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 Outside in
Alma, Nebraska
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Alma Nebraska,
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. Alma
Nebraska also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Alma Nebraska, 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 Alma NE.
Baby Chicks Facts in
Alma, Nebraska
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Alma Nebraska
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
Alma Nebraska * 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 Alma
Nebraska * 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 Under Lights in
Alma, Nebraska
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
Alma Nebraska 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 Alma,
Nebraska Baby chicks are very
cute and also
challenging to stand up to,
but it's finest to prepare for their
arrival prior to you obtain them. Prepare first
by collecting not just the
proper materials, however
likewise the proper
knowledge to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
easy, you simply should give them with the following: A
clean and also cozy
habitat Lots of food and also water Focus as well as
love Environment Your habitat can be a
simple box, fish tank,
feline service 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 making use of only
paper or other slipper
surface areas-- or your chicks legs can grow
misshapen. You likewise require
something to provide food and
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. Additionally, as the chicks get
older you can introduce a perch
right into the environment to obtain them
trained on setting down. Heat To
keep your chicks warm you should
give them with a warmth source.
This can be as easy as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from a
hardware shop, or an infrared reptile heat
bulb also work very
well (my
suggestion). Chicks require this
heat 24/7 till their downy fluff is
replaced with plumes (which can take up to 2 months). The newly
hatched out require a temperature level
between 90 and also 100 levels,
and each week this could
be minimized by
about 5 degrees approximately. The warmth source ought
to get on just one side of the cage
to allow chicks a variety of
temperatures. The chicks are your ideal
thermostat- if they are concealing in the
other corner of your warmth
light, you need to
decrease the temperature. If
they are surrounding each various other under the
warmth (not merely curling up),
you have to put some warmth.
Housekeeping
Tidiness is essential as
well as it keeps your chicks healthy. Make sure to alter
the bed linens
frequently and
constantly supply clean
food and also water Food and water.
Chicks grow extremely quickly
which needs lots of clean
food and water. Give
enough in any way times and also inspect
commonly to prevent thirsty as well as
starving chicks. Chick food is different than grown-up chicken food, and also it is available in both medicated as well as non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the
initial 2 months, then
switch over to a grower food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for another 2 months,
and then to a slightly
lower protein feed or a level feed
(if you have layers). Soil Some chicks want
to obtain a running start on taking
filth baths, while others won't occupy that activity up until they are
older. If you have the room in your chick
enclosure, present a tray of sand or
dust for them to bathe in.
Attention and also love There are a
few benefits to hanging
out with your chicks. Firstly, they will most
likely bond with you and also
not escape as adults. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily and
view their behavior, you can
capture disease or other problems previously. Watch out for hissing, limping, or
other unhealthy
indications. Make certain to
additionally check out
their poop, as looseness of the bowels could cause matted feathers and also stopped up cloaca.
Last but not least, it is necessary to keep an eye out for social problems, such as the
smallest chick getting badgered. Empty nest disorder So your
chicks are now totally feathered
and its time for them to leave the
security of your house
as well as move outside right into a
coop. Take a look at our
part on chicken cages to get more information
regarding coops as well as
appropriate coop habitats.
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