what dual purpose breed would you recommend?

[cuckooformarans]

Well, with more and more research we are finding that it is unlikely that we can breed our own cornish crosses.
We're looking for a large bodied breed that makes a great dual purpose bird. What do you all recommend and why?
Thanks

 

[canesisters]

I guess it would depend on how long you intend to keep them as layers.
They will be good laying hens for 2-3 years - maybe longer. They will only be dinner once.
There are LOTS of dual purpose breeds out there. Personally, I like speckled sussex - friendly, good layer, pretty, and fat little hogs that - I would assume - would dress out fairly decently.

 

[aoxa]

White Rocks are great. You don't get the unsightly pin feathers after plucking, and they are quite large if bred properly.

Or you could do white Cornish.

 

[wsmith]

American Dominiques are great heritage dual purpose chickens. Our cockerels dress out at 4-5 lbs each at 24-26 weeks, and are delicious. The pullets and hens are smaller, but still lay a medium - large egg, and are economic to feed.

 

[Bossroo]

I can raise the Cornish X for 8 weeks and get 4 to 5 lb carcass. In the 24 week time frame, I can get 3 crops in for similar labor as for the dual purpose. The Cornish X is the most efficient converter of feed to meat bar none. So , doing the math... 4 -- 5 lbs per bird. X 3 batches = 12 --15 lbs for my BBQ . vs.4-- 5 lbs for the dual purpose. I think that I will stick with the Cornish X !

 

[wsmith]

I can raise the Cornish X for 8 weeks and get 4 to 5 lb carcass. In the 24 week time frame, I can get 3 crops in for similar labor as for the dual purpose. The Cornish X is the most efficient converter of feed to meat bar none. So , doing the math... 4 -- 5 lbs per bird. X 3 batches = 12 --15 lbs for my BBQ . vs.4-- 5 lbs for the dual purpose. I think that I will stick with the Cornish X !

True, you will get more meat faster...but mine will taste better and have texture... LOL. Of course, I'm not raising them just for meat either. That's just a side benefit. And Cornish X aren't a dual purpose breed.

 

[my sunwolf]

I have to agree with aoxa, I prefer White Rocks as dual purpose. Excellent layers, even in winter. Girls keep laying into their old age, feathers are strong (no naked chickens), eggs are huge, birds are pretty disease resistant, awesome foragers with okay feed conversion. Temperaments are excellent on breeder quality birds, okay on hatchery birds (sometimes a little skittish). The hens do tend to get fat, but this is excellent when it comes time to butcher old girls and save the fat for rendering and cooking with. Nice shaped bodies on the cockerels for processing at 16-24 weeks, plus pin feathers are harder to see. Not to mention the white feathers are pretty around the yard. One problem is that these white birds are hawk magnets, but other than that White Rocks are my #1 favorite dual purpose breed.

 

[aoxa]

True, you will get more meat faster...but mine will taste better and have texture... LOL. Of course, I'm not raising them just for meat either. That's just a side benefit. And Cornish X aren't a dual purpose breed.

I don't know about better texture, but I agree on the taste.

I am raising my cornish X much differently than most. Feeding them very little forces them to go out and forage. They are active little boogers and are very content.

There is someone that has had success raising Cornish X to adulthood and using them as breeders. You have to be strict in their diet, and allow ample free range.

My Cornish X are 3 weeks old now. I feed them in the morning what they can clean up in an hour and at night before bed (same thing).

I do kill my extra roosters, and I slow cook them. This is the only way I like the texture of them.

 

[aoxa]

I have to agree with aoxa, I prefer White Rocks as dual purpose. Excellent layers, even in winter. Girls keep laying into their old age, feathers are strong (no naked chickens), eggs are huge, birds are pretty disease resistant, awesome foragers with okay feed conversion. Temperaments are excellent on breeder quality birds, okay on hatchery birds (sometimes a little skittish). The hens do tend to get fat, but this is excellent when it comes time to butcher old girls and save the fat for rendering and cooking with. Nice shaped bodies on the cockerels for processing at 16-24 weeks, plus pin feathers are harder to see. Not to mention the white feathers are pretty around the yard. One problem is that these white birds are hawk magnets, but other than that White Rocks are my #1 favorite dual purpose breed.

They are also good broodies, and will grow your flock!

I would like some good quality white rocks. I can only seem to find them in bantam, which is disappointing. I have Silver Pencilled and the Barred Variety of Rocks. Great temperaments on Plymouth Rocks all around!

 

[kfacres]

My Backyard breeder type Cornish pretty much help me have the bull by the horns in terms of making a self sustainable, meat driven, backyard flock of chickens that hatch their own eggs.