Dark meat focused bird

[blandfordbird]

Hey
I'm interested in a more gamey leg focused meat birds. I understand food to weight conversion will be lower but it's personal scale and I value quality over quantity.

I'm okay with a longer raising time too. I'm also interested in getting into breeding my own. Once again I understand it'll compromise feed efficiency vs meat kings but satisfaction and quality count.

We have one local line that seems really good, Nova free range, but their breeder seems disorganized and doesn't respond.

TL;DR : Allowing efficiency compromise what's a good gamey meat line to buy or breed.

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

I do not know how gamey they are, I have not eaten mine yet. But you might be interested in Jersey Giants. They are a very slow growing breed, I believe 18 months. There is several Jersey threads you might ask more experienced breeders their thoughts.
There are many other options as well, New Hampshire, Dark Cornish, Barr Rock just to name some off the top of my head. Go with a breeder instead of a hatchery stock for better quality.
You will find many here understand quality over quanity.

 

[Wanttoknow]

OFW is right. When I was young my mom had a source for Jersey Giant capons. They were the size of a small turkey. The meat was so delicious that it is the standard that no chicken has met since .... almost 40 years on. Both the dark and white meat was a little courser that what we buy today ... a little more like turkey and like turkey, much richer in flavor but tasted like chicken. (if that makes sense). She would cook in the oven long and slow stuffed with mushroom and rice stuffing. It is not something that would appeal to most conventional tastes of today but if tasteless spongy meat is what you want there are many options.
I have been thinking about trying to duplicate what I remember .... perhaps this will be an encouragement.
I have no idea how old the birds were or anything else.
My mom is in her 80's and still an outrageous cook. I will ask her if she remembers anything about them.

 

[Sutremaine]

I understand food to weight conversion will be lower

Do you garden? If so, you have a use for the food weight that comes out of the other end instead of staying on the chicken.