Best meat/egg chicken breed.

[ShadyHoller]

I've got only good things to say about both Delawares and Austrolorpes. We've had wonderful results with a cross between DE x RIR - they embody the best of both breeds: the cockerels get big (and delicious) and the hens lay well. And they are mellow. The funny thing is, before Pringle wrote to suggest the Austrolorpe, I was just toying with the idea of breeding Austrolorpe into our DE x RIR crosses, to create the Super Mongrel.

 

[Chickanmanfromarkansas]

Just about any of the brown egg layers make descent meat birds given long wnough to grow off. Rhode Island Reds, New Hampshire,
Delaware, Buff Orpington, Black Australorp, White Plymouth Rock, Partridge Plymouth Rock, etc, you get the hint.

 

[Ibicella]

If I have to pick just one, I vote for the black Austrolorpe. They are prolific layers and will lay lovely large brown eggs even through winter. They are also big meaty birds that yield a good amount of meat. They also tend to have a good disposition.

Chickanmanfromarkansas gave a great list of others that I really heartily recommend as well. The Buff Orpingtons are especially awesome if you like big thick drumsticks!

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Barred or White Rocks, Rhode Island Reds, New Hampshires, Delawares, Black Australorps, Buff Orpingtons, White Wyandottes. Any of them will get the job done for you. They are all breeds that had historical importance as dual-purpose chickens.

Only select your largest, best laying, and fastest maturing stock to breed from and you will steadily improve the quality of your birds.

 

[foxhomechickens]

My Rhode Island Reds grew up faster then any of the many others but were still talking months as opposed to weeks with a true meaty.

 

[SteveH]

I don't know why nobody mentioned the Sussex ; great dual purpose with good size , they will brood , speckled are beautiful and not so visible to predators , and lights [ columbian ] are available for those wanting white feathers to make cleaner looking carcasses .

 

[Jared77]

Hows the carcass on the Australorp? Is it clean like a white birds? I know they are supposed to have white skin but Ive heard that Barred Rocks can produce mottled carcasses?

 

[PuckPuckPuck]

Orpington: 8 lb Dual Purpose [formerly Meat] average to above average brown eggs frequent, brooder; excellent mother very cold hardy moderately early maturing adaptable to free range; very adaptable to confinement; docile; more easily handled; can be bullied. Good winter layers


Henderson's Handy-Dandy Chicken Chart

 

[duckfat]

We are trying marans, both cuckoo and black copper, as a dual purpose bird. We think the eggs will sell well, and surplus cockerels should be tasty.

 

[knjinnm]

Hi,
Has anyone considered Chantecler?
Developed in Canada in early 20th century by Brother Wilfred as a good meat & egg bird that could stand the extreme cold.

good
brown

good winter layer
cushion yellow skin &
shanks red frequent brooder; good mother extremely cold hardy early maturing