The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Polyanya on January 06, 2016, 07:19:29 pm

Title: Utility Breeds
Post by: Polyanya on January 06, 2016, 07:19:29 pm

Anyone keep utility birds like Light Sussex and might have some hatching eggs for sale this spring?  :excited:

Title: Re: Utility Breeds
Post by: dr241000 on January 07, 2016, 05:24:11 pm

I have a trio of young Light Sussex that should start laying soon.....

Title: Re: Utility Breeds
Post by: Marches Farmer on January 08, 2016, 09:00:13 am

I'll have Laced Wyandottes.

Title: Re: Utility Breeds
Post by: wolf1 on January 08, 2016, 12:04:18 pm

I keep salmon faverolles large fowl these are a good utility line cockerels and hens make a good weight and hens lay very well ( not as good as a hybrid ) will have eggs available in the spring once fertility has been tested

Title: Re: Utility Breeds
Post by: Stereo on January 08, 2016, 03:20:37 pm

I will have some utility LS from about next week (once tested for fertility. They are slightly bigger than the standard utility bird (I assume you mean by utility, a laying strain so not much good for meat?). But they are laying like crazy at the moment.

Title: Re: Utility Breeds
Post by: Polyanya on January 09, 2016, 10:35:21 am

Thanks everyone for the replies I shall have a look at all those potentials - thanks Stereo but my understanding of 'Utility' is a traditional heavy bird which doesn't lay as many eggs as the modern hybrids and produces tasty cockerels worthy of a roasting weight at about 20 weeks.

Title: Re: Utility Breeds
Post by: Castle Farm on January 09, 2016, 01:10:26 pm

https://www.facebook.com/Utility-Poultry-Keepers-231571570247281/ (https://www.facebook.com/Utility-Poultry-Keepers-231571570247281/)

Title: Re: Utility Breeds
Post by: Stereo on January 09, 2016, 03:39:55 pm

The word 'utility' seems to have been diverted in poultry. The common sense definition would be a dual purpose (useful) bird. But certainly in terms of sussex it seems to be applied to the egg laying strain. I have somewhere in between. I do know a very good breeder of proper dual purpose LS though and she may post eggs. Can put you in touch with her when you need some.

Title: Re: Utility Breeds
Post by: Polyanya on January 13, 2016, 07:48:15 pm

Thanks Stereo that would be helpful - I had a fantastic flock of heavy LS birds a few years ago and haven't been able to match them since, even the eggs I bought from Fred Hams weren't as good.