Looking for a good standard breed for meat

[triplepurpose]

I really liked McMurray Hatchery's Dark Cornish. They are a little flighty sometimes, and we had a couple of aggressive cocks, but they are significantly meatier than any other dual purpose we've ever gotten from them. The thighs and breasts are massive, but they are solid, smart, healthy birds with beautiful coloring--decent layers as well, and I also had two go broody and follow through with the mothering very well. The meat tends to be somewhat dark because of their active nature and very flavorful. The pinfeathers are dark, but that doesn't bother most people who aren't raising commercially. The growth rate is about typical for a standard chicken I guess... the cockerels are relatively fleshy by the fryer stage, but they'll keep putting on weight through the roaster stage and by 12 months they can be quite massive--though I can't give you numbers because I don't recall ever weighing one...

 

[kfacres]

I raise WLR, BLR, and Dark Cornish birds-- completely different than the Cornish crosses-- yet have an added bit of breast meat.

 

[SteeleFaithFarm]

What breed is WLR and BLR?

 

[SouthernChicka8]

I use dark cornish

 

[SJ]

What breed is WLR and BLR?

WLR=White Laced Red
BLR=Blue Laced Red

 

[SJ]

I'm looking for a breed that makes a decent meat breed but is not a hybrid invented to grow at super duper rates. I don't want Cornish crosses. I tried Freedom Rangers last time but I'm looking for something that is more sustainable and frankly grows into a healthier chicken if we chose to keep a few around to reproduuce. What heavy breeds grow fairly quickly and taste good? Bhramma? Deleware? Any suggestions.

In my experience:
1.Delawares
Grows fastest & tastes the best IMO. Well fleshed. Great forager who lays great.(I love my Dels)
2.NHR
Close to the Dels in growth rate and fleshing with a little darker meat.(I cross my NHRs with my Dels)
3.Plymouth Rock- White or Barred
A big bird that grows quick and has plenty of meat.
4.Orpington
BIG thighs! Grows a little slower than the above breeds but the politest birds I ever owned.(I cross my BOs with my Dels)

Brahma and Cochin get big but grow very slow compared to these breed. Cornish(Dark and WLR) I am trying out for the first time this year along with Dominiques, RIW, Buckeyes, Partridge Chantecler and BBR Kraienkoppe.

 

[Damselfly]

I also have some Dark Cornish from McMurray. They are seven weeks old and noticeably heavier than the Australorps of the same age.