Backyard Chickens – The 5 Best Meat Chicken Breeds
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Choosing A Meat Chicken
With the growing popularity of raising backyard chickens comes an increasing interest in raising meat chickens. Dual-purpose chickens, those yielding both eggs and meat, are the most popular. But many backyard chicken farmers are turning to meat chickens for their better flavor.
Just like with egg layers, a different result comes with each breed so, choosing the best meat chicken breeds depends on what you’re looking to achieve.
This is a review of what I consider the 5 best chicken breeds to raise for meat.
Broilers
Broilers are chickens raised specifically for meat. They grow much faster than egg laying hens or dual purpose breeds. Most broilers have a fast growth rate with a high feed conversion ratio and low activity levels. In five weeks, broilers can reach a dressed weight of 4-5 pounds. Dual-purpose breeds, usually raised for both meat and egg production, are smaller with a slower growth rate.
Cornish Cross – The Cornish Cross is an excellent, fast growing broiler. Harvest time for a 4 pound broiler is normally 7 to 8 weeks. Their body make-up is superb, with broad breasts, large legs and thighs and a rich yellow skin.
Jersey Giant – Originating in the United States, this bird was developed to replace the turkey. A purebred chicken, the Giant’s weight averages 11-13 pounds. Jersey Giants grow at a slower rate than other meat birds, about 6 months to full maturity, making them undesirable to commercial industry. While originally a meat chicken, today, the Giant is prized as a dual-purpose bird, laying extra-large brown eggs.
Heritage / Heirloom
When describing Heritage chickens, the words heirloom, old-fashion and antique come to mind. The American Poultry Association began defining these breeds in 1873; setting standards for birds as being well adapted to various climates, hardy and long-lived and reproducing at a rate to provide a protein source to the growing nation. As chicken breeding became industrialized, these breeds were replaced by fast growing hybrids. Today, more than three dozen chicken breeds are listed as in danger of extinction. To avoid irrevocable loss caused by the extinction of a breed, The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy sets standards for marketing these as Heritage.
I love Heritage breeds preferring them to the newer, fast growing breeds. They are large meaty chickens and many also produce a nice amount of eggs. I usually buy my Heritage breeds on line since they are harder to find locally than what more popular breeds are.
Below is a listing of the breeds which qualify as Heritage:
Campine, Chantecler, Crevecoeur, Holland, Modern Game, Nankin, Redcap, Russian Orloff, Spanish, Sultan, Sumatra, Yokohama, Andalusian, Buckeye, Buttercup, Cubalaya, Delaware, Dorking, Faverolles, Java, Lakenvelder, Langshan, Malay, Phoenix, Ancona, Aseel, Brahma, Catalana, Cochin, Cornish , Dominique , Hamburg, Houdan, Jersey Giant , La Fleche, Minorca, New Hampshire , Old English Game, Polish, Rhode Island White, Sebright , Shamo, Australorp, Leghorn- Non-industrial, Orpington, Plymouth Rock , Rhode Island Red – Non industrial , Sussex, Wyandotte , Araucana, Iowa Blue, Lamona, Manx Rumpy (Persian Rumpless), Naked Neck (Turken).
My preferred Heritage breeds:
Delaware – A heavy bodied bird, the male can weigh up to 8.5 pounds and a female, 6.5 pounds. Originating from the U.S., the Delaware is hardy in heat and cold and matures quickly. The meat is delicious and the hens lay jumbo eggs. Delawares have calm and friendly dispositions
Dorking – This relatively calm bird is nonaggressive so it does well around children and small dogs. Another dual-purpose chicken, the Dorking is a superior table fowl with tender flesh and meaty breasts and wings. Dorkings are productive winter layers, providing a steady egg supply when other breeds are not laying. Good broody hens and excellent mothers, they stay with their chicks much longer than other breeds.
Buckeye – This is the only American breed exclusively created by a woman; developed by Mrs. Nettie Metcalf of Warren, Ohio. This dual-purpose breed is very cold weather hardy and adapts to various living conditions. However, because they are very active, they do not do well in confined spaces, adapting best to free-range. Hens lay medium-sized brown eggs and weigh an average of 6.5 pounds; roosters average 9 pounds.
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Baby Chicks Near Me in
Winter Harbor, Maine
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Winter Harbor Maine,
including Sussex Chickens, Welsummer Chickens, Turken Chickens and more.
Be sure to check out the Bargain Specials, as you can combine different
egg layers in smaller amounts and buy as an assortment. Winter Harbor
Maine also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Winter Harbor Maine, bantams for sale, ducks for sale, geese for sale,
turkeys for sale, guinea for sale, peafowl for sale, pheasant for sale,
chukar partridge for sale, bobwhite for sale, many different breeds of
baby chicks for sale in Winter Harbor ME.
Baby Chicks Care in
Winter Harbor, Maine
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Winter Harbor Maine
catalog is a yearly traditions in many houses. My kids and I eagerly await
the Murray McMurray Hatchery catalog. We love looking at all the cool and
different chicken breeds available. Catalogs are free so head on over to
their site and request one if you are interested.
