new to back yard chickens

[kathy smedburg]

Hi my name is Kathy my husband and I are newly retired. We are enjoying having chickens but have lots of questions. Last year we got 45 Barred Rock chickens , thinking they are a meat bird and layer. to my disappointment they are not a meat bird. This year we are still looking for a meat bird and hoping for your help with deciding what to get. I am looking forward to learning from you. I also hope someday we can help someone else.

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi Kathy and welcome to BYC.

Here are some helpful links:

• Great go-to resource - Articles
• Insightful feedback on how members manage their flocks - Topic of the Week back-catalogue

Best wishes

Pork Pie

 

[drumstick diva]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens Kathy. If you want true meat birds the most common is the Cornish X - they are white birds and grow extremely fast. If they aren't "Processed," in time, they grow too heavy for their legs and organs and will just die.

You can keep them alive and healthy longer if you limit their food - 12 hours with feed/ 12 hours without. Move feeders farther away so they have to exercise to get to them. They also last longer if put out to range with regular chickens and learn to hunt for bugs and worms.

I believe there is another breed Rangers who live longer and are more active, before they reach processing time.

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there Kathy and welcome to BYC!

@drumstick diva has given you some great advice. Good luck and all your poultry projects!

 

[sourland]

Hi, Kathy, congratulations on your retirement, and welcome to BYC.

 

[ValerieJ]

Hi! Welcome to BYC! You've come to the right place to get answers about chickens! I would recommend the Cornish X too. But, just because a chicken is not considered a meat bird doesn't mean you cannot process it and eat it. It will just have less meat on it than the heavier meat birds.

 

[Meg-in-MT]

Hello! Welcome to BYC!! Congratulations on your retirement. Drumstick Diva gave a great explanation. Although barred rocks are considered dual purpose birds, they will not grow like a typical meat bird. Feel free to check out the meat birds forum here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/meat-birds-etc.21/

 

[DobieLover]

Hello, Kathy, and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.

 

[N F C]

Hi Kathy, congrats on your recent retirement! I've never raised meat birds, but with the Meat Bird forum link @Meg-in-MT has left you, you'll be able to get a lot of information.

Best of luck to you!

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Welcome to our FUN-omenal community!

Best wishes and have Lots of FUN!