The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: nealeholl on April 09, 2009, 10:59:14 pm
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We have a mixed bunch of laying hens. We are looking to get a couple more, and also a cockerel. Any thoughts as to what a) look nice, b) lay lots of nice eggs, and c) which would be better than others for meat (cockerels)??
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I recommend the Light Sussex as probably the best dual purpose bird ever. Others may differ, but I get/got 186 large eggs a year from my girls. The males put on meat well and can taste beautiful if fed a good mixed diet. Be prepared to spend more to ensure really good bloodlines.
Others will have their own opinions, but I reckon they are the best of all traditional breeds.
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And they are pretty - white with lovely black collars and tails, except when you have a randy cockerel and a muddy garden in which case the girls may be mud coloured ::) ::) :chook:
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Decent Light Sussex are few and far between.All the utility breeds have had the 'utility' bred out of them by indiscriminate breeders just putting breeding pens of birds together and thinking they are quality.
It takes 30 weeks at least to get any meat on a LS and then you have it all on the legs and hardly any white meat.
Get your self some good quality Australorps L/F.This breed holds the unbeaten laying record of any fowl including commercial hybrids.
Cocks dress out at around 7/8 lb around the same as LS, but at least this breed still has some dedicated breeders looking to keep the superb laying ability of the strains
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h117/castlefarmpoultry/Australorp/100_1252.jpg)(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h117/castlefarmpoultry/Australorp/Australorps027.jpg)