Can someone explain the difference to me?

[Adorae]

I think I have my egg laying chickens planned out for my future little chicken farm, but I also want meat chicken. I figured I would get a few of different types and compare how they taste.
Im not worried so much about growth, except I want a tender, but flavorful, bird.
So here is the question, can someone explain to me the differences on these red hybrid birds, cinnamon queens, Dixie rainbows, big red broilers, red sexlinks and blacksex links. I don’t want to raise all of them if they are essentially the same hybrids.

Other birds I’m looking at getting are Bresse, Marans, buckeyes, and sulmtaler.

I’d love to hear anyones opinions on those meat chickens as well.

 

[cherrynberry]

I think I have my egg laying chickens planned out for my future little chicken farm, but I also want meat chicken. I figured I would get a few of different types and compare how they taste.
Im not worried so much about growth, except I want a tender, but flavorful, bird.
So here is the question, can someone explain to me the differences on these red hybrid birds, cinnamon queens, Dixie rainbows, big red broilers, red sexlinks and blacksex links. I don’t want to raise all of them if they are essentially the same hybrids.

Other birds I’m looking at getting are Bresse, Marans, buckeyes, and sulmtaler.

I’d love to hear anyones opinions on those meat chickens as well.

RSLs and BSLs are just names for a BUNCH of sexlinked chickens. RSLs include: Cinnamon Queens, Golden Comets, Bovan browns, etc. BSLs are also sexlinked, but include sexlinked barring, where males are barred and females aren't. Both RSLs and BSLs are NOT meat birds in the sense that they do not grow EXTREMELY rapidly, but they are dual purpose. They lay very well and can be butchered if need be.

Red broilers on the other hand ARE meat birds. They grow faster than dual purpose birds, but slower than the Cornish X. From what I hear, they dress well.

But above all, are the Cornish Xs. They grow the fastest. They don't reproduce well and aren't bred for egg laying though.

Marans and Buckeyes are all heritage birds. They are not hybrids like the rest of the breeds I have covered. They are all dual purpose breeds too. Bresse dress well, but are not listed in the APA.

I don't have a meat bird flock, so I am not an expert in doing mass butchers, but I do like to research about breeds.

The only birds I have butchered were all EEs (Easter Eggers). They are mutts, and also dual purpose breeds. They were delicious! I definitely recommend butchering at 6-8 months for the average "dual purpose" bird.

 

[Adorae]

Thank you for taking the time to reply. I guess I’m just reading so much stuff that it’s all getting scrambled in my head.

From what I’m reading, I’m not really interested in the Cornish x, they may produce well on meat, but they don’t seem like real chickens. I do want a breed/hybrid that can lay for the next generation. But what I’m looking for may not be possible.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Thank you for taking the time to reply. I guess I’m just reading so much stuff that it’s all getting scrambled in my head.

From what I’m reading, I’m not really interested in the Cornish x, they may produce well on meat, but they don’t seem like real chickens. I do want a breed/hybrid that can lay for the next generation. But what I’m looking for may not be possible.

There is no reason you can't raise your own. Don't get focused on breed, focus on what you want out of a bird, and what a bird offers for your environment. RSL/BSL (at least the ones we usually talk about here) are basically purpose bred layers - typically very early to start laying, large (or larger) eggs, high frequency. Due to parent stock, BSL tend to be a little larger than RSL - as a "pure" layer, that's not very attractive - they eat more to maintain the larger body weight, but as a more dual-purpose bird, that's somethign of a benefit. As hybrids, none will breed "true", but they certainly can be bred, and will mostly throw useful genetics. You will lose the ability to sex-link at birth (their most valuable characteristic), but depending on your roo, you will likely continue to get early laying large egg producers of small to moderate body size.

The big Red Broiler is an attempt to manufacture a more meat, less egg-focused, dual purpose bird. I've heard good things.

The CX is a purpose built meat bird. They are quick to grow, but slow to lay, lay medium eggs, infrequently. NOT what you want.

You might also want to look into the various "ranger" lines - a lot of it is marketing, but again, the emphasis is on a more meaty, less egg focused, dual purpose bird with some ability to free range.

