What are semi-super broilers?

[taz982]

I was reading Chickens: Tending a Small-Scale Flock by Sue Weaver, and she mentioned semi-super broilers. I can't seem to figure out what she's talking about. i would like to have them instead of full super broilers since she said they are sturdier, and my current thoughts on what I want to do with the meat chickens would require them move up and down a bit (see https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/684823/new-plans-for-old-stuff-a-chicken-tractor for more information on my plans.)

I am also trying to figure out how to start up my own broiler flock. I would like to start small, after i get my layers in order (in a separate space). Is it ok to have a ton of space for them, and just start them in the space i want for my larger flock for weekly eating? Or could i keep one or two with my layers as a trial run for if we are up to the task of having eating chickens.

Any advice, particularly on the previous questions and breeds would be very helpful

Thank you!

 

[Ridgerunner]

I have not read the book. Is she maybe talking about Freedom Rangers?

Maybe to see if you are up to meaties you could try eating one of your layers? That may answer some important questions as to whether you are up to some of the tasks.

 

[taz982]

Do you think Araucanas or Ameraucanas would get up to a sufficient weight?

 

[taz982]

As for freedom rangers, i've never heard her talk about them in the book so i couldn't say. She says they are slightly slower growing but sturdier so they don't risk breakage of legs and whatnot

 

[Ridgerunner]

That kind of sounds like Freedom Rangers. That would be my best guess for what you should try if you can find them. The problem may be that you have to buy a lot of them at a time. I expect it will be really hard to just get two.

You can eat any chicken, you just have to know how to cook it. Ameraucana and Araucana are generally not known to be really big sized as far as eating goes, but that depends a lot on the individual strain. I raise my dual purpose mutts for meat more than the eggs, so I eat the pullets as well as the cockerels. Some of those pullets don't have a while lot of meat on them, but they still make a good tasting meal. My idea was for you to try it before you invested time, money, and emotion in raising something that has to be killed at a certain age or it will physically break down. You don't have an option then.

Something else you might try to see if you can process a chicken from when it is living until it goes into your kitchen is look on Craigslist to see if someone is selling or giving away a rooster.

 

[taz982]

Oi. maybe i can find a sympathetic farmer around (lol).

Do Freedom Rangers breed true? I was reading in that same book that meat chickens might be hybrids or some such and as such don't breed true, so I can't just get enough to keep them replenishing themselves.

 

[Ridgerunner]

The Cornish Cross/Cornish X/Broilers do not breed true. Each of their 4 grandparents comes from a specific flock. They are more than a hybrid. They are a 4-way hybrid. I don't know about Freedom Rangers.

The Broilers have to be kept on a restricted diet to keep their weight down. Otherwise they eat themselves to death. Even if they managed to live, they are too heavy to breed.

There was a thread on here a year or more ago about people trying to breed Freedom Rangers to get a sustainable flock. They kept that thread going for over a year so they did get some decent results. A few people got favorable results but most of them decided it really did not work for them.

That's why I chose dual purpose breeds. They can be sustainable and they give decent results. Not nearly as good as the broilers, but good enough for me.

 

[taz982]

Thank you for that!

I'm wondering though, when you say they aren't as good as broilers what do you mean? Not as tasty, not as big, or not as quick to get to weight, or something else?

I was thinking about dual purpose breeds. My major concern with them is that I would have to keep many more on hand at one time. How many do you think it would take to feed a couple sustainably? I don't mean chicken every night, just a reasonable amount (perhaps one full chicken per week or something?)? I would assume with broilers you would only have to keep like a dozen on hand at any given point, but you'd have to keep buying them over and over.

While I do some research looking for the same, recommend any good non-white egg-laying, good tempermented, heat tolerant, freeze tolerant chickens that could handle pasture conditions that i could look into?

 

[taz982]

After looking through my book's breed tables I am thinking Cochin or Brahma, considering their size, hardiness to weather extremes (its triple digits here a bit too much lol), calmness, and broodiness. As of right now Cochin has a leg up as the book also lists them as friendly. I like friendly animals, although perhaps thats a reason i don't want to have them in eating birds lol.

Sorry this is getting so stream of conciousness-y. When I get excited I like to share all of my random thoughts lol.

 

[Buster52]

As for freedom rangers, i've never heard her talk about them in the book so i couldn't say. She says they are slightly slower growing but sturdier so they don't risk breakage of legs and whatnot

She is talking about the various colored broiler hybrids out there, which includes Freedom Rangers. She is not talking about good DP birds that can be raised as broilers. Those she talks about later in the chapter. Super-broilers is her term for Cornish Rock Cross.

Just her own little weird terms that she uses for whatever reason.