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 Information in
Dawes, West Virginia
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Dawes West Virginia,
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. Dawes
West Virginia also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Dawes West Virginia, 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 Dawes WV.
Baby Chickens For Sale in
Dawes, West Virginia
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Dawes West Virginia
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
Dawes West Virginia * 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 Dawes
West Virginia * 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 in
Dawes, West Virginia
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
Dawes West Virginia 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 Dawes,
West Virginia Baby chicks are quite
charming as well as
challenging to resist,
however it's finest to plan for their
arrival prior to you obtain them. Prepare first
by collecting not only the
correct products, but
also the correct
understanding to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
simple, you just need
to provide them with the following: A tidy as well as warm
habitat Plenty of food and water Attention as well as
love Habitat Your environment can be a basic box, fish tank,
feline provider, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels and
coverings (with no loosened
strings!) to start, and also after a
couple of weeks utilize straw over newspaper.
Note: Avoid utilizing just
newspaper or various other slipper
surfaces-- or your chicks legs could expand
malformed. You also require
something to serve up food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder and water
recipe from the feed shop, or a pickle jar
cover for food and an animal bird water dispenser from a pet shop. Likewise, as the chicks age you can introduce a perch
right into the environment to obtain them
trained on setting down. Heat To
maintain your chicks warm you should
offer them with a warmth source.
This could be as basic as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style lamp from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile warmth
light bulb likewise work effectively (my
recommendation). Chicks require this
heat 24/7 until their downy fluff is
replaced with feathers (which could take up to two months). The recently
hatched out need a temperature level
between 90 and 100 levels,
and also every week this can
be decreased by
about 5 levels approximately. The heat resource should get on just one side of the cage
to enable chicks a range of
temperatures. The chicks are your best
thermostat- if they are hiding in the
contrary edge of your warmth
light, you should
reduce the temperature level. If
they are smothering each other under the
heat (not simply cuddling),
you have to include some warmth.
Housekeeping
Sanitation is vital as
well as it maintains your chicks healthy and
balanced. Make certain to transform
the bedding
typically as well as
consistently provide clean
food and water Food as well as water.
Chicks expand extremely quickly
which requires lots of clean
food and also water. Provide
sufficient at all times and inspect
frequently to prevent thirsty and
starving chicks. Chick food is different compared
to adult chicken food, as well as it comes
in both medicated and
also non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
very first two months, after that
switch to a grower food (~ 17 %
protein) for an additional 2 months,
then to a somewhat
lower protein feed or a level feed
(if you have layers). Dirt Some chicks want
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 room in your chick
enclosure, introduce a tray of sand or
dirt for them to wash in.
Attention as well as love There are a couple of advantages to spending quality time with your chicks. To start
with, they will most
likely bond with you and
not escape as grownups. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily and
watch their behavior, you can
catch health problem or various
other troubles earlier. Watch out for wheezing, limping, or
other unhealthy
indicators. Make sure to
additionally take a look at
their poop, as looseness of the bowels can result in matted feathers as well
as clogged cloaca.
Finally, it is very
important to look out
for social problems, such as the
tiniest chick getting badgered. Empty nest syndrome So your
chicks are now fully feathered
as well as its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your house
and also relocate outside into a cage. Look into our
area on chicken coops to read more
regarding cages as well as
appropriate coop habitats.
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