They are more a dual purpose breed. Nice Barred Bird that lays white eggs. They are smaller than the White Rocks I have, so not the biggest for meat eaters. But, they are bigger than a Leghorn cockerel would be! Taste like chicken!Oh....lol...opps.
Thank you.
They are more a dual purpose breed. Nice Barred Bird that lays white eggs. They are smaller than the White Rocks I have, so not the biggest for meat eaters. But, they are bigger than a Leghorn cockerel would be! Taste like chicken!
Yum!
For just size, a White Rock is a good breed for meat. Not as large and fast growing as a commercial Cornish Cross meat bird by far. One person with some of these Rocks (from Ideal) said they were too aggressive with her other birds, which are very mild mannered Naked Necks. Naked Necks are a good meat bird, less feathers for plucking and hardy mild mannered birds. Mine lay a large egg about 4 eggs/week, as well at any of the other layers I have. NNs come in lots of colors, and some are very large for your meat eating pleasure! They are an accepted breed and will breed true.
I'd like to find or to breed a chicken that is big, tasty and tender but is capable of reproducing true to type...as far as meat quality, quantity and viability goes....It seems like we settle for something less in a small farm/homestead bird.
The original 19 were thought to be infertile, but upon breaking them in the compost pile I found they were in fact fertile.. So I set a bigger bunch, hatched 49 chicks 3-21 and all are doing great.. The apple cider vinegar with mother has us rearing chicks like pros.. 0 loss.. I'm not tracking weight yet while in the brooder but I may do some sporadic weighing when they move to the tractors.. We're curious as to how this 2nd gen is going to perform.. When we bought the originals there was 1 red one and I see we hatched 1 red one..
We have the Meyer white rocks and they are on the small side about 4 lbs on hens and 6.5 lbs on roos.. Our meat birds are better than double on both sexes and they are decent layers too..
I'll be able to report finding in 8-10 weeks , If these birds pan out I may just get rid of the layer flock and have 2 flocks of these monsters..
I'd like to find or to breed a chicken that is big, tasty and tender but is capable of reproducing true to type...as far as meat quality, quantity and viability goes....It seems like we settle for something less in a small farm/homestead bird.
That sounds about right for hatchery White Rocks. Nothing like as large and efficient as the meat crosses. I think they tend to be more efficient for eggs, due to being smaller they would eat less. My meat birds have been the extra Barred Holland cockerels so far. Last time I had chickens, I raised the Cornish-X from Murray McMurray and was very happy with their eating qualities. But here in mile-high Prescott, those birds are not recommended. I am looking at the "Jackies" at the Freedom Ranger Hatchery for some dedicated meat birds to just raise and put in the freezer. Maybe use the best one on the Rocks and NNs I have for another batch. I am limited in the rooster keeping dept., since I am not supposed to have a rooster at all!
Oh that sounds interesting.
