Coming to this thread quite late but it is a matter very close to my heart, having made the decision many years ago to give up eating commercial chicken and try and breed a decently sized table bird. Like a few folk on here I have had disappointing results despite trying many breeds - Utility Light Sussex (which I think are my favourite but I can no longer source any eggs), other Sussex types, Welsh Blacks, Jersey Giants, La Bresse, Sasso (my second favourite but again I can't source any eggs), Hubbards (good but hybrids, so further breeding producing variable results), Indian Game (the worst in my opinion as the cocks proved infertile) and then of course Ross Cobbs.
I can honestly say the last batch of RC eggs which I bought from a poultry farmer in Glos produced the most unhealthiest birds I have ever reared. Out of 18 eggs only 2 could walk normally like a chicken, the rest shuffled and limped a few paces, then sat down unable to take the weight of their bodies - this was at a few days old! We had to cull a number of them after about a week as they seemed very distressed. I have reared RCs before not from the same place and had better results, but its doubtful I'll ever try again.
I would be very interested to source a good Utility Light or Speckled Sussex and buy some hatching eggs this spring if anyone knows of any?
Sadly I don't think there are many decent 'Utility' strains left as some folk seem to think that 'Utility' stands for a good egg layer, which is doesn't and