Author Topic: Suitable Non Commercial Meat Breeds (Read 5763 times)

vetch · « **on:** April 29, 2023, 03:15:54 pm »

Hi,
Wondering if anyone has info on suitable breeds for slaughter. Ideally I’d like to start off with a Ranger Gold/ hubbard or Ross308 - but can’t buy from commercial hatcheries (not UK based). So I’m left buying hatching eggs from breeders.

I’m struggling to find good info on growth rates of non commercial breeds. One of the attractions of a commercial breed is that after 8-12 weeks if it isn’t for us - they’re gone.

Plan is to start with ~10 chickens in a chicken tractor and see how it goes.

Any tips or pointers on breeds are appreciated.

chrismahon · « **Reply #1 on:** April 30, 2023, 11:41:09 am »

Not being UK based will affect the breeds that are available. I would recommend purebred TNN's, but they are not available in France, only the broiler TNN-cross called Cou-Nu. The breeds you mention don't exist here either because consumer requirements are very different. So where are you?

Richmond · « **Reply #2 on:** April 30, 2023, 02:04:23 pm »

Can you get La Bresse? A French commercial breed.

vetch · « **Reply #3 on:** April 30, 2023, 02:40:03 pm »

I’m in Norway and there seems to be a wide range of breeds available from private breeders though mostly egg layers and dual purpose breeds or show.

Large scale hatcheries are seemingly run as a co-op with members only access to chicks. Not something I want to tackle immediately.

Some of the breeds available:
- Welsumer
- Maran
- Light Sussex
- white / brown Italian
- Araucana,
- Cream Legbar
- Wyandotte
- Rhode Island Red
- Plymouth Rock
- Orpington’s
- Jærhøns
- Brahma

vetch · « **Reply #4 on:** April 30, 2023, 02:50:34 pm »

Quote from: Richmond on April 30, 2023, 02:04:23 pm

Can you get La Bresse? A French commercial breed.

Only a La Bresse mix, but I’ll keep my eye out.

chrismahon · « **Reply #5 on:** April 30, 2023, 06:09:22 pm »

As you said [member=227311]vetch[/member] ,they are egg layers and show breeds. Dual purpose is questionable? They may have been once, but breeding for show will have lost the characteristics they were originally bred for. Sounds like you are going to struggle to find what you want.

Richmond · « **Reply #6 on:** May 01, 2023, 09:08:34 am »

Light Sussex are perfectly edible (in fact most birds are - we eat anything!). The proper traditional breed though, not the commercial lighter framed sort which are marketed as Light Sussex but the only resemblance is the colouring. OK they don't make weights along the lines of Hubbards or Cobbs but a 6 month old cockerel can be 6lbs dressed which makes a reasonable roast dinner for a family of 4 . They are pretty docile as well, less squabbling amongst the young males than with other breeds.

vetch · « **Reply #7 on:** May 02, 2023, 07:36:29 pm »

Found this article giving feed conversion for Orpington’s up to 18weeks on a commercial diet. 1.8kg dressed for males and 1.5kg females.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309887869_Effect_of_Feeding_Commercial_Broiler_Diets_on_Growth_Performance_of_Tswana_and_Orpington_Chickens_Reared_upto_18_Weeks_of_Age_Under_Intensive_System

macgro7 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 10, 2023, 10:15:54 am »

Quote from: vetch on April 29, 2023, 03:15:54 pm

Hi,
Wondering if anyone has info on suitable breeds for slaughter. Ideally I’d like to start off with a Ranger Gold/ hubbard or Ross308 - but can’t buy from commercial hatcheries (not UK based). So I’m left buying hatching eggs from breeders.

I’m struggling to find good info on growth rates of non commercial breeds. One of the attractions of a commercial breed is that after 8-12 weeks if it isn’t for us - they’re gone.

Plan is to start with ~10 chickens in a chicken tractor and see how it goes.

Any tips or pointers on breeds are appreciated.

Which country are you in then?
You might be better off going with any crossbreed chicks.
I like Red ranger sort of things. Much nicer than the white Ross monsters

Richmond · « **Reply #9 on:** May 11, 2023, 08:36:48 am »

We like Brown Hubbards. Look a lot like normal brown layers only larger and more solid. Good at free ranging with a degree of common sense and love cropping the grass. They're cleaner and don't sit in their own poo either unlike Ross Cobbs. I have to smile when people say they prefer the breast meat of a commercial chicken - it's often the part that has been coated in poo for most of their short little lives. Obviously gives it that "special" flavour!

Malsabreur · « **Reply #10 on:** May 22, 2023, 08:29:50 pm »

Hey. Instead of looking for commercial meat birds, go for a good dual purpose breed. They take longer to fatten but the meat is better. As someone else mentioned, try Bressé/ Gauloise or LaFleches. I understand Faveroles and Langshans are also good though those are breeds I've never raised. Try looking on ebay for hatching eggs. You are likely to find a much better range of breeds than looking for birds, especially if you search other countries.
You could also try looking for Sasso hybrids which are similar to Cobbs etc. Hope this helps.