DELS or PLYMOUTH WHITE ROCK?

[newchickens2009]

I live on a small island in the Bahamas and don't have the luxery to order cornishx whenever I want chicken for dinner. I want to know if it would be better for me to raise white rocks or delewares which I can hatch myself and always have fresh meat.

 

[ChikeeMomma]

I haven't owned either breed, but I've heard that White Rocks are nice and hefty.

 

[CityClucks]

When I was growing up the White Rocks are what we raised for meat. I have no experience with Delawares, but others will most likely show up and tell you what they think. (I'd gladly trade you some chicken for fish!)

 

[newchickens2009]

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Hello there CityClucks. Fish? Now that is one thing I always have. Fish, lobester and conch, all wonderful sea food! If only u were closer

 

[Buster52]

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Hello there CityClucks. Fish? Now that is one thing I always have. Fish, lobester and conch, all wonderful sea food! If only u were closer

Poor you.

 

[TimG]

I suspect it is more important which lines of Delawares and White Rocks you get your stock from. Either breed can produce good meat birds, but certain lines of each will be bigger or smaller.

 

[dancingbear]

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That's absolutely right. I had some white Plymouth Rocks from Murray McMurray that were really pathetic and scrawny, extremely slow growers, too. But many other people tell me they've had white Rocks that grew fairly fast, and were really big birds. Some were from breeders, some from hatcheries other than MMH. Likewise with standard Cornish, (not the broiler hybrid strains, but purebred Cornish) if you get good ones, they're wonderful. Same with any breed, really.

I have no idea what's available to you in your location, but good luck finding suitable birds. Have you considered getting two varieties and crossing them for meat birds? I've had some better meat birds doing this myself, Cornish/Brahma works out pretty nice, and read lots of crosses others have tried. If you favor white meat, a standard Cornish for the rooster is nice, with whatever hens. If you prefer dark meat, there are breeds that tend to have really big legs and thighs, but I forget which. Maybe RIR's? Crossed with....?

 

[Bassleg]

Delawares were the meat birds before the Cornish X back in the 40's!!And with the DEL's you get big egg's..

 

[smith2]

If I were on an island, I would want the rocks. I would get the best rocks I could find. My rocks are more hardy and better layers than my Dels. My rocks seem to hatch better than the others, also. Dels are good birds, but on an island, I would think the rocks would be better. I do think the quality of white rocks varies greatly depending upon where you get them.

I have always wanted to visit the Bahamas--living on an island, I think would be awesome. I am kind of a semi-hermit anyway, so island living would be great for me.

 

[newchickens2009]

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Living on an island is great!
Do you know someone on here wher I can get some good "great " rocks or hatching eggs?