OK... What is the best Heritage meat bird?

[bigredfeather]

I would recommend Buckeyes as well. I butchered a few extra roo earlier this summer. They were around 16 weeks when I butchered. Two of them dressed out at 5.5 lbs and the other was a little under 5 lbs. They were great tasting and had a excellent carcus shape. I grilled the first one, along with two Cornishes. They all looked almost identical sitting on the grill. If there was any difference, the breast was a little smaller. The leg quarters (which my family prefers) were nice and plump. I have been getting 2 eggs every 3 days from each hen that was from the same hatch. They are 28 weeks now. They 2 roos I kept are (I'm guessing) at least 8 lbs now.

I have 5 Buckeye hens and 2 roos currently. I have 20 Buckeye eggs in the bator right now, so hopefully I will have a few more hens by next year. I am considering crossing a Buckeye w/ a Dark Cornish next year and see what it produces. I would like to get the texture and unique flavor of the Dark Cornish meat into the mix.

My Buckeyes have been great around my three year old. She carries around one of the hens like a rag doll and it doesn't get the rooster excited at all. Buckeyes are also great foragers. Like someone else stated, they are great mousers.

If you are interested, I think BuckeyeDave has eggs and chicks available now, as well as other here on BYC. I got mine from Dave. He has a large flock of great looking birds.

I don't plan on raising any more Cornish X's. I am going to be using Buckeyes for our meat needs. I am with you on having a breed that can substain it's self.

Here's a pic of "Brutus" my main roo. This was taken about a month ago.

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[dancingbear]

Quote:
Around 5 lbs, more or less, at 16 weeks, that's not bad at all. That sounds like a very reasonable dressed weight to expect. Were they fairly tender? (By tender, I just mean you can bite off a chunk easily, that it doesn't fight back or require jaws of steel. Not necessarily the mushy softness of a supermarket bird.) Did you grill over a low heat to slow cook, or was it a hotter, quick grill? I'm just wondering if I'd need to butcher a tad younger if I want to fry them. Maybe a 4 lb.bird at 12 weeks?

That's one of the crosses I'm planning as well. I'm getting some fertile Buckeye eggs from another BYC member, Pathfinders, in a couple of weeks. She's here in KY, so I can go get the eggs, rather than have them shipped.

I've read several comments from folks saying how people-friendly they are, too, and of a generally calm disposition. That's a big plus in my book, too. I don't care for flighty, hysterical breeds.

I'd forgotten about reading about their mousing abilities, maybe I should house a few in my storage shed! I can always use help keeping the rodent population down. Buckeyes might give my cats a run for their money!

 

[zephyrcreek]

It's wonderful to hear of others working with some of these older American breeds for meat. I am starting a breeding program utilizing Black Javas for meat production. My goal would be a 4-5#dressed roo in 14 weeks. I read that there is a farm that has been breeding Dels for 12 weeks. I'd love to try those one of these days. I do have Dels, but I want to select them for layers, while still having a decently dressed roo at 16 weeks.

 

[bigredfeather]

Quote:
Around 5 lbs, more or less, at 16 weeks, that's not bad at all. That sounds like a very reasonable dressed weight to expect. Were they fairly tender? (By tender, I just mean you can bite off a chunk easily, that it doesn't fight back or require jaws of steel. Not necessarily the mushy softness of a supermarket bird.) Did you grill over a low heat to slow cook, or was it a hotter, quick grill? I'm just wondering if I'd need to butcher a tad younger if I want to fry them. Maybe a 4 lb.bird at 12 weeks?

That's one of the crosses I'm planning as well. I'm getting some fertile Buckeye eggs from another BYC member, Pathfinders, in a couple of weeks. She's here in KY, so I can go get the eggs, rather than have them shipped.

I've read several comments from folks saying how people-friendly they are, too, and of a generally calm disposition. That's a big plus in my book, too. I don't care for flighty, hysterical breeds.

I'd forgotten about reading about their mousing abilities, maybe I should house a few in my storage shed! I can always use help keeping the rodent population down. Buckeyes might give my cats a run for their money!

