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 Chickens And Heat Lamps in
Ralston, Oklahoma
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Ralston Oklahoma,
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. Ralston
Oklahoma also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Ralston Oklahoma, 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 Ralston OK.
Baby Chicks
Breeds in
Ralston, Oklahoma
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Ralston Oklahoma
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
Ralston Oklahoma * 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 Ralston
Oklahoma * 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 Facts in
Ralston, Oklahoma
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
Ralston Oklahoma 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 Ralston,
Oklahoma Baby chicks are very
adorable and also
challenging to resist,
yet it's ideal to plan for their
arrival before you get them. Prepare first
by compiling not just the
right materials, but
likewise the appropriate
understanding to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
straightforward, you merely have to provide them with the following: A
clean and warm
environment Plenty of food and water Attention and
love Environment Your habitat can be a
simple box, fish tank,
feline service provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels as well as
coverings (without loose
strings!) to start, and after a
couple of weeks use straw over paper.
Keep in mind: Avoid utilizing just
newspaper or other slipper
surface areas-- or your chicks legs could grow
misshapen. You likewise require
something to provide food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
meal from the feed shop, or a pickle jar
cover for food and also a family
pet bird water dispenser from a family pet store. Also, as the chicks age you can introduce a perch
right into the environment to obtain them
trained on perching. Heat To
keep your chicks heat you need to
give them with a heat source.
This can be as straightforward as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from a
hardware shop, or an infrared reptile warmth
bulb additionally function extremely well (my
recommendation). Chicks need this
warmth 24/7 until their downy fluff is
replaced with feathers (which can occupy to two months). The newly
hatched out need a temperature
between 90 as well as 100 degrees,
and each week this could
be reduced by
about 5 degrees or
so. The warmth source must be on simply one side of the cage
to allow chicks a range of
temperature levels. The chicks are your best
thermostat- if they are hiding in the
contrary corner of your heat
light, you should
reduce the temperature level. If
they are smothering each various other under the
warmth (not just snuggling),
you need to put some heat.
House cleaning
Cleanliness is essential as
well as it maintains your chicks healthy and
balanced. Make sure to alter
the bed linens
often and
consistently give clean
food as well as water Food as well as water.
Chicks expand really quickly
which calls for plenty of clean
food as well as water. Give
enough at all times and also inspect
commonly to
stop parched and also
hungry chicks. Chick food is various than grown-up chicken food, as well as it can be found in both medicated and non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the
initial 2 months, then
change to a raiser food (~ 17 %
protein) for an additional 2 months,
and after that to a slightly
reduced protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have levels). Soil Some chicks like to obtain a head start on taking
filth bathrooms, while others will not use up that task until they are
older. If you have the space in your chick
unit, present a tray of sand or
dust for them to shower in.
Attention and love There are a
few advantages to hanging
out with your chicks. Firstly, they will certainly more than likely bond with you and also
not escape as grownups. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily as well as
enjoy their habits, you could
catch ailment or other issues earlier. Keep an
eye out for hissing, hopping, or
various other harmful
indications. Make certain to
also check out
their poop, as looseness of the bowels could bring about matted plumes and obstructed cloaca.
Finally, it is important to watch out for social issues, such as the
littlest chick getting picked
on. Empty nest syndrome So your
chicks are currently totally feathered
as well as its time for them to leave the
security of your house
as well as move outside right into a
coop. Check out our
section on chicken coops to get more information
regarding coops and also
proper coop environments.
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