fast bloomers

[aestep]

Which breed could be ready for a soup party by september

 

[countrygoddess]

Breeds which are specifically bred for their meat, such as Cornish-X, are ready to slaughter by the time they're between 6-9 weeks.

 

[aestep]

Keep them separate d from my layers?

 

[wyoDreamer]

In 5 months you could probably start with any dual-purpose breed and have a 20 week-old to slaughter for supper at the end of August/beg of Sept. I don't know if a Cornish Cross will survive that long, you would probably have to slaughter in June (8 to 10 week old) and freeze till needed in Sept. Maybe a Freedom Ranger would do better for that length of time "on the hoof".

You may want to feed a higher protein to your meat birds than the Layers, just to optimize growth for body size and meat. That would mean separate coops. Some have luck with them all together and just making sure that they feed a growth feed and offer oyster shell (calcium) as free choise for the layers. Others have had problems mixing the two - wither the layers chase the meat birds away from the feeders or the meat birds trample the layers and injure them in their quest to be teh first to belly up to teh feeders.

Do you free range your birds at all?

 

[srm220]

find someone that has chicken and ask for one of their old non'productive hens...or roos. for soup and old bird is great! maybe a freeone on craigslist.

 

[mstricer]

If you are making soup go with a slow growing rooster, they have a stronger taste then the CX and will make your soup taste yummmmmy. You could use a Barred Rock or any beefy bird. I like the Marans.