better too.
Mary

 

[Ridgerunner]

Hi, welcome to the forum! Glad you joined!

I live in Polk city, fl my self and have 6 acres. I have egg chickens and would like to get meet chickens that I can breed myself just for my family. I what to stay away from the Cornish x. What’s the next best breed?

While you can eat any chicken there are three types we raise. Types, not breeds.

Cornish X were developed to be the ultimate meat chicken. They grow fast and have a great food to meat conversion rate but they are really hard to breed yourself. And you don't want them so enough said. Lots of people do not want them.

The next type are Rangers. Lots of different strains of these. Rangers are bred to be butchered around 12 weeks of age and can be pasture-raised easier than the Cornish X. They grow so fast and eat so much that they can be challenging to keep and breed but as long as you don't overfeed them you can usually keep them to breed. There may be a learning curve. They are hybrids, not a breed, so they don't breed true but practically every one of them are good meat birds. This "not breed true" mainly means that some are better than others. They can possibly eat themselves to death but not nearly as badly as the Cornish X.

Then we have the dual purpose breeds. A lot of different breeds. Even at 16 or 20 weeks they will not be as big as the 12-week-old Rangers, let alone the 6 to 8-week-old Cornish X but a lot of us raise and eat them. They don't get too big to breed like the CX or Rangers might. People have their favorite breeds but that is a lot of personal opinion. Everybody can have a different opinion. What breed are your egg layers? Have you tried eating them?

I hesitate to mention breeds because others are going to have other preferences. I'd suggest you consider Delawares, Rocks, Wyandottes, and New Hampshire. But there are a lot of other great ones that should do well in Florida.

My suggestion since we all have different conditions and preferences is to get several of three or four different types or breeds and raise them yourself. See which do best in your conditions and which you like best. My opinion does not count as much as your opinion for your chickens so try a few and see what you like.