Meat bird egg production

[Ms Biddy]

Some of the best sustainable meat birds are Sussex, Marans, Bresse and New Hampshire. Those would be my suggestions for anyone looking to raise meat birds that can breed naturally and will breed true. These will mature more slowly than a Cornish X but they are all very excellent table birds and will lay well too. I would not expect them to go broody and raise their own chicks, but it's possible. I think any of those breeds would be a great choice.

We raise a line of Hmong meat birds that aren't purebred. They are dark skinned, so not to everyone's taste. They mature relatively quickly and the hens do go broody and raise their own chicks. I did not add them to my recommendation list because they aren't commercially available. If you're looking for something similar, maybe try to find someone who has Ogye Yeonsan.

 

[Mosey2003]

Are there any heritage meat birds?

I did some reading the the Barred Plymoth Rock and Black Australorp, but I am not sure they are just more egg layers no different than the RIR's I have.

If you mean similar to today's broilers, no. The heritage birds are dual purpose, which means both meat and eggs. But you're not going to get them to have the huge breasts and super plump carcass of a straight meat bird like Cornish X.

The Australorp is specifically geared towards a high rate of lay, although they are a large fowl and probably are decent to eat.

I have heritage Barred Plymouth Rocks, and I'm pretty pleased with them for eating. My 18-20 week old males dressed out right around 4lbs. Their breasts were probably half as thick as a commercial meat bird's, but their legs and thighs were quite nice.

Buckeyes are a dual purpose breed with a focus on meat qualities, as are New Hampshires, Delawares (hard to find), White Plymouth Rocks, some Marans.

If you go the dual purpose route, you'll want to spend the money up front to find a GOOD breeder and get true heritage/standard bred birds. Attending local shows is a good way to meet these people and get a look at the birds, too.

 

[Mosey2003]

Here you can see two whole bone-in breasts and three wings from my cockerels last year.

Here is one of my pullets at around 5 months of age I think? She shows the nice, deep breast that the Plymouth Rock is meant to have:

 

[Molpet]

cornish (not cornish cross) has a nice carcass ... hard to find though
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/showing-off-my-lf-dark-cornish.1253122/page-2#post-21072170

 

[Ridgerunner]

Are there any heritage meat birds?

Before the Cornish Cross took over the meat market in the 1950's, certain birds had been used for commercial meat production. In the US these were generally New Hampshire, Delaware, and certain strains of White Rock. Not all White Rocks, but certain strains that were specifically bred for meat production. Several years back someone posted an ad from the 1930's on here for Delaware chicks that could reach 4 pounds by ten weeks of age. Before the Cornish Cross were developed that was considered worth bragging about. I don't know what your definition of "Heritage" is but to me these were the original Heritage meat birds.

Unfortunately when the Cornish Cross were developed the hatcheries stopped breeding New Hampshire, Delaware, and these strains of White Rock as meat birds. After 70 years of not being bred for meat production these do not stand out as excellent meat breeds like they once did.

One thing that defines a breed is conformation or body shape. There are several breeds o out there that can make what I consider a decent meat bird, not just Delaware, New Hampshire, or White Rock. Some body shapes might give you better breasts or better thighs than others. If you can find someone specifically breeding for meat qualities any of these breeds you can get a decent bird though they might be expensive compared to hatchery chicks. But do not expect any of them to grow as fast, grow to the size, or use feed as efficiently as the Cornish Cross.

 

[CoturnixComplex]

Thanks Riddgerunner, I don't care if they breed the same as long as they are close. I just like to be self sufficient and raising my own might be more work, but I like having control of my food supply. Its the only reason I want to do this.

The added benefit of it reducing my costs $2 a bird also looks attractive to me more than how true to form they are.

You are getting a ton of great advice, but I just wanted to chime in another voice saying that trying to get a breeding operation going from Cornish x or the like is more than likely just going to end in frustration. There are extremely experienced breeders in here trying and struggling. None of us want your first try with meat birds to end up so frustrating you give up!

I raise poultry for the same reasons you do, and to me a heritage breed is much more attractive for sustainability, even if the carcass is smaller.

Alternately, get a batch of Cornish, grow them out, see how you like them, and plan to get more in the following years if they're right for you.

 

[archeryrob]

Ridgerunner, We have RIR, Leghorn and an Americana and all of them seem skinny or small. By Hertitage I would mean a meatier bird that can be breed by me having a small coop and a roo and several hens alone just to fertilize eggs for the incubator for hatching. Then I can brood them and move to a tractor. One more meaty than regular and repeatable through breeding.

Coturnix, I looked at Cornish, but but don't know much about them. Reading about Dark Cornish now and sounds like a good meat birds. I might try some and kill some and try and breed some.

Still looking for suggestions though. I'm a good hunter, builder and tinkerer, but don't know squat abut chickens at the moment.

 

[Mosey2003]

Ridgerunner, We have RIR, Leghorn and an Americana and all of them seem skinny or small. By Hertitage I would mean a meatier bird that can be breed by me having a small coop and a roo and several hens alone just to fertilize eggs for the incubator for hatching. Then I can brood them and move to a tractor. One more meaty than regular and repeatable through breeding.

Coturnix, I looked at Cornish, but but don't know much about them. Reading about Dark Cornish now and sounds like a good meat birds. I might try some and kill some and try and breed some.

Still looking for suggestions though. I'm a good hunter, builder and tinkerer, but don't know squat abut chickens at the moment.

If your birds came from a hatchery, go to a big chicken show and check them all out before you decide. The size difference can be astonishing. I posted that picture of my pullet earlier, my standard bred girls weigh over 7lbs alive, whereas hatchery Barred Rock hens weigh between 3-4lbs.

 

[CoturnixComplex]

Ridgerunner, We have RIR, Leghorn and an Americana and all of them seem skinny or small. By Hertitage I would mean a meatier bird that can be breed by me having a small coop and a roo and several hens alone just to fertilize eggs for the incubator for hatching. Then I can brood them and move to a tractor. One more meaty than regular and repeatable through breeding.

Coturnix, I looked at Cornish, but but don't know much about them. Reading about Dark Cornish now and sounds like a good meat birds. I might try some and kill some and try and breed some.

Still looking for suggestions though. I'm a good hunter, builder and tinkerer, but don't know squat abut chickens at the moment.

Sorry, I should have been more specific in my terminology!

Cornish X = the hybrids that don't like to stay alive long and usually people raise every year

Dark cornish/light cornish/cornish rock/cornish would potentially be a very good choice for your needs. They are one of the original heritage breeds bred into the "Cornish X". If you see some nice one of them around, snatch em and try em out! They will be healthier and will breed true.

 

[CoturnixComplex]

cornish (not cornish cross) has a nice carcass ... hard to find though
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/showing-off-my-lf-dark-cornish.1253122/page-2#post-21072170

Seconding the recommendation to check out this thread!

I think when I have space for chickens they would be my choice. Not having the flashy roosters is kind of a shame, though.

They are NOT known for their egg laying ability but will still lay. Depends on how many you eat!