Purebred versus mixbreed

[LilyD]

Quote:
I checked it out and it definitely looks like I could do it here as well. I have room for two coops total so I can have my group one in one coop and group two in the other. I ordered Heritage Delaware eggs and I am hatching them as we speak. They are due to hatch on the 20th. I have 14 with 3 possible infertile ones so I am hoping that there is a large amount of girls in the mix so that I have a bunch to choose from. I think that to begin with I will have to start slow because I don't think I will have time to order more this year before it's too hot to ship eggs.

We have definitely decided that Cornish X are not for us anymore. I want a bird that I can offer food to at all times without worry and that will forage and be healthy even if I decide I don't want to cull it for meat at 18 weeks.

Question to anyone who breeds Delawares for meat. What is the longest you have gone before processing culls? I hear many people say to process at 16 to 18 weeks but if I wanted a larger Roasting bird could I go out to 20 to 24 weeks to get a larger bird or would that not work?

 

[Lotsapaints]

You can butcher them anytime

under 6 months for tenderness but I've done them at 8-10 months just needed to be aged and cooked right delicious stuffed. I tried McMurray's Dels mine were mean and small but the hens laid well. Privett is said to have good ones Welp had some nice ones too. I really like my Dels but the girls are bossy and they would be good foragers if I could let them roam.