what is your favorite meat breed?

Justin36

In the Brooder
8 Years
Apr 19, 2011
73
0
39
Hello, I am new to meat Chickens. I have some Ida reds I keep for eggs and this year I bought 6 duel purpose birds 3 barred rock the other 3 I forget. I also bought 25 Cornish cross at the lady who sold them to me recomendation. I have been impressed with how much faster the Cornish cross have grown but they also eat way more food and I don't free range them. I bought a couple incubators and want to start a flock for meat but my research has shown me that I can't collect eggs from Cornish cross because they die before they reach the age of laying eggs due to health problems caused by massive weight gain. I have also read story's of them dyeing of heat exhaustion rather than walking over to the watterer and I don't think they are the right bird for me anyway. My question is what would you recommended for a good meat breed that I can incubate eggs from? Im sure there is a thread like this somewhere but on my phone I only went back a couple pages so sorry if it has been asked before, also sorry for spelling and stupid autocorrects that I might not catch also due to typeing this on my phone.
 
I think that's what she said they where, I got them at tractor supply a few years ago but can't find any info online, maybe isa red? Is that a breed? They are breed for laying eggs and they are red that's really all I know. Sorry.
 
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Not a problem, just never heard of them.

There is an Isa Brown, which is bascially the same as a Red Sexlink. They are just not as red colored. They are not a breed per se, but a hybrid that was breed for egg production.

I also know that most employees at TSC's really don't know much about chickens they're just there to earn their paycheck and really don"t care that much about the chickens or what breed they are.
 
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I raised Cornish Cross and Freedom Rangers last year. I much prefer the Freedom Rangers. They are a bit more expensive and they take 2 weeks longer, but I didn't get any of the leg weakness that I saw with the Cornish Cross. And, the Freedom Rangers are much more docile - the Cornish Cross are like piranhas at feeding time. I let mine free range all day and locked them up at night, and the Cornish Cross didn't know what to do with themselves during the day. The Freedom Rangers are also much nicer to watch grow. :)
 
For a true dual purpose bird if you don't want to purchase them every year I have Delaware, Light Brahma and have just started Dorkings. The Delawares are meatier but not as big as the Brahmas. The Brahmas are bigger and have more dark meat than light meat but the taste is amazing. I can't tell you about the dorkings yet because I only have 3 (2 pullets and a cockerel) so I am still waiting for them to grow up but boy I have heard amazing things about them and can't wait to start hatching out their eggs. I figure I will keep the stock that are good for breeding and process the ones that aren't so I will help the breed and have good meatie birds at the same time.

Good luck in your search.
Lily
 
I raise Cornish Crosses, and yeah, they are kind of gross birds, but tasty and meaty. And by gross, I mean - they grow faster than their feathers grow in! They are piggies.

since we don't raise them in winter, we don't waste our time cooping them. We keep them separate from the egg layers, since they are always on broiler ration. And we build little huts for them for shade and shelter. They don't have to get up into a coop, and they never really perch anyhow.

I've tried Freedom Rangers, as well as "dual purpose" breeds, and generally found that they weren't as meaty or as tender as the Cornish Crosses, AND my customers aren't impressed with them.

I am currently breeding Speckled Sussex. I only have one roo - haven't eaten him yet, but he's BIG and GORGEOUS. I think the BIG part is likely going to be more about feathers than meat, so I might be disappointed.

Truth be told, I am looking for that dual purpose that I can breed myself, but I don't think my customers will be impressed. The want the size and tenderness of a Cornish X, and any other breed that CAN grow to that size, they take too long and the meat is too tough. I think I am stuck with the Cornish X's
 
I am happy with my Cornish crosses don't get me wrong I just don't know what to put in my incubator and being the first time I have bought them I am worried about loading them to health problems before they reach butcher age. If all go's well I may keep buying them and incubate some quail or something just to get a little variety. I don't know that's why I research everything before starting I project. Thanks for the suggestions so far I will look into all the breeds listed here.
 

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