Meat birds

[Nimblefreckle]

I have a barred rock rooster and some buff orpington hens. Would that be a good somewhat fast growing bird for butchering? Has anyone ever done that cross?
I am looking to hatch out and raise some meat birds of our own to cut down on costs
and to know exactly what my birds have had.

I also have a question about the cornish cross. I had a batch this past spring/summer that when butchered they were all over 5-6 lbs. The next batch were only 4 lbs butchered out.
I bought them from different places. Would that make a difference in the size? They were all cornish cross cockerals.

 

[Cedarknob]

Both breeds mentioned are excellent dual purpose breeds if bred to the SOP, and the PBRs grow relatively fast; however, those coming from hatcheries are usually smaller and less meaty than those coming from good breeders.

CX can vary even in batches from the same hatchery, but some strains do seem to better than others. I really liked those that I got from Schelchts, and their prices were great.

 

[Nimblefreckle]

I am not familiar with the abreviations you mentioned. Can you clarify?

 

[Cedarknob]

SOP = standard of perfection
PBR = Plymouth Barred Rock
CX = Cornish Cross, though it's an antiquated term still used to describe white, commercial broilers