[Clive]

We have just finished a batch of meat hybrid chickens which will stock our freezer but I am reluctant to use them again as they grow to a horrible waddling lump which is not a 'real' chicken! That's just a personal view but I won't use them again.

 We would like to find a heavy pure breed for our next attempt. Any suggestions?

[hughesy]

Ixworth. The hens are fairly good layers too so you could be self sufficient in chickens in no time.

[Andrew]

I am the same as you, have raised hubbards for the table for last 3 years. This year I have hatched, La bresse Gauloise, Ixworths and Cornish game. I am keeping them in 3 breed groups and may also try various cross breeds. They are still young and will not be in lay till much later so aiming to have first birds ready for table by next spring.

[sh3ph3rd]

they grow to a horrible waddling lump which is not a 'real' chicken

Agree! So does everyone I know who's had them. Tragic messes they are. I personally hope they go extinct asap; there's many other breeds that get really heavy fast and economically while still being self-sufficient and able to enjoy their lives. I'm developing a strain like that myself, and I'm pleasantly surprised at how well it's going, I thought it's take a lot longer to see such consistent results. I know, I know, there's always complications somewhere. Even the uber-commercial breeders are aiming away from those rather dead-ended genetics.

[Pasture Farm]

Im in the process of hatching/rearing Le Bresse Ixworth and Some White rock my thinking is I am going to create my own strain of meat bird from crossing the Le Bresse cockrel with the other two As above post will be next year before I have any results

[Bodger]

I too would go for Ixworths, the ones that we did a year or two ago were slow growing but tasty. We tried pure bred Indian game but they were tough as old boots.

[Castle Farm]

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Utility-Poultry-Keepers/231571570247281

[Daisys Mum]

I am doing some light Sussex , I might add that this is my second attempt at these, the last ones are still running around 4 years later, seemed too nice to eat. But this time I am determined they are for the pot, what age would you recommend they were killed at?

[Bodger]

They don't fatten that quickly and every year, its a toss up as to whether or not I fatten mine up or knock them on the head as youngsters. Depending upon the strain, I reckon that LS are five to six months old before they're ready.
 
RIR x LS fatten much more readily.

[hughesy]

We've eaten a few LS over the last few years and to be honest I've given up now. They do reach a decent weight in 5 or 6 months but the meat is tough and there's not enough of it. RIR cockerels are much the same. I've found the Ixworths to be more tender and with a bit more breast on them although they don't get there any quicker.

[graham-j]

Hi agreed LS,RIR and most other utility brads don't make that good eating,absolutely no breast and very tough legs.
I have found IG's make excellent eating,and any thing crossed with them is also good as it adds the double breasted gene to the mix.
There are two grades of hubbards,the slower growing free range version should not go of its legs or end up as a big white blob if fed correctly.

Graham.

[Clive]

Thanks to you all for the suggestions. I'd say its going to be Ixworths next time out.

[THE HAPPY POULTRY FARMER]

WHY NOT TRY SOME HUBBARD PULLETS, FEED THEM A LOW PROTIEN DIET AFTER 12 WEEKS AND THEY WILL MAKE UP TO SOME NICE PULLETS,TRY CROSSING THESE WITH A RIR OR LS  MALE AND SHOULD PRODUCE A NICE MEAT BIRD WITH PLENTY OF MEAT . 

[Fowlman]

Over the years i have tried Ixworth 8/10, Light sussex 6/10, Rhode island reds 7/10, Indian game X Dorking 8/10, Marans 8/10, Ixworth is under rated as a breed probably because it is white, for some reason white birds dont seem to be very popular but the Ixworth lays very well and the boys make good table birds and i personally think a flock of them look good.