What is the best meat breed for me?

[Citron_d'uccle]

I am interested in raising a few (25-30) meat birds for personal consumption. I am looking for breeds that can also be bred to produce offspring that are true to breed. I have looked at the Freedom Ranger and Gauloise breeds but have not been able to find any breeding stock. I want birds that are a slow growing breed that will free-range well, are well-breasted and have good fat marbling. Basically looking for a breed similar to the 'Bresse Gauloise'. Any help.

 

[galanie]

You could try finding some Californian blue foot chickens. They are a joint American/Canadian attempt to make a Bresse Gauloise since no one has been able to import that breed into the USA as far as I've learned. I'm unaware of a heritage breed that has a really nice breast like they do.

 

[stoneunhenged]

At Greenfire Farms we were recently able to legally import into the US some Bresse from Europe. The imports are on our farm in Florida.

 

[Oregon Blues]

Heritage breed good for meat? Dorking.

Most of the broilers sold are hybrids. Freedom Rangers won't breed true.

 

[4-H chicken mom]

My thoughts as well.

 

[Illia]

I don't mean to sound offensive to Paul and I hope I'm not, but Greenfire Farms is NOT the place to look on the average person's budget

Any non-hatchery stock heritage breed is a good choice as well as some newer breeds like Araucanas and French Marans. Araucanas, though small, have some very good meat qualities and are most excellent free rangers as well as superb broody moms, making them a very ideal self-sufficient type breed.


Edited to add - Some good heritage breeds include New Hampshires, Delawares, Rocks, Rhode Island Reds, Sussex, Dorkings, etc.

 

[raisingkidsandchickens]

We just bought Black Australorps. They are supposed to be a great dual purpose breed. We're still new to this so I hope they are!

 

[Saltysteele]

i've got split/light sussex that are greenfire farm's line

from my understanding, they are australian. they are BIG birds, and fairly quick growing (definitely not as fast as CX or FR's), and are awesome foragers. my adult chickens hardly eat any feed at all when i let them free range (they're on lockdown at the moment, due to tearing up the wife's silver mounds and flower garden)

the chicks, on the other hand, will eat anything you put in front of them. they'll gorge themselves on grass, plants and bugs, and then act like they're starving when you put feed in front of them

they're big, meaty, wide birds. i haven't processed any yet, but hopefully will this fall

 

[orientphoenix]

this is like the tenth time i recommend this breed to people but they just r amazing birds, u should try the standard cornish not the cornish rock hybrids

 

[galanie]

Greenfire imports birds that can't be found elsewhere. Yes, they are pricey but importing them is hella expensive and for the breed he mentioned, they are the only source.

Of course yes, regular cornish, ie Dark Cornish, would be a great choice. I was thrown by the French breed mentioned.