Meat breeds

[jessicayarno]

Delawares are still used as meat birds.

 

[Tarheel2288]

So which breeds today would be a good alternative for someone wanting to raise meat birds, other than the cornish cross? At what age would they reach butchering weight?

I have heard of Delawares, Sussexs, and Cornish (not crosses) being good meat breeds.

 

[naillikwj82]

We have Buff Orp's, and Delaware cockerals chicks arriving tomorrow, for meat. Normal processing at 16 - 20 weeks. However this batch will be caponed at week 4. Grow out until 10 months or longer for a tender, juicy roaster. Process on an as need basis, and save freezer space. If more people caponed thier cockerals there would be less moaning about the unwanted extra roosters.

 

[Illia]

Plymouth Rocks, Delawares, and Cornish (real ones) were well known meat birds back then but most people raised whatever they had available.

In other countries though people still do true Cornish for meat, although they call them Indian Games.

 

[Tarheel2288]

And what do your 16 week old's weigh before you dress them?

 

[jamband]

http://albc-usa.org/heritagechicken/chickencomparison.html

There is a breed comparison pdf on this page. From the American Livestock Breed Conservancy

 

[Bossroo]

fact : that may be true of the birds of yesteryear and few privately held current selected lines. But fall far short using hatchery purchased bred ones of today. However, none can come even close to the production capabilities of the CornishX.

 

[cubalaya]

that film was awesome. will continue to use delawares for meat and eggs along with my cubalayas and australorps.

 

[jamband]

fact : that may be true of the birds of yesteryear and few privately held current selected lines. But fall far short using hatchery purchased bred ones of today. However, none can come even close to the production capabilities of the CornishX.


its simply a matter of finding good breeders.....99% of hatcheries are just pumping out anything......they are just other huge corporate farms.......Good standard breed chickens can be found. Just look. The cornish also has a slew of problems, can't reproduce ityself etc.....but they do get big fast....which offers alot of other positives

 

[deerman]

rooster of all the heavy breeds......capon .


Why does everyone short the name.........its Cornish X rock....not cornish x.............white cornish rooster over white rock hens