I'm thinking about getting some black giants but I'm wondering what is your idea on how well they do producing meat? Are they "bony" like other "dual"purpose breeds or are they closer to broiler size?
They will be the most expensive chicken dinner you will ever have. They take along time to grow big, therefore eating more feed. (cornishx cornishx cornishx)
They will grow to be huge in size but "bony" . One will have to feed and care for them for way over a year to yield a chicken and dumplings meal, as they grow skeleton first. That in my book is way too long. My recomendation is the Cornish X that one can harvest for the nicest fried chicken meal in 6-8 weeks from hatch. Don't expect to raise them like just any egg producing or even dual purpose chicken to attain their genetic potential or there will be disapointment. Just learn and follow the management protocal and one will have the very best reward.
There is absolutely NO layer or non-broiler type breed that produces an acceptable amount of meat in my opinion- including anything called "dual purpose," no matter what the hatchery tries to tell you. Not trying to start an argument, that's just my opinion. If you want birds primarily for eating, you have to buy hybrid broilers. There are alternatives to Cornish X's, but they are all hybrids that won't breed predictably.
We had considered Jersey Giant's, but they take so long to mature. We ended up getting Barbed Rocks instead this year. Although we have done one batch of Cornish cross so far this year to get meat quickly. Tom
