Has anyone ever done the math...

[wclawrence]

I think the answer is that it is indeed cheaper to grow out your DP roosters than to buy cornish crosses. That is not where I do the math. The question is which produces the final product that you most desire. The carcasses of the two will be very different.

 

[Beekissed]

In my experience, it wasn't any cheaper to grow out DP than CX....but you put way more meat in the freezer with the CX.

 

[EggsForIHOP]

I read my husband the WHOLE thing last night when he called ...he says I win

I just think after reading through everyones thoughts and such on this for us, we will focus on getting the CX for the freezer, but when we have extra roos from hatching, then they are destined for the freezer too of course. Hatching just won't be something I focus much on.

I think hubby was really hoping he would talk me into incubating stuff too...I know me though...I'd be sitting there all day watching and waiting until they hatched, and then I'd never want to get rid of a single hen! We'd be chicken poor before I knew it!

Anyways...I have turkeys to process and I need to get outside - but I did want to take a moment and say thank you for all of the valuable input!

 

[naillikwj82]

I would concur with Wclawrence, that real difference is the end product. Just started Cornish X and RIR that will be caponized. Personal choice for flavor has been DP. More chicken flavor comes with longer age.

 

[EggsForIHOP]

Quote:
Yeah - my husband SWEARS the DP birds (he calls them yard birds) taste better, especially on the smoker - he's also partial to the dark meat, which the DP birds seem to have the most of. I am not so picky - any more, to me, it's how it was raised that makes the difference. I picked up 7 turkeys from my 4H friend - same kind you get at the store, but these led a pampered life all summer loved by a little girl (who also took 3rd place at the show with them and they are weighing about 25lbs dressed - hefty healthy things!) THAT makes a HUGE difference. So I guess I'll hatch out some of the DP birds for him to use on "special days" when he feels like firing up the smoker and the rest of the time I will raise the CX for me to cook with

I know he prefers the "old school" chickens and is trying to convince me it is a better option - I just get so tired of walking out to crowing roosters that ALWAYS seem to know when processing day is coming and fly the coop! I don't mind do a little bit of each though...just for him...

 

[Oregon Blues]

[[[[[......he's also partial to the dark meat,....]]]]]]

Pekin ducks. All dark meat, 7 pounds live weight at 7 weeks, very nice temperaments, excellent feed conversion, you can breed your own replacements, no health issues.

They are a lot more work to pluck. They are also, unfortunately, darling, so it is easier to get emotionally attached.

To me, they taste like that little ball of meat in the middle of the turkey's back (the back oysters). Very nice flavor, very rich.

 

[galanie]

Quail is also a good choice if you like dark meat. That is, if you don't mind killing a million of the little boogers for a good meal

But easy to clean and pluck!

 

[EggsForIHOP]

LOL...quail are on the little side...though in our future I would like to have a small set up...and ducks...we both LOVE DUCK and would like to convert an old fish pond we have here into part of a duck run with pond for some Pekin Ducks...just haven't made it that far yet (I know they don't NEED water...but I also don't need any koi fish

however...the pond is there for the using...).

I don't mind processing either one...I'd rather process a MILLION small birds than one big pig! We did our hog ourselves when we moved - and that was killer! It was still easier to move her in the freezer than on the hoof...but man...all day and into the night...next time we are going back to the processor...it was nice saving the money...but not nice enough to stop me from spending it next time!

And turkey oysters! I thought I was the only one that loved that little spot! that is my favorite part of the turkey!

Do you mind Oregon Blues if I ask this...with the pekin ducks...could I in theory start with hatchery ducks and kept the best for breeding, eating the rest and going forward from there? Or would you try to source a good breeder and what would a fancy duck such as that run? I'm just curious...I haven't even built anywhere for a duck to live yet...and I gotta get back out and finish what I was doing...but would you mind maybe telling me more on that?

 

[johnsons-r-us]

Quote:
Wow, then I'm not crazy! Thanks for your input. I was thinking maybe I was being too idealistic. Yes, it does sound like we are aiming for the same thing. I am going to get a couple of leghorns this spring, as well as a nice group of white rocks to begin my journey with the dp birds. I was surprised when I had put out some food the other day thinking the bugs were getting sparse and the next day I still had 1/2 the food left. It was just a gallon milk jug nearly 3/4 full, and I have 12 chickens right now. So they are still getting food somewhere.

 

[johnsons-r-us]

Quote:
I'm sure that's true.....my concern with raising the CX is the extra work that is needed to get them from start to finish......and if we are gone for a weekend or so I have nobody that could do the upkeep on them for me. Letting the chickens in and out is no big deal, but all the extra things I would have to do (not to mention a new coop or something for them to live in) to raise the CX would make it no longer fun and feel like plain old work.

I have to say though, after reading your post, if I can pick up some like you did at a TSC and get only 4 or 5 I might be willing to try just to make some kind of comparison the following year or so. Right now I need to keep birds that I don't have to continually babysit or worry about them running out of feed/water constantly.