Your favourite 'dual purpose' meat breed?

[Buster52]

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How much time do you have?

Seriously, though, lets not get side tracked into that discussion and just answer the question asked.

For dual purpose, I'm finding some luck with Delaware. For straight meat (they aren't much good at the other side of "dual") I like Dark Cornish due to the breast meat. I'm playing with crossing the two, with one pen of Del roo over Cornish hens, another with Cornish roo over Del hens. I have a hundred or so eggs from these crosses either in the 'bater or about to go there.

For egg layers I have RIR, Ameracauna, and Leghorn. And I'm currently raising up some Cuckoo Marans and Wellsummers for a large future flock for selling eggs.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Quote:
How much time do you have?

Seriously, though, lets not get side tracked into that discussion and just answer the question asked.

For dual purpose, I'm finding some luck with Delaware. For straight meat (they aren't much good at the other side of "dual") I like Dark Cornish due to the breast meat. I'm playing with crossing the two, with one pen of Del roo over Cornish hens, another with Cornish roo over Del hens. I have a hundred or so eggs from these crosses either in the 'bater or about to go there.

For egg layers I have RIR, Ameracauna, and Leghorn. And I'm currently raising up some Cuckoo Marans and Wellsummers for a large future flock for selling eggs.

Buster, let me know what you think of your Cuckoo culls when you get to that point. They are one of our favs. The breast isn't near as large as a DC but they have a great taste.

Steve

 

[Mom2Cool]

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Actually now that you say this I think I have to agree with the SS having a better table appearance & I couldn't figure the "why" but having a "square body" is right I think because they are kind of easier to set in a roast pan. My orps seem to be more narrow & want to fall over & I guess this is why.... I usually prop themup with veggies but it is something I've noticed. I thought the SS had a little more breast meat too.

 

[bigredfeather]

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Actually now that you say this I think I have to agree with the SS having a better table appearance & I couldn't figure the "why" but having a "square body" is right I think because they are kind of easier to set in a roast pan. My orps seem to be more narrow & want to fall over & I guess this is why.... I usually prop themup with veggies but it is something I've noticed. I thought the SS had a little more breast meat too.

They have a lesser upright stance than most others. They were the prefered table bird in England 100 years ago, and for good reason. Now if I could get them to grow out a little quicker. I am going to play around with some crosses soon, and I intend to include my SS roo in a cross. I wonder what a Buckeye/SS would look like? I am very glad I have the breeds I have. Different crosses are going to be fun. The hard part is going to be making sure I keep track of what is what.

 

[Mom2Cool]

Quote:
Actually now that you say this I think I have to agree with the SS having a better table appearance & I couldn't figure the "why" but having a "square body" is right I think because they are kind of easier to set in a roast pan. My orps seem to be more narrow & want to fall over & I guess this is why.... I usually prop themup with veggies but it is something I've noticed. I thought the SS had a little more breast meat too.

They have a lesser upright stance than most others. They were the prefered table bird in England 100 years ago, and for good reason. Now if I could get them to grow out a little quicker. I am going to play around with some crosses soon, and I intend to include my SS roo in a cross. I wonder what a Buckeye/SS would look like? I am very glad I have the breeds I have. Different crosses are going to be fun. The hard part is going to be making sure I keep track of what is what.

Well now that you're saying this you've got me thinking here. I have 2 different coops that are separate w/one being in the garden (the garden is huge) Anyway originally I intended to keep the ss back there & the Buff Orpingtons in the coop that closer to the house. Then last winter my last SS roo was killed by a hawk & one night when hubby went to close up the garden club 1 of my Orpington roos decided to move himself in there! Now the hens have realized they can get over the garden fence & we know how curious chickens are & so they're all kind of mixed in & so noooowww I've got a 5 chicks that are a SS/BO mix...

It'll be interesting to see if they're roos how they turn out. & yes I think maybe I should start writing this down to keep track of who's what & what's happening here. lol

 

[dancingbear]

I'm not going to quote it again, but the SS having a more "square" body is interesting. Dorkings are another, and I've been looking for more Dorkings for that reason. Trying to find non-hatchery stock has been a challenge, though. I'm wondering if good quality SS are easier to get? What other breeds are sort of square?

I bet they'd be great crossed with a standard Cornish. (NOT the Cornish X's)

 

[cluckcluck42]

Thanks for all the posts guys! I am interested in everyone recommending buff orps. Also interested to hear about cuckoo marans- I was thinking of raising marans as a meat bird, but not sure if thats the way to go. I know they are supposed to have good meat properties- interested to hear more about that if anyone cares to share!

My RIR x EE roos are about ready to be slaughtered, they are pretty decently sized at 3.5 months old. I look forward to weighing them once they are all cleaned up. I like mixing with my Ameraucanas, I think my RIR x EE hen is going to lay a coloured egg (pea comb and green legs) and so far I am pleased with the size of the males from this cross.

 

[cluckcluck42]

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Thanks so much for that great post. I am processing my RIR x EE roo at 16 weeks (this weekend) so I am very interested to see how we like the meat. I would keep them for longer but we need to make room in that coop. You know what I love about mixed breed dual purpose, the amazing colours. Your birds are gorgeous!!! I must take pics of my cockerals before they meet their delicious end. They look RIR but a very dark deep red, and crimson colouring on their neck and back. Heck, I almost want to keep them around just to see how they look but I dunno! I think it is time. My EE cockerals are pretty small and I will definitely have to wait for awhile before they are ready for eating.

I am also planning on selling the hens, hopefully I can cover feeds cost this way and have a sustainable flock. I love your birds.

 

[cluckcluck42]

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Of course you can ask! I just bought 100 broiler chicks on April 28th, and 27 died in the first three days. Doesn't appear to be user error, so I can only imagine the stock is to blame. I completely understand poop happens and I don't write off the breed because of this experience, flukes happen, I am a forgiving person. It's just that on top of this, I am interested in being as sustainable as I possibly can and purchasing chicks from a hatchery is not a good option for those goals. I gave it a try because I had my fiance and father encouraging me to get cornish crosses, 'you'll turn a profit in 8 weeks', blah blah. It's not for me. After raising my own chicks successfully from eggs from my own flock, I am just too attached to that beautiful cycle of life to stop being a part of it. I want to raise my own birds, sell the hens and process the cockerals. I want to know that they lived happy, healthy lives in the most natural setting possible. That is worth a lot to me, even if I never make money, as long as I can just cover expenses I will be happy. That is my personal opinion on the cornish cross question. I have nothing against the bird or those who raise it, I just have to do what I feel is right and the most enjoyable when it comes to raising meat birds.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

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Thank you – I love their colors also. How did your processing go? Did you get any pictures? I am always interested in others meat birds – especially the crosses.



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Here is a picture of my processed cockerels - the ones pictured feathered above. The “pink” carcass on the left is the Orpington (Splash/Buff cross) and the “yellow” carcass on the right is an Orpington/Delaware cross. Hatched 12.09.09, processed 5.3.09 for the Orp and 5.4.09 for the cross – Orp’s processed weight 3 pounds 15.8 ounces, the cross’s weight 4 pounds 10.8 ounces.

We BBQ’ed the Orp – the chicken can method – oh my goodness it was super tasty. The bone carcass went into the crockpot overnight for chicken stock and Sunday we made homemade chicken soup with homemade egg noodles (course the eggs are from our chickens). The best soup I have had.

Not grocery pretty, but raised at home – processed at home – eaten at home.

I am happy with the amount of fat on both birds, not heavy but enough that I know they were eating well. But if someone sees something I might do different, just let me know.