chickens for the table.

[Flunky]

could any of you fine people give me and the oh any advice on breeding chickens for the table ?

At what age should the deed be done ? What breed would be best ? Also. Any other help, as always, is greatly received.

Thanks for reading.

F.

[Flunky]

[kt.]

Just checked my book and there are a quite a few,  some of which are dual purpose,  they can be raised for eggs and meat.  Ones I have listed are for meat only include:

Jersey Giant
Cornish
New Hampshire
Plymouth Rock
Braham
Cochin

I have never raised meat birds,  only have chickens for eggs because the OH would not eat any we had raised.  You may find something from here?

http://www.poultry.allotment.org.uk/chicken/index.php

[growmore]

I think a lot depends on wether your breeding and rearing for taste or speed.
There are hybrid birds you can buy in that if fed on high protein meal etc will be ready for the table in 10-12 weeks or earlier..This is the type most commercial rearers keep.
But if your going to breed your own. You would be OK with a pure rhode island red cockerel to some pure light Sussex hens. Theoretically then your yellow chicks will be cockerels. and your brown chicks will be pullets so will be easy to sex at day old. Should you want to keep some or sell some, the pullets will go on to be useful laying birds.
As to when they would be ready for table will be dependant on how you feed and rear them, also how big you want them to dress out when ready.
If fed on high protein type meal/pellets specifically used for table birds you will gain a few weeks in time but in my opinion lose out on taste ..
If fed normally as you would your laying birds with greens and scraps and allowing them a bit of free range but substituting layers meal/pellets for growers meal/pellets, I would think you would be looking at 18-24 weeks dependant on how big you want them.   

[Flunky]

WOW, now they truely are informative posts, thank you very much.

I remember watching HFW in River Cottage and he bred 2 breeds together, i cant find what they were. Anyone else remember ?

I really am into the taste. Time scale is not so important as I am looking at what cycle i could use to have about 2/3 birds a month. The most important thing to me is welfare as I believe that if I can give them a happy life it would not be so bad for me to (gulp) eat them.

Thanks again fellow A4A people.

F.

[manicscousers]

I remember him talking about welsumer ? sp..(HFW), that is, can't remember if they were good or bad  :) or if that was the cockerel  ;D
also wyandotte ? sp.

[Flunky]

I remember him talking about welsumer ? sp..(HFW), that is, can't remember if they were good or bad  :) or if that was the cockerel  ;D
also wyandotte ? sp.

Thats right the wellsummer cross came 2nd I think  ???

The one that came first is the one I cant remember. (edited = I think it was Wyandott and Indian game thingy) Any ideas ?

I like the idea of the Rhode Island Red X Sussex. As I am new to this it might be a good idea to be able to sex them. I wonder what they taste like though ??

[ACE]

I wonder what they taste like though ??

They will taste better than anything you have ever tasted. It does depend on what you feed them as well. Barley just puts fat on, but if you want them a bit moist, give them some. Corn fed you can see in shops and are a bit yellow and stringy for my liking. I used to let them run for a couple of months then pen them tighter with a barley/bran feed for a couple of weeks before I ate them.

Light sussex X with most birds and make a good meal. Older birds are only fit for soups and curries, unless you can get a good meal from a plump breast.

[RSJK]

 My Dad used to feed them on crushed corn and mixed them up with boiled potato peelings.

[Peasticks]

I'm pretty sure the Wyandotte cross came top in HFW's programme

[teresa]

this link may help?

http://community.rivercottage.net/users/chickie/forums/poultry/viewtopic/topic_id:19666

[KimT]

We buy meat birds as day olds and rear them until 12/14 wks old. It's the best chicken you will ever taste and knowing how they have been reared and fed is a great feeling.

The breed we use are called Hubbards..............here is picture of them.



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