Help me decide which breed

[hencrazy]

I'm trying to plan ahead for next spring. I want to get some chicks to raise for meat. I do not want cornish x. My plan is to get the chicks in the spring and butcher in the fall. I want to save some to breed more for the following year and hopefully continue to do this year after year. The local hatchery doesn't carry much so these are my options:

Buff Opringtons
RIR
Black Australorp
Plymouth Rocks

Would crossing 2 of these breeds be better? Or should I stick with purebred? Please let me know the pros and cons.

 

[Elite Silkies]

I have been told that Australorps are good for soups and roasters, but not frying. I have Australorps, but I have not ate any of them, so can't tell you from first hand experience..... Just what I was told.

If you plan on selling any of the chicks or hatching eggs, I personally would stay with purebreds.

 

[hencrazy]

I forgot to add that I want them to be good layers and be able to raise their own chicks - I do not want to brood them.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Then with your choices, I'd go with Orpingtons, purely because they tend to go broody more than your other chcices.

 

[cassie]

Orpingtons lay nice big brown eggs, have wonderful dispositions, are good mothers, and make decent meat birds. However, nothing but nothing can beat the Cornish X for meat. But if you are not willing to deal with their quirks, you are wise to go with something else.

 

[cybercat]

Hatchery white rock or barred or even the partidge rock will do you. All hatchery chicks will lay well and these 3 colors have good size when grown. BUT do Not buy from the big two hatcheries (ideasl, MM) for better birds. Go smaller hatchery for the big two will have some mutts thrown in and good chance of bad temperments too. Another option and a good one is go tto the ALBC site and look up breeders there. They have some listed for the public or you can join and get the privet list. These will be good size chickens bred for heritage.

 

[nicalandia]

Quote:
what he said....

maybe a white rock X Delaware? some Heterosis may show....

 

[hencrazy]

So I think it's between orpingtons and rocks. If I get my chicks the end of April or first part of May and butcher them (except the ones I keep to breed for the following year) which do you think will be bigger and which eats less feed? Are rocks good mothers?

 

[dancingbear]

Lines will vary from one hatchery to another. Some Orps will brood, some will not. Same with the other breeds. RIR's supposedly don't go broody very often, but if they do, are good mothers. Many folks on BYC have reported RIR's that did go broody.

You might consider getting some of each of the breeds you listed, and judge for yourself which works out the best for you. Then you can get more of that breed the following year. Or keep a few for breeding.

If the ones you like the best are not one of the breeds likelier to brood, you can always keep a few bantams or some other broody type around to hatch eggs for you. You might try some hatchery stock dark Cornish, (standard Cornish, not the same as the Cornish X's) they will brood faithfully, and as wonderful moms. I have one on eggs now, it's her 3rd clutch this year. My light Brahmas are also great brooders and good moms.

I like to have some that brood, and some that don't, so I always have a least a few hens laying, not every single one off brooding or raising chicks.

What area of the country are you in? You might consider checking craigslist, and the local feed stores in the spring, to see what other breeds may be available. For a dual purp bird, those 4 breeds aren't even the best you could raise. Buckeye, Faverolle, Brahma, standard Cornish, Delaware, Dominique, New Hampshire Red, the list is extensive. I woundn't settle for choosing from those 4.

 

[hencrazy]

I live in MN and the closest hatchery is Brau's. They really don't carry much and I was not that impressed when I ordered from Ideal. I also like to be able to pick out the exact chicks I want to make sure they are healthy.

I do have a few buff orps that I got when they were adults. They are mean little buggers but maybe thats cuz I didn't raise them. A friend of mine told me to find a Jersey Giant roo and breed him to my buff orps - she said that would make some really nice meat birds. I was always under the impression that Jerseys matured really slowly - and ate a lot during that time.

Well, at least I have plenty of time to think about what I want to do.