Help with breed selection

[Michael OShay]

It will have plenty of space lol

Sounds good. )

 

[donrae]

Whatever dual purpose birds you get, you're really not going to get a carcass much larger than your RIR were. Laying hens just don't make nice meaty carcasses. If you could handle a lower egg production you might look into the slow meaties like Dixie Rainbows, etc. Some folks have had good luck holding some hens over as layers, and they'll have a nicer carcass. They won't lay 300 eggs a year, though. There is no breed that will do both.....

 

[junebuggena]

Black sexlink cockerels should get to a pretty decent size, but they won't be ready for processing until about 4 to 6 months old. They won't resemble grocery store meat birds though. If you want to raise your own meat birds that will compare to grocery store birds, you're going to want a meat breed like Cornish Cross, or a red broiler type. They are ready for processing in as little as 6 to 10 weeks old and are very tender. Black sexlink pullets are very consistent layers and require less feed to be productive than other breeds. No laying hen will be a decent bird for table eating. By the time they are done laying, they are better suited for the stock pot.