Genetics

[TammyP]

If you have a BR male who mates with a BBB or BBW hen.....will you get a BBBR?

I raised a few BBB hens for turkey dinner and liked the taste and size of the bird... so did my customer who bought one. Hubby also deep fried one of my BR males (around 6-8 months old at the time of slaughter) and it was so small compared to the BBB's....

Are all the BR going to dress out at a super sized chicken size (meat wise)? I know they won't have the large breast like the BBB's but would like to start experimenting with genetics a bit.

I am looking for end results of a self breeding bird with a larger breast area....or at least more meat on it on the same lines of a BBB.... is that even possible?

I'm thinking that if I get a few BBB hens, have them mate with the BR..... hatch the eggs.... use only the hen offspring for increase of flock at first (later selling the BBBR's for table)....that maybe it might just work?

The tom offspring would be strickly table birds and not used for breeding....

Anyone have an idea?

Thanks so much!

 

[ColbyNTX]

You could breed them and get a cross between the sizes but BR is a heritage breed and should be big, turkey size, at 8-9 months if fed right. 6 months is too young for any heritage bird slaughter unless you want "big chicken" size. A BR tom should be 25 or so lbs at 9 months and much better tasting than a BB. You could experimant and try it but the problem you will find is keeping the BB hens alive and healthy to breeding age. It can be done but it will be some work and restricted diets.

 

[TammyP]

Thank you for your reply.

I'm just not sure what I'm going to do yet..... appreciate your advice.