Rare chicken breeds desired for their meat qualities?

[DesertChic]

I need some advice! I have a single pair of Malines I got from greenfire farms last summer. My intent was to breed them this year so I could get some nice meat birds. I was also hoping to find a few unrelated chicks to grow out and add to the ones I have so I can breed them proper. I know a lot of people get a breed from one source and breed them and sell them. I was going to breed mine like that for me only and see how they worked out for me as a meat breed. If it went well I would have liked to work more with the breed.

My problem is the cockerel I have now is aggressive. He activity charges and attacks me and my kids. He mostly does it to me when my back is turned and the kids have learned to stay away. I had over 20 roosters free ranging in my yard this last year and very few attempted any kind of aggressive behavior. I was under the impression that this is a very docile non agressive breed. Also my hen is rather small, she seems normal hen size, although I have not weighed her.

I also have an 8 week old pullet from Greenfire. I was hoping to add her with the other 2 when she was bigger but now I'm thinking of getting rid of them. They are free range now and would be put in a breeding pen and that would end the worries of mean attacking rooster to my kids. If I'm just eating them and not selling them this should be ok, but I'm still not sure I its a good idea.

I'm wondering if I should just try to sell the pair and use the money to get a few more chicks or eggs from a different source. I'm not sure I want to breed a rooster that is agressive that should not be. Should I still try to work with what I got? Does anyone sell chicks or hatching eggs?

If it were me, I would not choose to breed that aggressive rooster. I've heard perspectives on both sides of the issue...some saying that temperament isn't genetic but most saying that it is. In my opinion, it's just not worth taking the chance of passing those tendencies down, which could also result in unhappy customers in the future if you're the one selling them chicks that turn out to be aggressive, and they're just not pleasant to be around for you and your family. Life is too short to put up with a mean, cranky rooster.

 

[Regin]

I need some advice! I have a single pair of Malines I got from greenfire farms last summer. My intent was to breed them this year so I could get some nice meat birds. I was also hoping to find a few unrelated chicks to grow out and add to the ones I have so I can breed them proper. I know a lot of people get a breed from one source and breed them and sell them. I was going to breed mine like that for me only and see how they worked out for me as a meat breed. If it went well I would have liked to work more with the breed.

My problem is the cockerel I have now is aggressive. He activity charges and attacks me and my kids. He mostly does it to me when my back is turned and the kids have learned to stay away. I had over 20 roosters free ranging in my yard this last year and very few attempted any kind of aggressive behavior. I was under the impression that this is a very docile non agressive breed. Also my hen is rather small, she seems normal hen size, although I have not weighed her.

I also have an 8 week old pullet from Greenfire. I was hoping to add her with the other 2 when she was bigger but now I'm thinking of getting rid of them. They are free range now and would be put in a breeding pen and that would end the worries of mean attacking rooster to my kids. If I'm just eating them and not selling them this should be ok, but I'm still not sure I its a good idea.

I'm wondering if I should just try to sell the pair and use the money to get a few more chicks or eggs from a different source. I'm not sure I want to breed a rooster that is agressive that should not be. Should I still try to work with what I got? Does anyone sell chicks or hatching eggs?

If it started suddenly, something may have scared him or caused him to become defensive. I have had good results by confining them for a while and picking them up often and he only gets to eat when you are touching him. You can generally get ahold on them at night best.
Also some will go through a high strung stage shortly after they become mature.
If you already have a hen and a pullet, you can probably pick up an extra cockerel from someone this summer.

 

[Our Roost]

I have belgium malines also. Listenup! My rooster has recently became aggressive also. I acquaint it to the fact he has matured and come of age for breeding. He was a real sweetheart until his hormones became active. Dont be overly alarmed. He is the first one out of the coop in the morning clearing the way for his ladies and is very protective. He sees you as a threat to his harem.
Put some gloves on and get him first thing in the morning as he exits the coop. Tuck him under your arm and hold his neck while you walk with him until he no longer resists you. Stroke his chest and behind his head along his back. Spend about 10 minutes doing this and talk to him as you are walking around with his hens in sight. You have to do this every day until he no longer sees you as a threat. Try to give him his space during the day and let him do his thing. Remember that its his purpose to reproduce and protect the flock. Give this a try before you depose of this breed.

 

[lauraschicks]

I need some advice! I have a single pair of Malines I got from greenfire farms last summer. My intent was to breed them this year so I could get some nice meat birds. I was also hoping to find a few unrelated chicks to grow out and add to the ones I have so I can breed them proper. I know a lot of people get a breed from one source and breed them and sell them. I was going to breed mine like that for me only and see how they worked out for me as a meat breed. If it went well I would have liked to work more with the breed.

My problem is the cockerel I have now is aggressive. He activity charges and attacks me and my kids. He mostly does it to me when my back is turned and the kids have learned to stay away. I had over 20 roosters free ranging in my yard this last year and very few attempted any kind of aggressive behavior. I was under the impression that this is a very docile non agressive breed. Also my hen is rather small, she seems normal hen size, although I have not weighed her.

