looking to make a change...need input

[crazypoultrychx]

so I am at a crossroads with where I want to go with my farm...I have had all types of egg birds and tried meat birds but didn't have much better results...(i tried jersey giants and heritage RIR) all the hes are small and the roos were stringy....i have a HUGE white rock roo and was going to go that route but hubby wants BIG big birds....so i need your advice on what do you like more...Brahmas or these freedom/red ranger chickens.......i will still need eggs too but I want something big and meaty!!

 

[SOHC-FTW]

Brahmas are good birds id rather have them than the later, but red rangers grow faster from what ive seen so.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi.

I think flavor and texture are far more important than size if we are talking about eating. Best flavor so far has been out of Wyandottes and French black copper Marans. With Marans you get the bonus of cool eggs. Age at which you cull will make a huge difference in stringiness. As well, line that you get will have a factor on size. Many hatchery birds will come NOWHERE near the standard for their breed. So if you do find something you like then finding good quality birds would be worth the effort.

For me Brahma grow too slow to be worth the time regardless of size. Now, I have traded some of my heritage breed birds for cornish cross, pasture raised and milk finished and these hens at 10 weeks old were twice the size of my 18 week old boys. Still not the breed I would raise, but I'm looking for something the HENS can hatch and raise ALL the meat we want.

That being said.. different breeds have different size legs and amounts of breast and such. Some are "double" breasted.

Also, if you are breeding your own.. learning some genetics will help. For example, hens pass their size on to their daughters. so you will not get bigger girls by breeding bigger boys.

Honestly I had 1 white rock. And they seem like exceptional birds. Don't know about the eating texture or flavor. But the bird personality and growth rate seemed very acceptable. I would consider holding on to him and maybe trying a few.

In other words.. my suggestion is to find a happy medium instead of expecting size, texture, flavor, (growth rate) and egg laying ability out of ONE bird. That would be cool though.

Sorry, I know that isn't what you asked.

 

[crazypoultrychx]

so eggsited4life what do you currently have for meat birds?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

French black copper Marans. They are by no means big though and my husband doesn't really care what we serve. I'm mostly just a hobbiest and I sell off our hens before any make it to the cone. I like having breeds that aren't readily available at the feed store and better quality than those locally who may not do any culling for defects or keep their birds pure. My daughter and I do the processing and she isn't comfortable with hens.

But we plan to eat our sikies too! (maybe, at least make stock)

A few birds have gotten pet status, but not many. If I didn't have a goal of keeping a closed flock self sustaining flock I would try the American Breese. But I think part of the reason them and the marans are popular in France is because of the growing/finishing method, which I don't do. But the first Marans we cooked was the first time my husband said it smelled like chicken cooking and not the seasonings. Said it took him back to his childhood in Korea where they would point to the bird they wanted and then pick it up in a little bit.

The other birds I tried were either oops from the feed store or just other straight run birds I had to get in order to end up with the breeds I wanted. Have Naked Neck Turken being processed soon. They are also supposed to be a very tasty bird. Too bad they can't just magically pop onto my table, prepared!

I have seen some threads with comparison of many different breeds...

 

[crazypoultrychx]

well it deff sounds interesting about the marans.....but I looked it up and they are selling chicks for $18 a pc.....that is INSANITY!!! deff looking for something more cost effective.....

 

[Nyla]

Muscovies? They are just like chickens, except much quieter.

 

[YdogsflY]

The age of the chicken equates to tenderness or toughness. Younger the bird, the more tender it's going to be. You can still eat an old bird, but you have to cook them differently.

Young chickens and "Big" birds do not happen unless you raise the CornishX or it's cousins. With a dual purpose bird, you need to look at faster growing breeds and butcher them around 16-20 weeks. Hatchery stock doesn't usually work out too well unless you want small fryer chickens. Source quality birds from a source that raises their birds the way you want to.

Faster growing breeds are New Hampshire, Delaware, Dominique, and some strains of White Rocks. Your smaller egg breeds like Leghorns and hamburgs make great frying/grilling chicken as they grow very fast, just not too big. Brahma are very slow growing.

So if your husband is dead set on large birds and you still need eggs then you need to raise cornish x for meat and other breeds for eggs.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

well it deff sounds interesting about the marans.....but I looked it up and they are selling chicks for $18 a pc.....that is INSANITY!!! deff looking for something more cost effective.....

Yes, I sourced mine from a breeder at about $10 each. But that is only my initial investment and all future generations won't cost me anything assuming I handle my breeding (genetic diversity) correctly. Hatcheries are over charging for non quality birds. Green fire farms sells theirs' for $59 per chick! And so... seems like if you have the time/energy selling chicks/pullets might be a way to make your money back or cover the cost of the operation. It's one breed that even in my cruddy small town market people will drive 2 hours+ and pay $30 each for pullets all day long. So I can grow out the girls for sale and eat the boys. Black is actually NOT my favorite color bird so I expected to be bored but they still have subtle difference and the beetle green sheen is beautiful. I just happened to fall in love with their personalities (quite rambunctious/aggressive with each other as chicks but confident and laid back as adults) and got the bonus of plenty of broodiness that I know I will never have to raise a chick again should I choose not to. They also show their gender fairly early, 4-6 weeks. So knowing I will not have to buy another heat lamp or pay power bills for them adds savings to the cost factor. And in your location, you might have a HUGE market for selling.

I disagree about Delaware or Dominique being fast growing (could be my strains though). But totally agree that if size is important Cornish X might be your best option for tenderness with layers of your choice.

 

[crazypoultrychx]

Yes, I sourced mine from a breeder at about $10 each. But that is only my initial investment and all future generations won't cost me anything assuming I handle my breeding (genetic diversity) correctly. Hatcheries are over charging for non quality birds. Green fire farms sells theirs' for $59 per chick! And so... seems like if you have the time/energy selling chicks/pullets might be a way to make your money back or cover the cost of the operation. It's one breed that even in my cruddy small town market people will drive 2 hours+ and pay $30 each for pullets all day long. So I can grow out the girls for sale and eat the boys. Black is actually NOT my favorite color bird so I expected to be bored but they still have subtle difference and the beetle green sheen is beautiful. I just happened to fall in love with their personalities (quite rambunctious/aggressive with each other as chicks but confident and laid back as adults) and got the bonus of plenty of broodiness that I know I will never have to raise a chick again should I choose not to. They also show their gender fairly early, 4-6 weeks. So knowing I will not have to buy another heat lamp or pay power bills for them adds savings to the cost factor. And in your location, you might have a HUGE market for selling.

I disagree about Delaware or Dominique being fast growing (could be my strains though). But totally agree that if size is important Cornish X might be your best option for tenderness with layers of your choice.

any chance you have any chicks for sale??!!