what is your favorite meat breed?

[Beekissed]

You don't have to lose them to health problems before you get them raised. The stories you have read about them are from people who mismanage their CX. Maybe you should read other stories of the breed before you cross them off your list of a good meat breed? There are quite a few people out there raising the CX without any difficulties but you may not hear their stories because they have nothing to complain about with their birds.

Mine roost, they forage better than any other chicken I've owned and they are all healthy as horses. They aren't overly mean or aggressive and I find them quite docile and fun to have around. You don't have to feed broiler feeds to get them to the right size, they don't have to be gross or stinky and they don't have to be processed at 8 wks...you can wait to process them at your leisure.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...have-a-rooster-raising-50-cx-chicks-new-batch

 

[hrhta812]

I read this just to learn a little because I've not read up on meat birds - this thread was very informative! Now I understand why the ones I see at the county fair don't have full feathering.

 

[Justin36]

So if they are NoT fully feathered out by butcher age does that mean I should keep them in the brooders until butcher? I have the coop ready and they are starting to feather out now at about 3 weeks.

 

[Beekissed]

No, you can let them out. They are much hotter in nature than their counterpart standard breeds and do much better in cooler weather. They do fully feather out in time and with exposure to the elements.

 

[Justin36]

Ok, thanks. I'm taking this thread off topic but one more question, I have 6 other multipurpose chickens in the coop now that are a week older than the Cornish crosses will they be ok together? They are not flying yet so I don't want to let them out in the yard with the full grown chickens because they wont purch at night.

 

[Beekissed]

Yes, they will be okay together.

 

[myhubbycallsmechickeemama]

I ended up separating my pullets from my meaties because the meaties were double their size. I have a little Blue Cochin that would stand on the center of the trough tray feeder and one of the meaties tried to eat her foot!! It took a few seconds for it to realized that she wasn't food, poor little thing!!

Meaties are very aggressive when they eat so I would make sure you have LOTS of feeder space.

 

[Beekissed]

I have two DP roos the same age as my CX bunch and they do just fine. No toes eaten off yet!

They just learn to wait their turn at the feeder and I make sure there is plenty left over when the meaties are done.

When I had more DPs than CX, I just gave the CX a different feeder and fed them first...while they were distracted with their ration, I'd feed the DPs and they had time to get their fill before the CX even noticed they were eating also. They do tend to push, shove and gobble at the feeder, so one just has to make a few adjustments.

 

[4CrazyEggs]

Thanks for all the good info. My buddy and neighbor in the city are only allowed 10 birds max. I have egg producers and we are thinking that he could raise some meat birds. The meat birds will most likely be confined to the run which will be 15'x15'. I am leaning towards Freedom Rangers but am not even sure at this point where I will get them.

• What would be your suggestions for a backyard setting?
• How old do you typically butcher them?
• How many batches of 10 birds could you raise in a 12 month period and are chicks always available?

Thanks for all the info you guys provide!!!!
Jim
Colorado Springs

 

[Beekissed]

Thanks for all the good info. My buddy and neighbor in the city are only allowed 10 birds max. I have egg producers and we are thinking that he could raise some meat birds. The meat birds will most likely be confined to the run which will be 15'x15'. I am leaning towards Freedom Rangers but am not even sure at this point where I will get them.

• What would be your suggestions for a backyard setting? That depends on the backyard..is it enclosed with good fencing, does it border many neighbors and their pets, border a forest, do you have any guardian animals, etc. ?
• How old do you typically butcher them? I butcher mine at 10 weeks but it varies from person to person, depending on preference.
• How many batches of 10 birds could you raise in a 12 month period and are chicks always available? That depends on how long you will keep them before processing and, yes, chicks are always available, depending on the hatchery you use.

Thanks for all the info you guys provide!!!!
Jim
Colorado Springs