Yes they were tender. They breast meat had a bit more "texture", but I would attribute that to them being 16 weeks old rather than 8 weeks old like the Cornishes. When I grill chicken halves, it usually takes about an hour and a half. I try to keep the grill temp between 300-350 degrees with the 350 usually being at the beginning of cooking, and then the coals cool down a bit.

I must say I was quite pleased with the overall quality of the Buckeye for eating. When I decided to start raising Buckeyes, I had no idea that they had potential as a good meat bird. For me, they have been a great addition, and I plan to increase my flock of them.

To emphasize their friendlyness. My daughter and I were at Buckeye Daves recently. He has a 14-15 pound Buckeye roo w/ 2 1/2" spurs. He is a very large chicken. My daughter was in the run with all of Dave's Buckeyes. She was picking up the hens, and the rooster stood their and didn't make any fuss at all. I wouldn't have let her in their with any other breed that had a roo that big with such long spurs. I'm sure there are nasty Buckeye roos out their just like other breeds, but I have yet to come across one.

I have heard great things about Pathfinders flock. She is very determined to keep the Buckeyes on the come-back. I saw last week she was giving eggs away in return for people joining the ALBC. That's determination. I may see about getting some eggs from her next year to introduce some new blood into my flock.

Goodluck!

 

[Clay In Iowa]

Thanks for the Info bigredfeather,

That's all I need to know.. I've found another breed to try. I really like the comments about them being friendly. I have some BCMs and they are not so nice. One roo tore my 4 1/2 year old up after he went into the coop to pet his favorite chicken... also one of the roos girls.


I told my wife they are famous mousers and she said to get 500... LOL

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:
BE careful in assuming that, because one person encountered a "friendly" cock and nothing happened today, that it will be so for all males of the breed.

Each strain, each flock even individual cocks are different. For example, if you were to get them from me, you would get a strain where the males could very well be "mean." I value that as part of their overall vigor and so would not attempt to breed it out of them. Out in the world, beyond the sheltered walls of BYC, I'm not alone in that thinking.

This "friendliness" thing is a highly subjective variable. Be flexible, that's all I'm saying.

 

[Buster52]

Quote:
BE careful in assuming that, because one person encountered a "friendly" cock and nothing happened today, that it will be so for all males of the breed.

I just read in the Okies thread about someone with a big Buckeye that assaulted her 4 year old. Mr. Rooster said hello to Mr. Shovel.

I think there are general characteristics for breeds, as you say, but particular strains and particular individuals within that strain have different possibilities.

Maybe he had a traumatic chickhood.

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:
Chickhood! Thats funny

Unless the strain is carefully controlled, then the genetic soup that makes it up is a big unknown.
Even in rigorously bred flocks, random regression occurs.

 

[Baybrio]

Quote:
Great point Davaroo. I've read that some Buckeye breeders think the hens should be selected for non-broodiness (better egg production), other breeders favor breeding for broodiness (more self sufficient). I'm sure the list goes on. I think its great that dedicated breeders have these conversations!

I think it is important for people to create strains that are not identical. Especially with the heritage breeds. The traits that work well for one breeder may not for others. I myself will really benefit from these different opinions and different strains dedicated breeders make available when I finally figure out what works for me. I'm so new to chickens that I'm still trying to figure this out. You can only get so much by reading.

Even my hatchery Buckeye hens are fantastic. Smart, excellent foragers, good egg layers, and they get along with my other "test" chickens. Not to mention they are beautiful.

I hope when I am ready to buy stock from breeders that they will all be as honest as to what they are breeding for as Davaroo.

 

[Clay In Iowa]

No problems I actually have one BCM that is very calm a easy to deal with (top cock actually) and then there is his brother (top cock wanna be). A nasty cantankerous SOB that usually get my boot up side his head on a daily basis.

Then there are my Orpingtons (3 Roos)and Welsummer roos (7 Roos)... every one of them is calm and easy going. They are just about ready to thin out and when I do it will be partly (about 10%) based on temperament.

I have Blue wheaten Amaraucanas as well. One line is great the other line is as mean as snakes.

So I understand each roo/breed/line is different.

But.....Having at least the possibility of a non aggressive roo is a good place to start with little ones around.