- Jul 14, 2014
- 5
- 4
- 32
Hello all!
I am just starting to think about getting in to meat Chickens. I have raised several types of chickens in my time from japs, couchins, Yokohamas, and several mixed breeds for eggs and simple enjoyment but this is my first endevour into meat chickens. I really REALLY want to stay away from the cornishX as I'm looking for a sustainable meat breed and not looking to order chicks every season. With that information I know that I cannot expect as fast of a production and I am okay with that.
First what are some good suggestions on meat breeds, duel purpose is fine but I already have egg layers and am really looking for better meat producers. I have been told the NHR and Delawares were good. What age can they begin to be butchered? Im not expecting anything like cornishx cause I know they can't be beat but would still like a decent time like around 6 months so if anyone has any good breed ideas that would be awesome! I want chickens that can raise their own young, of course they will be separated from the group but prefer to have the mothers brood.
And for the main question, how many chickens to feed my family for a year, assuming I am breeding all year long. For argument sake we can go with the NHR as my breed. I would like to keep a number of breeding stock that does not get butchered each year, but instead is just used to lay and rear chicks. My question is how many of the breeding stock do I need to produce enough full grown chickens in one year (estimate that my family eats a chicken a week, so 52 chickens). Should I keep 20 hens divided by 2-3 roosters in order to reach that number or could I get by with around 10 hens, 1 rooster?
I am just starting to think about getting in to meat Chickens. I have raised several types of chickens in my time from japs, couchins, Yokohamas, and several mixed breeds for eggs and simple enjoyment but this is my first endevour into meat chickens. I really REALLY want to stay away from the cornishX as I'm looking for a sustainable meat breed and not looking to order chicks every season. With that information I know that I cannot expect as fast of a production and I am okay with that.
First what are some good suggestions on meat breeds, duel purpose is fine but I already have egg layers and am really looking for better meat producers. I have been told the NHR and Delawares were good. What age can they begin to be butchered? Im not expecting anything like cornishx cause I know they can't be beat but would still like a decent time like around 6 months so if anyone has any good breed ideas that would be awesome! I want chickens that can raise their own young, of course they will be separated from the group but prefer to have the mothers brood.
And for the main question, how many chickens to feed my family for a year, assuming I am breeding all year long. For argument sake we can go with the NHR as my breed. I would like to keep a number of breeding stock that does not get butchered each year, but instead is just used to lay and rear chicks. My question is how many of the breeding stock do I need to produce enough full grown chickens in one year (estimate that my family eats a chicken a week, so 52 chickens). Should I keep 20 hens divided by 2-3 roosters in order to reach that number or could I get by with around 10 hens, 1 rooster?