HERE is where we are going to talk about a sustainable meat bird flock

[Davaroo]

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Awesome program you got there, Sharon!

I find it fascinating that the same economics you note were seen a hundred years ago. Eggs, hatching eggs and chicks were the top money makers, with certain market meat items paying in season.

 

[ericsplls]

I am currently trying to build up my flock of layers. Right now I am down to one hen thats laying age but she leaves me an egg a day so I can't complain about her. I just bought home a big RIR rooster to give me some fertile eggs to hatch. I'm also picking up some game bantams this weekend. I'm going to try to get me enough hens to use as incubators and brooders and a rooster so I can keep making more brooders. I really want to try some delewares and see how much meat they have. Probably get some from an individual since the only ones I have seen that came from a hatchert were as small as my production RIR hens. On a sustainable or renewable issue guineas are probably about as good as it will get. I read a few post about someone trying to breed a meaty bantam. On a sustainable level this makes since. From the yard to the table and no left overs to put in the fridge. I don't care alot about filling my freezer or I would do it with cornish cross but I would like a good meaty breed that are decent layers. I would like to be able to go outside and get a chicken when I want to eat one and if I don't kill it this week not have to worry it will die of heart failure by next week.

 

[Davaroo]

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I feel sorry for the poor hen, until you get some more to take up the slack. One hen and a randy RIR cock?! Oy!!

 

[Brunty_Farms]

I would like to see more pictures of the crosses... preferably the dressed ones. I've seen the one... no offense but that thing was tiny... I wouldn't know what to do with it, maybe make a soup...

Here is a sustainable meat flock....

Cars... I have a question... SO we can talk about Sustainable meat bird flocks... I think cornish x and the crosses they produce would fit into that category? I looked up Sustainable Agriculture and this was the definition that I found.

Sustainable agriculture integrates three main goals: environmental stewardship, farm profitability, and prosperous farming communities. These goals have been defined by a variety of disciplines and may be looked at from the vantage point of the farmer or the consumer. Sustainable agriculture refers to agricultural production that can be maintained without harming the environment.

It has been defined as follows:

1) The term sustainable agriculture means an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will, over the long term:
2) Satisfy human food and fiber needs
3) Enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agricultural economy depends
4) Make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls
5) Sustain the economic viability of farm operations
6) Enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole

That one in bold really does hit home doesn't it? I can't think of a better bird that can convert feed into muscle than the obvious Cornish X... can you?

Either I buy stock from a hatchery an hour away... or I hatch my own... in the big picture it fits into the definition of sustainability. I will leave this one wide open for people to talk about... I'm sure I will get an earful but I love stirring the pot. Who else is going to do it?

 

[PaulaJoAnne]

I think rather then sustainable, self sufficient would be a better term.
What breeds are going to work best on a family farm, where you are able to stay in house for everything, only needing to bring in new blood ocassionaly.
Instead of the bigger guy providing for you, you are providing for yourself, and also helping a few out as needed.

I lean very agrarian in my thinking, and hope to be able to act upon that some day.

 

[pringle]

Ohh cmon guys,he didnt mean the exact definition of "sustanibility",I dont think cornish x's can breed can they?thats not sustanibilty in my book...so lets just stick to the OP and not get this thread locked im enjoying it and learning many new things.

 

[PaulaJoAnne]

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Hence the post I just wrote

 

[Brunty_Farms]

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Well, that's just the thing... they can breed. People on here have done it and I'm doing it right now. So I think it would fit the description.

Unless you are working on a project that involves Cornish X's that are over, lets say 12 weeks, with a plan to breed them and get fertile eggs from them LEAVE THEM OUT!

Since I have a flock of cornish cross hens that are apart of a breeding program... I guess that opens up the topic... and back to the topic I was trying to get at.

Why wouldn't cornish x's fit into sustainable flock? That is what I can't figure out... Anyone else out there that are currently using a hybrid of some kind in their program... Freedom Ranger... Colored Broiler... Cornish x's???

From my experience so far with the cornish x's in my breeding program they act just like the buckeyes... however they are not as graceful when doing it... but they still do it. Honestly, they are great chickens... I'm curious to know how well they lay as soon as they get going a bit more. I think with enough free ranging their weight is quite manageable and I don't see why they wouldn't even fit the description of Dual Purpose.

 

[pringle]

Are you kidding me?Well then wont it come with some losses and unneeded cruelty though?I mean wont the legs give out or something?And if you have to artificially inseminate them im out,ughh rather have em do it the naturall way instead of some tube of some sort

 

[harryg6167]

smarsh wrote:
why do so many of you choose fowl other than chicken? to me quail are too much feather for the meat, and turkey are too much meat for 2 people, and both are pretty seasonal layers aren't they? I also think a fast growing chicken may be better than the eventual size of the chicken. Jersey giants are supposed to be slow to mature aren't they? i would guess, other than personal taste (buds and opinion), the real point would be the ratio between the feed fed and the meat produced.

no real experience here

scott


For me the quail at this time are easier for me to process is why I fool with them. I have back problems to
the point of being disabled and cannot do what it would take me to process chickens right now. I have found
someone local who will do it for me though.
I don't really try to make any money off of the quail. They are actually to go into my freezer and whenI decide
to go quail hunting now it's only a trip to the freezer.
My money is made off of selling baby chicks and started pullets. I will occasionally sell a few eggs but all in all
I am not looking to make a lot of money off of any of them. I only do it because I have all the time in the world
the land to do it with and all necessary resources to handle as many chickens as I want to handle.

I am enjoying this topic and starting to get a little insight on what I want to do as far as meat birds are concerned.
To the OP...good topic you have started.