[OhLaLa]

I'm about to order in some hatching eggs.

High number of eggs laid per year not the priority, but a good tender bird for roasting is, have tried many previously but trying new is a good thing.

Recommendations please.

 

PS: Forgot to say - obviously not Bantams.

[suziequeue]

I have looked into this and the conlusion I came to was Cuckoo Maran

[chrismahon]

On my list of the best tasting are, in no particular order as I haven't tried any but are all highly recommended, Faverolles, Marsh Daisy's, TNN's. The hens are all capable of 150 eggs a year. None are large birds.

[LulaB]

If you cross pretty much anything with an Indian Game, it'll be a great eating bird.

[deepinthewoods]

my last lot of 8month old light sussex cockerels were lovely, biggest about 8lb. full flavoured meat, all the better for hanging for a few days. one i hung for 8 days and was, for me, the best.
im keen to try my cornish game x light sussex boys later on in the year, all being well!

[Sylvia]

I go for Cornish Game X. But any cockerel kept and fed properly will do for me

[Castle Farm]

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

All on here.

[OhLaLa]

Thanks for the link.

Someone on another thread mentioned (I think) Black Rocks? i can only see them for sale crossed with other breeds though.

??

 

[hughesy]

Black rocks are a hybrid designed for egg laying. Can't see them making much of a roaster really.

[OhLaLa]

Black rocks are a hybrid designed for egg laying. Can't see them making much of a roaster really.

This was my thought too.

Thanks all for the input - loadsa info on t'internet about egg production but little about a good roasting bird.

[Dizzycow]

I started with Light Sussex because they are supposed to be the best combo breed. But as I can't kill or eat my own birds it's a moot point!! 

[hughesy]

A light sussex cockerel will make a reasonable roast. Spose it depends what you want really, if you just want to eat a few surplus birds it's not too important if they take a while to get to a reasonable weight. If however you want to produce meat birds for business that's a different story and you might want to consider a modern hybrid bred specifically for meat.

[benkt]

Our LS are a bit on the scrawny side, they end up as curry, casserole or pie. We had Marans before that made much better  table birds. I'll be dispatching our first Maran cockerel from the new batch (eggs from DarkBrownEggs) next week, but he's looking good already! As we only eat our own chickens I'd be very interested to try some other breeds if there are hatching eggs available.

[darkbrowneggs]

Hi Benkt - pleased your proposed "dinner" is looking good. 

If he is free ranging don't forget to keep him penned for the last 10 days or so and I give mine a bit of extra feeding.  In the old days (pre all those Defra rules) I used to make a warm mash in the aga oven overnight with potatoes, skim milk and wheat feed. 

The old way to fatten was to pen them overnight - preferably somewhere they will be quiet and not run around -with clean water but no feed, then give the first feed the following afternoon, as much as they will clear in about 15 mins  Then take the dish away. 

From then on feed 3 or 4 times a day, but always take the feed pan away after about 15 mins.  Make sure the food is always fresh and tempting and that they have plenty of clean fresh water and grit always available,

They say not to feed on their last night then kill the following afternoon so any food will have passed through them, pluck whilst warm then leave to hang somewhere cool for 2 or 3 days depending on weather conditions, or if you prefer draw straight away and leave in the fridge for 3 or 4 days to mature before cooking.   

[funkyfish]

I've some Cornish Game  x LS and CG x  Faverol (thanks Sylvia for our boy, he is fab!) in the incubator- actually want quite a few boys for eating! Looking forward to seeing which are the best! Would love some Marsh Daisys!