Correct "Dual Purpose" Chickens

[TimG]

Quote:
That sounds like a good idea to me Bucky; save a few $ in the process. I am still unsure if I just want to mix them up and have "barnyard chickens" which finish on a good rate, or if I want to be true to the breed and work with only great stock. I am kind of a perfectionist, so I can already feel the urge to pursue some good quality RIR's.

I don't think you'll save any money at all by starting with lesser quality birds and breeding up. I paid $40 for a pair of good quality Buff Brahmas from a breeder. So then I immediately had good breeders. I could have ordered lesser quality birds from a hatchery, raised them to adulthood, (that would already be a lot more than $40) then spent 2 or 3 or more years breeding, culling, and raising them before I ended up with higher quality Brahmas for breeding. Feed for all that would cost quite a bit, in addition to the initial order, shipping, ad raising them to maturity.

The initial purchase per bird is cheaper, but it's a false economy. That's why I don't want to do that, unless I can't find a breeder with the breeds I want. I should say local breeder, I want to get them close enough to home that I can go pick them up, I've had awful luck with shipped eggs.

I agree with you in general, but you have not factored in the fact that you will be eating the culls (and presumably some of the eggs).

 

[adoptedbyachicken]

I have to second the white Rocks. For sure the best I have had that will breed true. The barred Rocks were good, but heavy in feather and harder to pluck. White Orpintons are said to be good too but I have not tried them.

For anyone that wants a good layer flock that will cross to get good meat birds I have done ISA Browns for years as layers and they are fantastic. Last year 2 went broody and I let one hatch out with only a blue Orpington roo around. Those birds are of great size, and would have been great for meat IMO. But the roo father died so I kept them. The hens are poor layers of very small eggs interestingly enough, but compact heavy birds so I should have meated them, and the roos will probably not breed true.

They are a year old now and in the next few weeks in my spare time (ha! been saying that for 2 months) I will process them so stay posted. I was planning a thread about them.

 

[matte]

Quote:
Where did your White Rocks come from?

 

[dancingbear]

Quote:
I agree with you in general, but you have not factored in the fact that you will be eating the culls (and presumably some of the eggs).

True, but I'll be eating the culls (and harvesting meat birds, since hat's what I'm breeding for) from the breeder stock birds when they breed, too, and I won't have to wait as long to start seeing results from my experiments. But everybody has their own preference on these things. It just won't save any money, that's all.

 

[Jeremy Parker]

Quote:
I went with barred rocks because I live in the north also, and the winters are quite cold and wanted a heavier feathered birds as I also keep for eggs. I use no heater in my coop and a have no issues.

When they go into the plucker no issues plucking them

To each thier own !!!!!!

Blessings,
Jeremy

 

[TimG]

Quote:
Where did your New Hampshires come from? Do you have any pictures? Do you know how big they actually are? How much smaller than your White Rocks?

Isn't a Partridge Rock on the smaller size relative to other Rocks? (As an aside, what kind of a comb does the hen in this picture appear to have?)

Thanks,
Tim

 

[kjmatson]

Here are a few more pictures of our new rooster. He is just 1 year old. I don't care for the 2 white feathers on his tail, but it looks as if he is going to lose them and also the longer draping feathers.

 

[j.luetkemeyer]

I would like to add I have had good experience with hatcheries but it is random. One of my buckeye roosters I got from meyer turned out just like the ones I have from serious breeders; however, I ordered pullet buckeyes from Ideal and their coloring is off. I received a white rock male from McMurray that I was told by a breeder was high quality show stock; however, the rest of the birds I got were only of fair quality. Regarding size, I feed my chickens soy-free organic layer feed and use other natural foods in their diet besides them having 2 acres to roam on. My birds seem to be smaller in size than those of other people I know in my area. I believe there are growth hormones in many of the feeds sold at the local mills. These hormones could be passed through and not intentionally put in the feed; however, my chickens lay just as big of eggs as the larger sized hens of the same breed. In other words I believe there is unintended contaminants in many of the feeds causing extra growth in chickens.

 

[schellie69]

Quote:
Did you put him in a 30 day quarantine away from your flock just to make sure he is healthy.

 

[tagra123]

Quote:
Our White Rocks made some nice meaty birds at 16 to 20 weeks -- roos

We had some that were crossed with the Rhode Island Reds that were good too.