[Stereo]

This year we hatched some lovely RIR pure breeds from bought in eggs. The hens look superb and the cockerels are all in the freezer, coming out at between 4-5lb dressed at 24 weeks. We also had some Welsummer cockerels which were much lighter which was disappointing. Plus a few Copper Marans which were killed at 18 weeks and came in at around 4lb. We priced the feed per bird at around £6 (not cheap stuff) so I'm happy with that. The RIR in particular have been delicious. Plenty of breast meat and the legs have been the best and most useable drummers I've ever had. The meat came of in lovely clean pieces, not the usual chewing through gristle.

So, next year we are thinking of hatching some birds for meat and selling the hens at POL. I've read all the stuff advising that I go for Hubbard but I don't want to do that. I've looked at Ixworth and that's a possibility. But I was wondering how much more a bird eats to reach 10lb than one who dresses out at 5lb? Is it twice as much? Has anyone priced up the feed consumption to get a hubbard to kill weight? For example, if I have to spend £12 on feed to get a bird to 10lb, I would rather spend the same taking 2 birds to 5lb as that would mean I have twice as many hens hatched to sell / keep. But if it's only £7 to get to 10lb that may be worth looking at.

[THE HAPPY POULTRY FARMER]

Hubbard ja57 grown to approx 11lb weight achieved  at 100 days old converted at at 3.4 to 1, birds were free range but fed a commercial free range compound diet , produced a great carcase but was simply too expensive to produce commercially, to draw a comparison a free range  ja57 grown to 56 days converts at around 2.3to 1  hope this gives you a little help.     

[Stereo]

Thanks, we are getting about 5.4/1 on our best RIR so that does tell a story.......I think that's right anyway. We've fed about 12kg to each bird to reach 2.2kg carcass. Hmmmm. 

[Fowlman]

Sasso are also worth looking at, not actually kept any myself but i have eaten one and the chap raising them was very pleased. I believe they do different growth rate birds too.