I also have an 8 week old pullet from Greenfire. I was hoping to add her with the other 2 when she was bigger but now I'm thinking of getting rid of them. They are free range now and would be put in a breeding pen and that would end the worries of mean attacking rooster to my kids. If I'm just eating them and not selling them this should be ok, but I'm still not sure I its a good idea.

I'm wondering if I should just try to sell the pair and use the money to get a few more chicks or eggs from a different source. I'm not sure I want to breed a rooster that is agressive that should not be. Should I still try to work with what I got? Does anyone sell chicks or hatching eggs?

I had a pair from GFF as well where the rooster was aggressive and all of my other breeds/roos have been quite gentle (except my SVH roo went through a short period of aggression that was corrected with a few 'turn and face him' displays). I don't know if it's the GFF line(s) or if something startled him, but he repeatedly attacked without provacation so I got rid of him (and yes I warned the new owner ). Even if it's not genetic specifically, I don't want my other cockerals learning that behavior.

 

[cutipatooti]

Thanks for the replies everyone! As I tell my kids, the rooster is just doing his job protecting his ladies from what perceives as a threat. I guess I just thought that this breed would not do that. I'm surprised my other breeds have not. It's not to bad and he doesn't do it if I face him. I think I will give him a nice pen with a few pullets and then he can be happy and away from the kids. Hopefully with some time and handling he will see I'm no threat.

 

[Our Roost]

Excellent response and plan of action. Keep in mind that these are for meat more so than pets. Thats the part you WILL enjoy!

 

[cutipatooti]

On another note. I have my first batch of brahmas. Truth be told I got them because I like the look and they are supposed to be very docile, but heard they are good for meat as they are slow to mature and can grow rather large and still be tender. I guess time will tell. What I would like to know is what percent protien starter do you use for these large slow growing heritage breeds. When I started last year I was using organic and it came in 17 or 18%. I no longer am feeding the organic and have heard that they should be on a higher protien diet. Most of the starters are only 18%. There is one that is 20% and a multiflock that is 22% . I believe what I read was it should be between 22 and 24%. I found 24% but it's for game birds. Does anyone else use the higher protien feeds and if so which one. I believe that the lower protien feed may have caused some of my larger breeds to be on the small side, but many not as some of my cocks are huge!

 

[DesertChic]

On another note. I have my first batch of brahmas. Truth be told I got them because I like the look and they are supposed to be very docile, but heard they are good for meat as they are slow to mature and can grow rather large and still be tender. I guess time will tell. What I would like to know is what percent protien starter do you use for these large slow growing heritage breeds. When I started last year I was using organic and it came in 17 or 18%. I no longer am feeding the organic and have heard that they should be on a higher protien diet. Most of the starters are only 18%. There is one that is 20% and a multiflock that is 22% . I believe what I read was it should be between 22 and 24%. I found 24% but it's for game birds. Does anyone else use the higher protien feeds and if so which one. I believe that the lower protien feed may have caused some of my larger breeds to be on the small side, but many not as some of my cocks are huge!

I'm very interested to hear more about your Brahma experience(s) as they grow. It's one of the breeds I'm definitely interested in.

I always start my birds out on higher protein levels of 20-26% until their growth peaks around 8-10 weeks of age, at which time I drop it down to 18% and eventually a 16% layer feed. I do use game bird feed as a supplement for young chicks but try to keep all of their feed organic and supplement with whole protein sources like chopped hard boiled eggs, meal worms, fish, and insects they free-range. I hope to eventually set up a black soldier fly harvester, but I haven't seen any of them around yet this year. I just think the birds feather out and develop more quickly when they have more protein to draw upon.

 

[cutipatooti]

Thanks DesertChick! I was feeding organic but it was getting very expensive when I had over 100 chicks I was growing out. Then the bear came and killed a bunch then the hawk. Everybody freeranged so I have no enclosures. Now I stopped feeding organic so I can save a bit to build secure enclosures and get electric fence. One day I will go back to organic. I'm actually thinking of getting a bunch of brown leghorns to freerange in the woods by my house and do organic for them. They don't eat much so I should be able to feed them organic.

I'm glad to hear that the higher protien levels work out well for you. It's what I was hoping for. I got some game bird feed to try for them and I have also been doing hard boiled eggs. I had the freeze dried mealworms but they don't like them much. I want to breed mealworms but not sure if they will survive in my basement in the winter. I am also looking into the soldier fly harvester, I went with an incubator this year. I will definitely keep you posted on how the brahmas are progressing. All I can say now is I was expecting very calm sluggish chicks, but so far they are very active, even when they arrived and had spent 2 days in shipping. They are also slower to feather then bielefelders.

 

[smokie]

Cambodian chickens taste absolutely wonderful quite dark meat not the softest on top of that they have great coler feathers and constantly replace themselves by going broody about four times a year apparantly can be six times if take chicks off them and rear in brooder no real recognized breed unfortunately seem to be mix of game jungle fowl and not good for anyone wanting to produce many eggs