Typically hatcheries online offer both standard breeds
and bantams. Bantams are fun hardy little chickens, they lay tiny eggs
that kids especially love collecting. Bantams typically weigh less than 2
pounds when full grown. Just like ordering anything online there are pros
and cons to ordering baby chicks online. Pros of buying baby chicks in
Winter Harbor Maine * Big Selection - If you are wanting a large
variety of different chicken breeds and egg colors, you will find the best
selection at an online hatchery. * Both Bantams and full sized chickens
available * You get to choose what sex you want. If you want a mixture of
both male and female then choosing a "straight run" will save you money
and you will get a mixture of male and female chicks. You can also choose
all males or all females too. * Weekly specials. Hatcheries have sales on
chicks, you are likely to get a good deal if you are flexible with the
breeds you are wanting. Cons of buying baby chicks in Winter Harbor
Maine * Order early to get the best selection. Certain breeds sell
out fast, sometimes as early as 6 months in advance of shipping! If you
are wanting a certain breed it's best to order your chicks in the fall
before their orders sell out.
Baby Chickens For Sale Free Shipping in
Winter Harbor, Maine
Quantity - you must order a certain number of chicks. Typically hatcheries
will require you buy a minimum of 25 chicks at a time. The number is
necessary for the chicks survival during shipping. All 25 chicks are put
in one small box without heat. They are crowded in the box and produce
enough body heat to arrive in good shape. * The wait - If you choose to
buy chicks from a feed store you will have them the same day but if you
choose to go with a hatchery you have to wait until they are ready to ship
and then wait for the chicks to arrive. Ordering baby chicks online in
Winter Harbor Maine is easy and has always been a very pleasant
experience of me. It can be a little frustrating waiting for the chicks
but it's so worth the wait. When the post office calls and you hear all
those little "cheeps" or "chirps" in the background you'll know the wait
was worth it! How to Care for your new baby chickens in Winter Harbor,
Maine Baby chicks are quite
adorable as well as
tough to resist,
yet it's best to plan for their
arrival before you obtain them. Prepare first
by gathering not only the
correct products, but
also the appropriate
expertise to look after
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
straightforward, you simply should supply them with the following: A tidy and also cozy
environment Plenty of food and also water Attention and
love Habitat Your habitat could be a basic box, fish tank,
cat carrier, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels as well as
blankets (without any loose
strings!) to start, as well as after a
couple of weeks use straw over paper.
Note: Avoid using just
paper or other sandal
surfaces-- or your chicks legs could grow
misshapen. You additionally require
something to serve up food as well as
water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water
recipe from the feed shop, or a pickle jar
lid for food as well as a family
pet bird water dispenser from an animal store. Likewise, as the chicks age you can introduce a perch
right into the environment to get them
trained on setting down. Warmth To
keep your chicks warm you have to
supply them with a heat resource.
This could be as simple as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design lamp from a
hardware shop, or an infrared reptile warmth
light bulb likewise work extremely well (my
referral). Chicks need this
heat 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
changed with plumes (which could take up to two months). The recently
hatched out require a temperature
between 90 and 100 degrees,
as well as each week this can
be minimized by
approximately 5 levels or
so. The heat resource need to be on simply one side of the cage
to enable chicks a range of
temperature levels. The chicks are your ideal
thermostat- if they are concealing in the
other edge of your heat
light, you have to
minimize the temperature level. If
they are smothering each other under the
warmth (not just snuggling),
you need to add some heat.
Home cleaning
Cleanliness is key and it keeps your chicks healthy and
balanced. Make certain to transform
the bed linens
frequently and also
consistently give tidy
food and water Food as well as water.
Chicks grow really quickly
which requires plenty of tidy
food as well as water. Offer
sufficient whatsoever times and check
commonly to
stop thirsty and
hungry chicks. Chick food is various than adult chicken food, and it comes
in both medicated and non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
first 2 months, after that
switch to a grower food (~ 17 %
protein) for one more 2 months,
and after that to a slightly
lower protein feed or a level feed
(if you have levels). Dirt Some chicks want
to obtain a running start on taking
dirt baths, while others won't occupy that task up until they are
older. If you have the room in your chick
unit, introduce a tray of sand or
dust for them to wash in.
Attention and also love There are a
few benefits to spending time with your chicks. First of all, they will certainly more than likely bond with you as well as
not escape as adults. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily as well as
view their actions, you can
capture health problem or various
other problems earlier. Keep an
eye out for hissing, limping, or
various other undesirable
indications. Make certain to
likewise consider
their poop, as diarrhea could lead
to matted feathers and clogged cloaca.
Last but not least, it is very
important to watch out for social problems, such as the
littlest chick getting picked
on. Vacant nest syndrome So your
chicks are currently fully feathery
and also its time for them to leave the
security of your home
as well as relocate outside right into a
coop. Check out our
section on chicken cages for more information
about cages and
proper cage environments.
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