Has Anyone Raised Murray McMurray's Delaware Broilers?

[MarkJr]

Don’t know what ‘good chicken’ is supposed to look like. It’ll be the first eater out of my own flock. Since I have 55 eggs in the incubator..... definitely hoping it’s as good as I’ve been told. All but 12 are Delaware over Dominant coppers and Sapphire Gems (ones in picture)

 

[Parront]

He looks exactly right. Has a line of fat on the breastbone, and the rest nice and lean. He was a healthy looking cockerel in your photo. In my book a "good chicken" is a healthy one and not too fat. Fat just gets thrown away by most people, I like it rendered and save it for cooking, but most people don't so it is wasted feed to me. Young enough to not be tough, but if you have not eaten one before, you will probably find it a little chewier than a store bird. I like to cook them halved, but you might like to quarter your bird so you do not over cook the breast meat, the legs might take a little longer.

 

[MarkJr]

I thoroughly enjoy grouse, pheasant, chukar and quail. A little chewy doesn’t make me a bit of difference.

 

[Parront]

I thoroughly enjoy grouse, pheasant, chukar and quail. A little chewy doesn’t make me a bit of difference.

You never know when chatting here! I like the feel of real meat and your bird is the real thing!

 

[MarkJr]

I have a tendency to make or hunt my own. Bees make honey and my fruit and garden grow very well because of it. Have 2 dexter cows and a dexter bull. Put 500 lbs of beef in the freezer and sell the other to pay for the years feed bill. Chickens were a hobby, but now a self sustaining flock is my goal. I’m using their eggs and my incubator to grow chicken. Deer and elk are typically present in the freezer. I make my own sausage and bacon, and only make it when I get pork shoulder I use is less than 1.30 per pound. My garden provides my veggie needs for about 8 months of the year.

 

[333113]

Someone mentioned selecting breeders after 2 years, That is not correct, at least for birds selected for meat duties, selecting for Body Weight Gain ay 4-6 weeks it's recommended. That is how a close line of White rocks can reach Broiler Weight gains under 6 weeks, the. Line has been closest for 50+ years

Actually, that was me regarding the two year breeder mark.

There are lots of really good reasons for holding off until two, and some of the serious breeders recommend three years. You want to make sure your birds, hens and roos, can grow to maturity without major health issues, that they are within the standard (including looks, conformation, weight, egg color, etc.) the entire time (that's where I mentioned measuring along the way), and any other qualities that you are looking for such as setters/non-setters, egg quality, personality, etc.

Dr. Temple Grandin has an excellent explanation for how breeders looking for just one or two traits can accidentally breed unwanted traits into their animals. Hip dysplasia in Labrador Retriever and German Shepherd dogs are the classic example.

If a breeder is not willing to wait to see if bad traits show up later in life, those bad traits could eventually show up earlier and earlier. If you select solely for size at 6 weeks, breed those birds at six months, repeat several generations, you could be breeding birds that are progressively smaller at maturity, and that will catch up with your flock at six weeks, eventually.

That's why "breeding" and "raising" are two different activities. Raising birds can be profitable, breeding not so much, but it is rewarding for those of us who do it. Not just the show trophies, but knowing that the entire breed of chicken is improving as a result of your efforts.

 

[333113]

I got him as a rehome from city limits at 7-8 weeks old. He was so tame that first peck from pullets sent him flying to my shoulder for protection. I kinda had a feeling his upbringing would bite me in the butt.
Since then he’s flogged my legs twice.... today when I squatted down to check eggs, he came from behind and was all over my head.

I will now enjoy him with garlic salt and pepper.

My dad used to say to the cockerels, "You be nice, or you be dinner, your choice."

 

[nicalandia]

The Virginia Tech White Plymouth Rock have been selecting this line for maximum Weight at 56 weeks of age and went from 800 grams to 2000 grams birds. Grand parent stock broiler breeders are selected at 2400 grams at 5-6 weeks. That is how these birds have been able to grow so fast. Selecting for birds at 2 years Will get You Big birds That grow slow like JG That make poor meat birds

 

[Molpet]

I select possible breeder at harvest age. At a year the final cut is made. last year's winning back up roo died 2 weeks later.
I usually harvest around 16 weeks...meat mutts that have CX grandmother... dress out 5 to 7 lbs at 16 weeks. Works for me

 

[333113]

The Virginia Tech White Plymouth Rock have been selecting this line for maximum Weight at 56 weeks of age and went from 800 grams to 2000 grams birds. Grand parent stock broiler breeders are selected at 2400 grams at 5-6 weeks. That is how these birds have been able to grow so fast. Selecting for birds at 2 years Will get You Big birds That grow slow like JG That make poor meat birds

Maybe I misunderstood. I was talking about how there could be more than one strain of Delaware heritage chickens at Murray McMurray.

I agree that if you measure a bird _only_ at 2 years you won't necessarily be able to breed a good meat bird. That's what makes being a breeder so time-consuming.

You have to measure along the way and select for ALL the traits you want in a bird before you breed them. Traits would include their weight at 5-6 weeks.

And, we are talking about Delaware heritage stock, here. Heritage stock has its own set of breeding requirements.