Author Topic: Best dual purpose breed for the family (Read 3174 times)

macgro7 · « **on:** October 22, 2018, 03:20:19 pm »

Hello
I'm thinking what breed to start for my next project. I am mainly looking for something that is dual purpose - oats decent eggs, has decent amount of flesh and most importantly tastes the Best!
I'm considering:
- Marans - had one cockerel which we just ate yesterday - fantastic! 1.5kg oven ready carcass. Massive dark meat legs, white meat breast (obviously smaller than beoilers)
- Dorking - didn't have much luck with them last time as the cockerel had bent chest and was later eaten by fox... but I'm willing to try then again
- Bresse - large and meaty, good number of eggs too
- Swedish Flower Hens - I like the look of them, all different colours, quite large l. Not sure how many eggs they lay
- Speckled Sussex - like the colour.

I obviously like breeds with history lol

I already keep broilers which I sell, but I want something with extra flavour for ourselves.

Lingon · « **Reply #1 on:** October 22, 2018, 03:30:37 pm »

My skånska blommehönor (swedish flower hens) lay an egg per day during season. And has a fair amount of meat on them, okay, not like the supermarkets chickens, but enough.

roddycm · « **Reply #2 on:** October 22, 2018, 05:04:19 pm »

I would buy from this guy! http://www.castlefarmeggs.co.uk/

They look impressive

macgro7 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 25, 2018, 01:14:06 pm »

I bought a trio of young speckled Sussex last night from a lady in Lincolnshire.
Lovely birds but slow very slow growing apparently.
I'm also looking for some Lincolnshire buff

Eve · « **Reply #4 on:** October 26, 2018, 07:50:54 am »

I use Ixworth x Dorkings, added benefit that they are very placed which is useful when the boys get to 4-5 months and still get fairly well along

ZacB · « **Reply #5 on:** October 26, 2018, 07:55:06 am »

Quote from: Eve on October 26, 2018, 07:50:54 am

I use Ixworth x Dorkings, added benefit that they are very placed which is useful when the boys get to 4-5 months and still get fairly well along

Ixworth was the breed that came to mind - albeit a good Ixworth isn't that common

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #6 on:** October 26, 2018, 08:02:19 am »

Quote from: Eve on October 26, 2018, 07:50:54 am

I use Ixworth x Dorkings, added benefit that they are very placed which is useful when the boys get to 4-5 months and still get fairly well along

Ooh, that sounds interesting.

What do they look like? Do you get quite a bit of variation in colour?

PK · « **Reply #7 on:** October 26, 2018, 08:18:52 am »

Quote

Ixworth was the breed that came to mind - albeit a good Ixworth isn't that common

Agree with Zac here. The Ixworth is often suggested as the archetypal dual purpose bird but finding good quality breeding stock is not easy (and we live only a few miles from Ixworth!)

macgro7 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 26, 2018, 01:56:45 pm »

I don't really like the look of the Ixworths tbh lol
Would love t get hold of some white dorking - as rare as white ravens I'm afraid...

Eve · « **Reply #9 on:** October 26, 2018, 06:58:06 pm »

Quote from: SallyintNorth on October 26, 2018, 08:02:19 am

Quote from: Eve on October 26, 2018, 07:50:54 am
I use Ixworth x Dorkings, added benefit that they are very placed which is useful when the boys get to 4-5 months and still get fairly well along

Ooh, that sounds interesting. What do they look like? Do you get quite a bit of variation in colour?

They were both pure white, as are their offspring, though at some point one of their ancestors must have visited a neighbouring flock as there’s the occasional beige headgear

All equally placid and friendly, the boys all look exactly like daddy and the girls all have that dorking shape.