What do yall think of this mix?

[SunHwaKwon]

I don't like silkies either. Some people use Cochins bantams, which are very cute. My best broody has been a (non-hatchery) Japanese bantam, though. I also have some bantam rocks that I got at a show and they are regularly broody.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

As far as just using the JG it depends on how much you like eggs. I don't eat a lot so their egg laying ability doesn't matter to me. My JG is almost 6 months old and hasn't started laying yet, as far as I can tell. She has just started to get red in the face, but I have yet to see her mate.

 

[FrankHomestead]

As far as just using the JG it depends on how much you like eggs. I don't eat a lot so their egg laying ability doesn't matter to me. My JG is almost 6 months old and hasn't started laying yet, as far as I can tell. She has just started to get red in the face, but I have yet to see her mate.

Ooooo good point, bo are good layers. You bring up a lot of great points that really help, thank you!!

 

[FrankHomestead]

As far as just using the JG it depends on how much you like eggs. I don't eat a lot so their egg laying ability doesn't matter to me. My JG is almost 6 months old and hasn't started laying yet, as far as I can tell. She has just started to get red in the face, but I have yet to see her mate.

So if you don't raise meat birds, and you don't eat many eggs...why do you have chickens? I'm guessing you just like having them around?

 

[FrankHomestead]

Sorry if I take too long to respond..painting the house and packing so we can move to the country where my heart belongs!

 

[Egghead_Jr]

I think you should start with one breed, straight run and butcher the male culls to see if you like layer breed chicken meat. Many have the ambition for what you're talking about only to find out latter they don't like the leggier, smaller and if left to grow to roasting size tougher meat of layer birds. Personally I don't see any advantage to the Jersey Giant in a meat bird, don't let the final weight of an adult bird persuade you to use it for a meat project. If you want broilers, tender meat, you'll be butchering your cockerels at 14 weeks of age. Waiting longer than that makes them fryers and then roasters. As in a 20 week old bird and older can not be fried or broiled, the meat would be too tough, it can only be roasted or stewed.

There is a lot to be said for chicken feed. You'll have a hard time matching the nutritional value that is only pennies a pound to purchase if you grow your own feed. In all honesty it's not practical to grow your own.

As for broody birds. If you start with breeder stock the chances are high you'll have broody birds to perpetuate the flock. Hatchery birds and breeder stock are very different. Hatchery birds lay more and are less prone to brood, they typically are smaller birds too. My advice is to pick a breed, acquire breeder stock and cull the smallest cockerels at 14 weeks to find if you like the meat. Many find they can't get away from the larger breasted and more tender meat birds. They are more tender as they are butchered at a younger age. CornishX are butchered anywhere from 6 to 10 weeks of age. The proportion of breast to leg is substantially more with double thick breasts.

Good luck.

 

[MillersFarm]

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

I've owned JGs for a while now and they're personally my favorite breed so far. One of our JGs decided to go broody so we let her and ended up with a chick named bertha, She is only 3 months old but is growing FAST! We've been thinking about making some more of her for a meat bird. She's a JG x LB (Light brahma) And shes already as big as our laying Easter eggers and just a bit smaller then our Light brahma hens which i thought was amazing! Shes the biggest in her clutch too including two others that are just a week older then . Though we might do some more crossing with some other breeds that grow faster since JGs are very slow when it comes to growing and fattening up.

 

[BlueShadow]

@Egghead_Jr gave you TONS of good advice.

Rather than repeat all of it, I will just mention that you are planning to do a LOT of new things - raise chickens; grow, grind & formulate feed; butchering; crossbreeding; and so on. I suggest you start a little simpler, you are far more likely to be successful and enjoy your project. There are many more areas you can branch into as the years go by!

I would suggest choosing one breed that you like. Many heritage dual-purpose breeds are available, all would be excellent for your purposes. If you like Orpingtons, go with them. Jersey Giant do get huge, but you are going to spend a lot on feed, even if you grow it yourself. The Freedom Rangers etc. that @SunHwaKwon linked also would be excellent, although maybe not so good if you intend to keep and breed (they are crosses of various dual-purpose breeds).

 

[mockingbird]

You may consider having separate housing for the roosters and cockerels and only put them with the hens when you want fertile eggs. That way you have control over the breeding. I am considering trying this approach when my cockerels mature.

 

[BlueShadow]

Oh yeah. And if one, 4 lb live weight RIR cockerel butchered at 14 weeks can feed my family of 4 for 2 meals (granted, it was less meat than we usually like to eat per meal, but it was enough) then I am certain that 2 Orpington (or whatever breed you choose) cockerels butchered at a young age will provide enough meat to feed your family of 6 for at least one meal. I have found 2 birds to be a very manageable amount to butcher at one time. Now, with practice, I can leave the house to catch the birds and have them butchered, skinned, cleaned, and resting in the refrigerator a half hour later. Perfect to fit into the kids naptime. And still, 2 birds only took an hour back when we were plucking and had less experience with the whole process.