What do yall think of this mix?

[FrankHomestead]

I'm new to flock raising and only have layers. Within the next year I plan on raising meat chickens and I have a couple questions.
First off, I've done a little research on several breeds. I think I'd like to get Buff Orpington hens, and Jersey Giant rooster(s). I'd like to selectively breed size and temperament in the JG and broodiness in the BO as I would like them to keep my flock going all on their own.
Does this sound like a good match? Also if anyone has crossbred these I would love to hear about your experiences and see photos of the resulting offspring!
My second question is..should my meat flock be kept separate from my layers? I mean during free ranging...I plan on having 2 separate coops. I'm thinking they should never be together because I also plan on having a rooster with the layers to keep that flock going as well. And I don't want that rooster fertilizing my BO. How would I do that? lol separate free ranging times? Sounds like chaos

 

[SunHwaKwon]

I'm not sure I understand why you want to keep them separate...

 

[FrankHomestead]

So that they don't breed with each other. I want to test the jg and bo as a meat bird..and if my rooster for the layers breeds the bo it'll throw it off, know what I mean? Or am I just being silly?

 

[FrankHomestead]

I'm not sure I understand why you want to keep them separate...

Do you think it's strange to have separate coops as well?

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Okay. So your plan is to start out with BO females and JG males, right? Then the offspring will all be crossbreeds. Are you going to eat all of those or just the males, and put the crossbreed females back in with the layers? Or are you also going to have a BO male to create more pure BO for your layer flock? The males will want to start breeding before they are ready for butcher, so unless you don't care if you have crossbreed males mounting your hens I would have a separate grow out area for them.

 

[FrankHomestead]

Okay. So your plan is to start out with BO females and JG males, right? Then the offspring will all be crossbreeds. Are you going to eat all of those or just the males, and put the crossbreed females back in with the layers? Or are you also going to have a BO male to create more pure BO for your layer flock? The males will want to start breeding before they are ready for butcher, so unless you don't care if you have crossbreed males mounting your hens I would have a separate grow out area for them.

Good question! I didn't realize roosters mate that early. I was thinking slaughtering between 20-24 weeks. I guess I need to think this through more lol selective breeding is really complicated when you want them to run free ugh!!

 

[FrankHomestead]

Good question! I didn't realize roosters mate that early. I was thinking slaughtering between 20-24 weeks. I guess I need to think this through more lol selective breeding is really complicated when you want them to run free ugh!!

And I plan on using all of them for meat, but never know if by then I grow fond of one and want to keep as a layer lol

 

[FrankHomestead]

Or would you say it's better to let the meaties forage in a tractor? I have read that free ranged birds can be a little tough texture wise

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Many will start trying to mate around 12 weeks. They may or may not be successful at that point but they will certainly try lol.

How many chicks are you planning to hatch out per week/month/year? How many do you plan to butcher and how many times a year do you plan to butcher?

TBH it should not matter much if they are mingling, especially if you are not keeping the offspring to put back into breeding.

From what I understand, anything that goes past a "cornish X" age is going to be tough. "Tough" is also a matter of personal opinion and preference. I find store chicken to be a bit mushy. I only slow cook and shred my butchered birds and their texture is perfectly fine to me.

Remember these will be very large birds so you will need a large tractor and move it frequently if you go that route.

I usually suggest selling pullets rather than butchering them. I feel like that is the more lucrative way to go, unless you think you can actually yield $15 worth of meat per bird. Put that money back toward feed and flock maintenance.

 

[crity]

We have 2 coops, but one is just used for introducing new chickens. Another is for ducks. Everyone will be let out soon to free range. If I can talk my husband into letting his darlings out. After rescuing I think he is afraid they will get hurt if they go out. I think it is a good idea to have 2 coops, you never know when you might need to separate some. Good luck keeping them separate if they free range. And don't forget a hen can reject semen of a rooster she feels is inferior. Pretty cool trick, imagine if women could do that. So if your hens think the rooster in the other cage is more for her, she may in theory reject semen of the one in the coop with her. Not sure how realistic that is, but interesting to ponder if you end up with no fertilized eggs. It's pretty easy to figure out if the eggs are fertile. Also, chickens go back into their coops in the evening or late afternoon. I think you would have to alternate days, or be willing to coax one group in to let the other out. Alternating days may cause undue stress to the one being kept in. Good luck.