Chicken Math

[BunnyBee]

Here is an idea.....

10 cornish cross meat birds (harvest at 7-12 weeks)
10 freedom rangers (harvest at 12-20 weeks)
10 dual purpose (harvest at 21-26 weeks)...I love buff orpingtons....
10 jersey giants (harvest at 27+ weeks)

Get a cheap kitchen scale and keep records on harvest weight, feed consumption, taste of meat, etc. After 6-8 months, you should know what works for you. Try a few different recipies with each type of bird. Make a fun experiment out of it.

PS: I added a few to each category because I would hate it if a fox came one night and your family missed Sunday dinner

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Great suggestions, thank you! Do you think a similar set-up would work with strictly heritage breed birds? I've been putting a lot of thought into it and I think I'd like to do things "pioneer style" and go with birds that early settlers might have used. I know it's a bit silly, but this is all supposed to be fun, right? =)

 

[OHSpartan]

You will have to rely on the wisdom of the community here for the answer to that question. Unfortunately, I don 't know much about heritage breeds.

 

[Bossroo]

One's wallet will be preprogrammed to be quite a bit thinner !

 

[Life is Good!]

I'm raising what is considered a 'heritage' breed - we raise Black Java's. Why? Because of all of the following reasons - no order - cold hardy, friendly, good layers (24eggs/wk from 5 hens), can be used as a dual-purpose, heritage, foundation stock of many current breeds, most popular breed in 1900, large birds that grow out in about 24wks - our rooster who is now in Camp Frigidaire, was a 4#8oz dressed bird. And lastly, because they are readily available to me through a local museum who is instrumental in their come-back. (So I'm supporting an organization I like, Garfield Farm Museum, as well as a chicken breed I like).

Yes, we "could" grow them out to be table birds. However, we choose to grow out Freedom Rangers for the table this spring. Frankly, the Rangers were SO much more friendly than any of the Java's we've ever had - why? Because they are extremely food-oriented - and I brought food! So therefore, in their eyes, I was a good human. (Think dog training - dogs who are food oriented are easy to train). Our Java's know we bring food, but frankly, don't really care. Now, I do use mealworms as treats - and THEN I'm very interesting to the Java chickens. But otherwise, they're busy doing their own thing.

We've been blessed with 12 Java chicks this spring - 9 are cockerals. So yes, 8 are going to go to Camp Frigidaire when I can't take their crowing any longer. Hopefully, they'll be big enough - but I know they'll not be 'full grown'. Cornish hens for dinner anyone?

This fall, we'll be growing out Cornish cross - why? Because of timing. We won't have the 12wks needed to grow out Rangers, but do have a solid 8 weeks of nice weather to grow out CX. So that's what we'll eat this winter. Not that the Java's aren't tasty, but it's not something we're used to in this society any longer. Frankly, the carcasses of heritage breeds just aren't big enough to feed a lot of folks (we feed 5 with our birds - 3 adults, 2 teenage boys - that's a LOT of food!). I've found the Java's chests aren't enough white meat for everyone - and the legs/thighs are HUGE - good if you like a lot of dark meat, not so much if your family prefers white meat.

Here - I'll include a picture for your reference......(got to go take it, it'll be a minute)
On the left, Black Java rooster, age 18mo. On the right, Freedom Ranger rooster, age 9wks.