BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[ronott1]

Heritage Thread has been removed and split into two. The original now stops at October and most of the post since then have been moved:

Quick informational note. Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl thread has been Split into two threads.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/849142/what-happened-to-bob-blosls-heritage-large-fowl-thread

Posted by: flockwatcher

We've split it into two threads and returned them both to the Breeds forum.

Thanks for your patience.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/400344/bob-blosls-heritage-large-fowl-thread/0_100

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/849075/heritage-large-fowl-thread-phase-ii/0_100

 

[3riverschick]

And the original HLF is now a stickey in Breeding and Genetics!
Best,
Karen

 

[hellbender]

And the original HLF is now a stickey in Breeding and Genetics!
Best,
Karen

Heritage Thread has been removed and split into two. The original now stops at October and most of the post since then have been moved:

Quick informational note. Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl thread has been Split into two threads.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/849142/what-happened-to-bob-blosls-heritage-large-fowl-thread

Posted by: flockwatcher

We've split it into two threads and returned them both to the Breeds forum.

Thanks for your patience.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/400344/bob-blosls-heritage-large-fowl-thread/0_100

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/849075/heritage-large-fowl-thread-phase-ii/0_100

Thank you both for the info.

 

[3riverschick]

Raising Roasters vs Broilers

Well I have come to a rather startling, tho very basic conclusion. I have been approaching breeding Light Sussex as breeding a dual purpose breed that lays. Seems eggs is mostly what people want and discuss on the Net these days. That's wrong. I had not started out to have a meat breed. I was hoping to have a breed that was an egg layer that also could be used for meat. Like the Marans. Dual purpose birds. So doesn't matter whether they are used for eggs or meat, right? Wrong. Can be used for either one , right? Wrong. I am discovering that f these dual purpose breeds they usually are one aspect ...which can also be used for the other purpose.
Ok, so I have a breed that was originally a meat bird and was later developed as a layer. But what kind of meat bird. I am finding out that makes a difference too? Roaster or broiler. I doubt the English of early last century broiled their birds. The English traditionally have enjoyed, nay...made art, of roast meat of all kinds.
So what's the difference in growing out a roaster vs a broiler? Different feeds at different times? Different exercise and supplements? Anything else?

Has anyone studied this?
Thanks for sharing,
Karen

 

[ronott1]

Raising Roasters vs Broilers

Well I have come to a rather startling, tho very basic conclusion. I have been approaching breeding Light Sussex as breeding a dual purpose breed that lays. Seems eggs is mostly what people want and discuss on the Net these days. That's wrong. I had not started out to have a meat breed. I was hoping to have a breed that was an egg layer that also could be used for meat. Like the Marans. Dual purpose birds. So doesn't matter whether they are used for eggs or meat, right? Wrong. Can be used for either one , right? Wrong. I am discovering that f these dual purpose breeds they usually are one aspect ...which can also be used for the other purpose.
Ok, so I have a breed that was originally a meat bird and was later developed as a layer. But what kind of meat bird. I am finding out that makes a difference too? Roaster or broiler. I doubt the English of early last century broiled their birds. The English traditionally have enjoyed, nay...made art, of roast meat of all kinds.
So what's the difference in growing out a roaster vs a broiler? Different feeds at different times? Different exercise and supplements? Anything else?

Has anyone studied this?
Thanks for sharing,
Karen

Great Question!

I am interested in the answer.

 

[BGMatt]

                Raising Roasters vs Broilers

   Well I have come to a rather startling, tho very basic conclusion. I have been approaching breeding Light Sussex as breeding a dual purpose breed that lays. Seems eggs is mostly what people want and discuss on the Net these days. That's wrong. I had not started out to have a meat breed. I was hoping to have a breed that was an egg layer that also could be used for meat. Like the Marans. Dual purpose birds. So doesn't matter whether they are used for eggs or meat, right? Wrong. Can be used for either one , right? Wrong. I am discovering that f these dual purpose breeds they usually are one aspect ...which can also be used for the other purpose.
    Ok, so I have a breed that was originally a meat bird and was later developed as a layer. But what kind of meat bird. I am finding out that makes a difference too? Roaster or broiler. I doubt the English of early last century broiled their birds. The English traditionally have enjoyed, nay...made art, of roast meat of all kinds.
 So what's the difference in growing out a roaster vs a broiler? Different feeds at different times? Different exercise and supplements? Anything else?

 Has anyone studied this?
 Thanks for sharing,
 Karen

They are actually defined terms. Ther only thing that has changed with those definitions over time is the age of slaughter. A broiler/fryer is a younger smaller bird (3-4 lbs by definition of national chicken council), while a roaster is a larger older bird with more of a fat layer (5-7 lbs by definition). They do as the name implies favor different cooking techniques.

Broilers would be the CornishX hybrids or going back to heritage breeds would be a New Hampshire or Delaware, while roaster would be slightly slower meat breeds, Brahma, Cornish, etc. I'm not sure which group the Sussex would fall under, but as you say with its origin I'd imagine it was developed as more of a roaster, but depending in methods used for raising could have filled either role. Old cookbooks will call for broiler or roaster.

 

[3riverschick]

Is there a difference in how they are raised? Just in the way they are "finished " before slaughter?
Or the age at slaughter? If there is enough difference in broilers and roasters to have used different breeds, there
are probably differences in raising. Yes? No?
Thanks,
Karen

 

[ronott1]

Is there a difference in how they are raised? Just in the way they are "finished " before slaughter?
Or the age at slaughter? If there is enough difference in broilers and roasters to have used different breeds, there
are probably differences in raising. Yes? No?
Thanks,
Karen

The only thing related that I have run across is Brahmas being raised as Roaster, taking longer and still being tender. It sounded like a breed difference and not a husbandry method.

Finishing with corn and milk will increase fat some so they very well may have used a method like this.

 

[3riverschick]

The only thing related that I have run across is Brahmas being raised as Roaster, taking longer and still being tender. It sounded like a breed difference and not a husbandry method.

Finishing with corn and milk will increase fat some so they very well may have used a method like this.

I know the Sussex have long been "finished" with a thin gruel made of milk, finely ground oats, and a bit of lamb tallow.
I think that's because they are a white skinned bird.
What I am trying to figure out is if the "finishing ( and slaughtering at an older age) is the only difference between raising broilers and roasters?
Or are there differences in the earlier raising before that time that I should know about?
Best,
Karen

 

[ronott1]

I know the Sussex have long been "finished" with a thin gruel made of milk, finely ground oats, and a bit of lamb tallow.
I think that's because they are a white skinned bird.
What I am trying to figure out is if the "finishing ( and slaughtering at an older age) is the only difference between raising broilers and roasters?
Or are there differences in the earlier raising before that time that I should know about?
Best,
Karen

A lot of it has to do with age.