Meat bird hatching eggs

[Proverb31mama]

Hi,
I am wanting to raise meat birds and I would like to have my broody hens hatch them and raise them for me. SoI am looking for hatching eggs of meat bird varieties. I am open to Cornish cross but I have not been able to find hatching eggs for them anywhere. Meyer hatchery has them listed, but not in stock. Does anyone know where I can find some hatching eggs for meat birds?

I have also read about having them adopt chicks, but it looks like that would be more work then having them hatch them. Does anyone have any experience with that?

Thanks!

 

[Proverb31mama]

I am also wondering would turkey eggs be easier? Would it be easier to find meat turkey eggs? Are all turkeys meat birds r are some raised for other things? Are they as easy to have as chickens? Can chickens raise turkeys?
Thanks for any advice!

 

[SIMZ]

I can help you a little with cornish X hatching eggs - it's going to be hard to get them unless you want to buy hundreds at a time.

You can probably get some shipped from a hatchery, but they're going to be expensive and shipped eggs are risky. It also seems that it would be hard to let a broody raise very many because they get so big so fast. In cold weather she'd having trouble keeping them warm.....the mess.....just lots of reasons I can think of. You may do better going with a nice, large heritage breed like Barred Rocks or something similar.

You'll have the same thing with meat turkeys eggs (Broad Breasted). I think turkeys are harder than chickens (although more fun) mostly because of their size.

Again, I'd suggest a good heritage dual purpose chicken for what you're wanting to do. Just my opinion! Good luck!

 

[Proverb31mama]

Can you tell me what dual purpose breeds are best for meat? We have buff orpingtons, Isa Browns, and 1 black sex link, am I correct in thinking that those are all DP? But the rooster we are getting is a bantam (we were blessed to get 2 sets of adult birds given to us for free, one of which is a bantam mix rooster). I'm assuming a bantam breeding with LF will produce smaller birds? So I'm thinking at some point I will get some hatching eggs and raise my own rooster. What dual purpose breeds do would you most recommend?

I am also still thinking of getting some Cornishx chicks at some point, maybe, we'll see

 

[SIMZ]

Everyone probably has a favorite and there are lots of opinions on the "best" dual purpose. Lots of breeds work well if you can raise them long enough to get to a decent size. A bantam mix rooster would even work, but you just won't get much meat from your extras. I have Marans and think they're a decent meat bird from around 16 weeks and up. A well bred line of heritage Barred Rocks would probably be my favorite, though.

If you're looking for meat, my opinion is that you can't beat Cornish X. 6-7 weeks and you can have a freezer full of meat.

 

[Proverb31mama]

Thanks for your input! How big do Marans get at 16 weeks?

 

[SIMZ]

Mine are around 3.5-5 pounds if fed well - most likely around 4 lbs. (I haven't done a lot at that age, though. I have to butcher them when they get loud, which is usually before that.)

 

[Proverb31mama]

Is that processed or live weight?

 

[SIMZ]

Processed weight.

 

[Proverb31mama]

Thanks!