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 Online in
Groton, Massachusetts
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Groton Massachusetts,
including Sussex Chickens, Welsummer Chickens, Turken Chickens and more.
Be sure to check out the Bargain Specials, as you can combine different
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chukar partridge for sale, bobwhite for sale, many different breeds of
baby chicks for sale in Groton MA.
Baby
Chicks Order in
Groton, Massachusetts
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Groton Massachusetts
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
Groton Massachusetts * 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 Groton
Massachusetts * 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
Near Me in
Groton, Massachusetts
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
Groton Massachusetts 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 Groton,
Massachusetts Baby chicks are very
charming as well as
difficult to withstand,
however it's best to plan for their
arrival before you obtain them. Prepare first
by compiling not just the
correct materials, however
additionally the appropriate
understanding to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
straightforward, you just have to offer them with the following: A tidy as well as cozy
environment Lots of food and also water Attention and
love Habitat Your environment could be a basic box, fish tank,
cat provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels and also
blankets (without loose
strings!) to begin, and after a
couple of weeks use straw over newspaper.
Keep in mind: Avoid utilizing just
paper or other sandal
surface areas-- or your chicks legs can grow
malformed. You likewise need
something to serve up food as well as
water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water
meal from the feed shop, or a pickle jar
cover for food as well as a pet bird water dispenser from a pet store. Also, as the chicks grow older you can present a perch
into the environment to get them
trained on perching. Heat To
maintain your chicks heat you should
offer them with a heat source.
This can be as straightforward as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile heat
light bulb also function effectively (my
suggestion). Chicks require this
heat 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
replaced with feathers (which can use
up to 2 months). The newly
hatched require a temperature level
in between 90 as well as 100 levels,
and also weekly this can
be decreased by
approximately 5 degrees or
so. The heat resource should get on just one side of the cage
to allow chicks a variety of
temperatures. The chicks are your best
thermometer- if they are hiding in the
opposite edge of your warmth
light, you have to
minimize the temperature level. If
they are smothering each other under the
warmth (not simply curling up),
you need to include some heat.
Housekeeping
Cleanliness is crucial and also it maintains your chicks healthy and
balanced. Make certain to change
the bed linen
frequently and also
always supply clean
food and water Food and water.
Chicks grow very fast
which needs lots of tidy
food and water. Supply
enough in any way times and also check
typically to avoid thirsty and also
starving chicks. Chick food is various than adult chicken food, and it is available in both medicated and non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
first 2 months, then
change to a grower food (~ 17 %
protein) for one more 2 months,
and afterwards to a slightly
lower healthy protein feed or a level feed
(if you have levels). Soil Some chicks prefer to get a running start on taking
filth baths, while others will not take
up that activity till they are
older. If you have the room in your chick
room, present a tray of sand or
filth for them to wash in.
Attention and love There are a
few benefits to spending time with your chicks. First of all, they will probably bond with you as well as
not escape as adults. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and also
watch their actions, you could
catch health problem or various
other troubles earlier. Keep an
eye out for wheezing, hopping, or
other unhealthy
indicators. Make sure to
likewise look at
their poop, as diarrhea could bring about matted feathers and also clogged cloaca.
Last but not least, it is very
important to look out
for social problems, such as the
smallest chick obtaining teased. Empty nest syndrome So your
chicks are currently completely feathered
and its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your house
as well as move outside into a cage. Check out our
area on chicken cages to get more information
concerning cages as well as
appropriate cage habitats.
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