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- #21
WallacetheKhakiCampbell
Songster
Thank you! This, along with some other comments are making me lean towards some sort of orpington or wyandotte (maybe a mix). I do love the taste of chicken, I can't imagine more of that flavor could be that bad, right?As others have said it’s a trade off. The only real meat birds that will give you a dressed chicken that looks like store bought is the Cornish cross.
leghorns and most ornamental types will have less usable meat than a jumbo quail.
but any of the heavy breeds will give you a usable carcass. But most, like the Orpington, Wyandot, and so on will give you a fair amount of meat as adults. But expect them to be stronger tasting and tougher than you are used to.
I grew up on dual purpose birds, we never bought meat, only ate what we raised. So to me that’s what chicken is supposed to taste like.
it will also take three times as long to get to a good weight for meat. But they eat far less so again, a trade off.
as far as a broody hen I’d suggest a game type, silkies or a heritage type bird. Although I’ve had wonderful luck with my partridge Cochins.