Your management methods will determine flavor and texture somewhat. Active birds are less tender, more flavorful. Free rangers most of all (also, slowest in weight gain). Tractor-raised birds are in a sort of middle ground, while pen-kept are the fastest growing, most tender. Flavor deepens with age, and particularly with hormones - texture becomes more pronounced as well. What you feed will likely influence flavor, but not texture.

Breast/thigh ratio is primarily a function of breed. For the CX and a few others, its pretty high. For most other breeds, more dark meat. Its not unusual for a bird I butcher to be about 1/3 breast and wings (by weight), 2/3 thigh and legs.

and finally, chicken tastes like chicken. With few possible exceptions, the human palette is not nearly discerning enough to taste the almost insignificant differences between the few birds that have significant variations in their genetics - most likely what can be detected is a factor of the way in which they are raised. an 8 week old, free fed, pen kept CX on a high corn diet with all that subcutaneous fat will taste much different from a 6 mo old free range, feed restricted mutt with a lean skin and intramuscular fat - but a 6 mo old CX on the same diet and management is just as flavorful, AND JUST AS TOUGH.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Last note. MODERATE EXPECTATIONS.

There is no perfect all purpose bird. The traits that make good free rangers are not the traits that make good egg layers, or good meat birds. You can sacrifice two to get one that's really good, or with some work, you can get something that's mostly average.

and you can breed your own, for your needs - it can be very enjoyable. You can do so either modern scientifically, via controlled breeding and some knowledge of genetics (it will require separate facilities to keep the birds apart and control pairings). Or you can go serious old school, and cull your way to your desired outcome. It takes longer, but requires much less of you in genetic knowledge and facilities.

 

[Adorae]

Last note. MODERATE EXPECTATIONS.

There is no perfect all purpose bird. The traits that make good free rangers are not the traits that make good egg layers, or good meat birds. You can sacrifice two to get one that's really good, or with some work, you can get something that's mostly average.

and you can breed your own, for your needs - it can be very enjoyable. You can do so either modern scientifically, via controlled breeding and some knowledge of genetics (it will require separate facilities to keep the birds apart and control pairings). Or you can go serious old school, and cull your way to your desired outcome. It takes longer, but requires much less of you in genetic knowledge and facilities.

Thank you so much for going in-depth in your explanation, it was incredibly helpful for me.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Thank you so much for going in-depth in your explanation, it was incredibly helpful for me.

Hopeful people need not repeat my mistakes (unless they want to!) It's been a learning experience.

 

[Iluveggers]

Thank you so much for going in-depth in your explanation, it was incredibly helpful for me.

If you are just starting out, you could try a dual-purpose breed like RIR, Barred Rock, Delaware, and then let them hatch out new layers. Let the boys grow to the desired size and cull all but 1-2 of them. The following year, cull your oldest females once they slow down in egg production, and let your youngest girls take over. Rinse & repeat. It will take longer to grow the birds but they will sustain themselves. If you try to breed Cornish X many times they will not even make it to laying age.
Other option is buy hybrid layers and meat birds separately, rebuy meat birds every year, and cull the hybrids & rebuy once they start slowing in production (probably in 2-3 years max).

 

[Adorae]

If you are just starting out, you could try a dual-purpose breed like RIR, Barred Rock, Delaware, and then let them hatch out new layers. Let the boys grow to the desired size and cull all but 1-2 of them. The following year, cull your oldest females once they slow down in egg production, and let your youngest girls take over. Rinse & repeat. It will take longer to grow the birds but they will sustain themselves. If you try to breed Cornish X many times they will not even make it to laying age.
Other option is buy hybrid layers and meat birds separately, rebuy meat birds every year, and cull the hybrids & rebuy once they start slowing in production (probably in 2-3 years max).

I have already decided on whiting true blues for my egg layers. I adore the idea of blue eggs. But looking into them, they are not near birds at all, so I need to figure that portion out.

 

[Angel07]

Heritage breeds would be a good idea. Sussex, Barred Rock, Australorps etc. Lays fairly well and good meat. In my opinion, light sussex get very large and don't lay heaps of eggs but lay enough for breeding the next generation for you. Good luck!