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 Buy in
Rudyard, Montana
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Rudyard Montana,
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. Rudyard
Montana also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Rudyard Montana, 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 Rudyard MT.
Baby Chicks For Easter in
Rudyard, Montana
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Rudyard Montana
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
Rudyard Montana * 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 Rudyard
Montana * 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 Chicks On Sale in
Rudyard, Montana
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
Rudyard Montana 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 Rudyard,
Montana Baby chicks are quite
cute and
challenging to resist,
however it's best to prepare for their
arrival prior to you get them. Prepare first
by collecting not only the
correct materials, but
likewise the appropriate
expertise to take care of
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
basic, you just have to offer them with the following: A
clean as well as warm
habitat Lots of food as well
as water Interest as well as
love Habitat Your habitat can be a straightforward box, fish tank,
cat provider, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels as well as
blankets (without loose
strings!) to start, and after a few weeks make use of straw over newspaper.
Keep in mind: Avoid utilizing only
paper or various other sandal
surfaces-- or your chicks legs could grow
malformed. You also require
something to dish out food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder and water
dish from the feed shop, or a pickle jar
lid for food and a pet bird water dispenser from a family pet shop. Likewise, as the chicks age you can present a perch
into the environment to get them
educated on setting down. Heat To
maintain your chicks warm you have to
provide them with a heat resource.
This could 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 additionally function very
well (my
referral). Chicks require this
heat 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
replaced with feathers (which could take up to 2 months). The freshly
hatched need a temperature
between 90 as well as 100 levels,
as well as every week this could
be reduced by
roughly 5 degrees or
so. The heat source ought
to be on merely one side of the cage
to enable chicks an array of
temperatures. The chicks are your best
thermostat- if they are hiding in the
opposite corner of your heat
light, you should
decrease the temperature level. If
they are surrounding each various other under the
warmth (not simply snuggling),
you need to add some warmth.
Home cleaning
Cleanliness is vital and it maintains your chicks healthy. Be sure to change
the bed linens
typically and
constantly provide clean
food as well as water Food and also water.
Chicks grow quite quickly
which needs a lot of clean
food and water. Provide
sufficient at all times and also examine
often to avoid parched and also
hungry chicks. Chick food is different than grown-up chicken food, as well as it is available in both medicated as well as non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
first 2 months, then
switch to a raiser food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for another 2 months,
and afterwards to a somewhat
reduced healthy protein feed or a level feed
(if you have layers). Soil Some chicks like to obtain a running start on taking
filth baths, while others won't take
up that activity till they are
older. If you have the area in your chick
unit, introduce a tray of sand or
dust for them to bathe in.
Attention as well as love There are a
few benefits to spending quality time with your chicks. First off, they will most
likely bond with you as well as
not run away as grownups. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and
watch their behavior, you could
capture health problem or various
other problems earlier. Keep an
eye out for wheezing, hopping, or
other unhealthy
indications. Make sure to
likewise consider
their poop, as looseness of the bowels could cause matted plumes as well
as blocked cloaca.
Finally, it is necessary to keep an eye out for social concerns, such as the
littlest chick obtaining picked
on. Vacant nest disorder So your
chicks are currently completely feathered
as well as its time for them to leave the
security of your house
as well as move outside right into a
coop. Have a look at our
section on chicken coops for more information
concerning coops and
appropriate coop habitats.
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