Slow growing breeds for meat - What breeds to get?

[KikiDeAnime]

I'm looking into doing meat birds again this year and actually going through with it. I have a little area separate from our main flock where I'll be keeping them once they're close to butcher age.
I prefer slow growing breeds as they're more natural and healthier.
I'm looking to hear what breeds are good for meat that I should get in spring.
The area I have for them can hold around 15 adult birds but I'm getting more than I actually need because I like to stay cautious and prepared in case I lose a few. All of them will be either raised by a broody or in our brooder coop with heat until they're old enough.

What slow growing breeds do you recommend or suggest for meat?

 

[Molpet]

How slow are you thinking.
If I was starting over I would consider these New Hampshire, people who have them like them for a sustainable meat bird.
https://www.freedomrangerhatchery.com/shop/product/new-hampshire-gmo-free-chicken/

 

[KikiDeAnime]

How slow are you thinking.
If I was starting over I would consider these New Hampshire, people who have them like them for a sustainable meat bird.
https://www.freedomrangerhatchery.com/shop/product/new-hampshire-gmo-free-chicken/

I just say slow growing but I actually mean just regular breeds. Like Buff Orpingtons, Australorps, etc.

 

[EmmaRainboe]

I would recommend brahmas, they are extremely slow growing but grow very large.

I believe @3KillerBs has some exact weights of cleaned birds she's processed.

I just say slow growing but I actually mean just regular breeds. Like Buff Orpingtons, Australorps, etc.

In that case any dual-purpose breed would fit. Plymouth rocks, orpingtons, rhode island reds, new hampshires, delawares, etc...

 

[K0k0shka]

I like Orpingtons, they are a nice combination of "slow but not too slow", and "big and stacked" Lots of meat on them. Their calm temperament makes them easy to deal with, too.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I just say slow growing but I actually mean just regular breeds. Like Buff Orpingtons, Australorps, etc.

I assume you are going to order cockerels. They are usually less expensive than pullets or straight run and give larger carcasses. That's the way I do this.

What traits do you want in a meat bird? If you are going to pluck them you might want a white or buff colored bird. Some pin feathers get left behind when you pluck and a light colored bird gives you a prettier carcass than a darker bird. If you skin them feather color doesn't matter.

Some people prefer a white, yellow, or darker skin though for a lot of people it doesn't matter. Do you have a preference?

Do you have a preference for light or dark meat? Most dual purpose breeds give a larger percentage of dark meat than the Cornish Cross hybrid meat bird. The true Cornish breed that was used to develop the Cornish Cross hybrid has a large percentage of white meat compared to most other dual purpose breeds.

How important is early maturing and size to you? Brahma or Jersey Giants eventually get really big but you may need to wait an extra month or probably more to take advantage of the potential extra size. Many of us prefer early maturing so we don't have to feed them as much.

Before the development of the Cornish Cross about 70 years ago, the most common breeds raised for meat in the US were Delaware, New Hampshire, and some strains of White Rock developed for meat instead of egg laying. Hatcheries have not been breeding them for meat for about 70 years so they aren't significantly better than other hatchery dual purpose breeds but if I were buying from a hatchery I'd look at them really hard.

 

[3KillerBs]

I would recommend brahmas, they are extremely slow growing but grow very large.

I believe @3KillerBs has some exact weights of cleaned birds she's processed.


In that case any dual-purpose breed would fit. Plymouth rocks, orpingtons, rhode island reds, new hampshires, delawares, etc...

Yes, the weights are in one of my threads here in this section, but I don't remember which thread.

I'm sure others have weights in their harvesting threads too.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I'm looking into doing meat birds again this year and actually going through with it. I have a little area separate from our main flock where I'll be keeping them once they're close to butcher age.
I prefer slow growing breeds as they're more natural and healthier.
I'm looking to hear what breeds are good for meat that I should get in spring.
The area I have for them can hold around 15 adult birds but I'm getting more than I actually need because I like to stay cautious and prepared in case I lose a few. All of them will be either raised by a broody or in our brooder coop with heat until they're old enough.

What slow growing breeds do you recommend or suggest for meat?

Take a look at Asian Blacks. I have a pair and while he grew fast, he is as natural as a heritage breed in terms of reproducing and living past 8 weeks. I have yet to weigh my boy, but he's gotta be at least 10 pounds and he's still healthy at 2 full years. Makes big sons too

 

[CNJ]

I would go with New Hampshire from this line...................

https://www.freedomrangerhatchery.com/shop/product/new-hampshire-gmo-free-chicken/

When developing our New Hampshire Reds, Henry Knoll worked to maintain the fast-feathering and rapid-growth features that make these dual-purpose birds so desirable for mass production, as well as for the backyard. Our birds are calm and very friendly and lay about 200 large, light-brown eggs per year (for best egg production, limit hens’ feed intake as their strength is in meat production). Please note, these chicks grow so fast that you do not want to use them for show purposes.

 

[K0k0shka]

I would go with New Hamsters from this line...................

https://www.freedomrangerhatchery.com/shop/product/new-hampshire-gmo-free-chicken/

When developing our New Hampshire Reds, Henry Knoll worked to maintain the fast-feathering and rapid-growth features that make these dual-purpose birds so desirable for mass production, as well as for the backyard. Our birds are calm and very friendly and lay about 200 large, light-brown eggs per year (for best egg production, limit hens’ feed intake as their strength is in meat production). Please note, these chicks grow so fast that you do not want to use them for show purposes.

Do you know if they are breast heavy like other meat breeds? Can't tell from the website... I'd give them a try but I hate white meat, so I don't want breasty chickens.