The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: polaris on March 11, 2014, 07:26:59 pm

Title: Best meat bird
Post by: polaris on March 11, 2014, 07:26:59 pm

I'm just looking for a recommendation of the best meat chickens to get. We are interested in fast growing breeds.

Would it be easier for me to just buy chicks and grow on? Or breed our own?

We are experienced in breeding ducks :)

Which birds produce the best feed to meat ratio, in you opinion? Slaughter in under three months would be preferred but not urgent.

Title: Re: Best meat bird
Post by: shygirl on March 11, 2014, 07:41:58 pm

youl be looking for the hybrid hubbards.

Title: Re: Best meat bird
Post by: devonlad on March 11, 2014, 08:47:14 pm

ditto hubbards in our excperience

Title: Re: Best meat bird
Post by: Hevxxx99 on March 11, 2014, 11:08:08 pm

Hubbards are great, delicious and hardy but not the fastest growers.  They're ready in 12-14 weeks.  I believe Ross are faster (8 weeks apparetly) but not as tough. 

Day olds are easy to get and takes the hassle out of hatching. 

They all eat like something possessed. I used to have figures from when I had Hubbards but I'm afraid I've lost them but suffice to say, don't let them feed ad lib!!

Title: Re: Best meat bird
Post by: devonlad on March 11, 2014, 11:19:21 pm

we found the same with our first hubbards- they will simply eat and not move if allowed to

Title: Re: Best meat bird
Post by: MikeM on March 12, 2014, 09:44:10 am

fortuitously timed thread as we're gonna be getting into table birds over the next few months. Was wondering how most people buy their table birds, eggs or day old chicks or what? What are the pros and cons of buying chicks over eggs and vice versa?

Title: Re: Best meat bird
Post by: Hevxxx99 on March 12, 2014, 10:44:16 am

TBH I'd always get day olds. Saves the hassle of incubating and you know you'll get a batch of good strong chicks.  They only cost a couple of quid that way and after factoring in electricity, duds and weak chicks it's probably the more economic way to go.

Title: Re: Best meat bird
Post by: taz08 on March 12, 2014, 10:57:35 am

whare can you get day olds tho
am at laurencekirk but most are down in england that have been for sale

Title: Re: Best meat bird
Post by: Hevxxx99 on March 12, 2014, 11:04:16 am

Look for Poulet Anglais on the River Cottage forum: they deliver all over the place and will probably be happy to meet you at a convenient spot if they do't get as far as you.  I expect other hatcheries will do the same if asked.

They also do eggs I believe, so if it's logistically impossible, perhaps that's the better option for you.

Title: Re: Best meat bird
Post by: NicandChic on March 12, 2014, 11:27:33 am

These guys look good, not sure they have the breeds your after but may be worth an email http://www.akpoultry.com/index.html (http://www.akpoultry.com/index.html)