[Bramham Wiltshire Horns]

Cockerel

[Dave C]

Nice looking Cockerel 

Are they feeding meaty on the breast
I know my Buff Rocks are huge, bigger than my Sasso cockerels but they have no meat on the breast.

Will be very interesting to see what you get, 

[Dave C]

Just lost a lovely Dark laced Indian Game Pullet to a dog attack !!!!
Never seen the dog before and after breaking a stick over its back probably never will again.

I'm wondering if it's just not meant to be with these IG.

It was only 1 of 2 I got from my first IG hatch
The other is a nice Blue cockerel at about 11 weeks now.







Luckily I have a batch of chicks coming through which are doing well so finger crossed.

[macgro7]

That's a really nice cockerel!
I cut one Ross (i think pullet) and to Sasso (cockerel and pullet) today.
To be honest the sasso cock is the biggest! Ross the fatest.
Will tell you the exact weight as soon as I find the scales!
I've noticed that on a fairly low protein diet the sasso seem to be growing better than Ross.  Before when they were on high protein (chick crumbs), the Ross were growing faster.
Verdict: for free range the slow growing sasso are better. For more confined system Ross win.

[Dave C]

Yeah that will be very much down to there design.
Sounds like your getting plenty meat from them mate, looking forward to hearing there weights.

Are you keeping any back for breeding?

I did a Duck Flight Friday night & shot 17 between me & my mate, so plenty duck breasts in the freezer now 

[macgro7]

Nice.
I really feel like keeping a trio fro breeding. I might give them to my uncle because I don't want them to crossbreed with my dorkings and can't be bothered to separate them as all my birds run together.
I still have muscovy drakes to kill and I'm not looking forward to plucking them. Only the thought of their flavour keeps me sane lol
Oh and obviously the geese!

[Bramham Wiltshire Horns]

Cockerel

THEY ARE STARTING TO FEEL HEAVIER
IVE SEPERATED MY LIGHT SUSSEX PULLET ALONG WITH THE BEST IG X PULLET AND GOT TO SAY THE THE IG XHENS FEEL MEATIER,
I CAN START TO FEEL THE MEAT COMING ON THE COCKERELS, I AM GOING TO PROCESS AN IG X MALE AND PURE LIGHT SUSSEX TO COMPARE THEM BOTH

IM TOLD THAT PUTTING THE IG X PULLET BACK WITH LIGHT SUSSEX SHOULD MAKE FOR A FASTER GROWING BIRD

[Dave C]

I'm going to keep the hens for laying eggs
And cull the cocks apart from the light Sussex and best cockerel
I will also use the best IG X hen to go back with the LS cockerel as an F1 see how they turn out

Muscovies I think have similar dress out

That maybe because the breast is pretty big
I could be wrong though

I have just agreed to take on some really rare coucou de Rennes
I beleive they are a French utility breed they get to around 3.5kg for cockerels and take around 4 months o that will be an interesting project

Hi pal, did you get any Coucou's in the end, if so how are they doing

[Bramham Wiltshire Horns]

hi mate
not getting them until th national show
they where also featured on the hairy bikers chicken and egg programme
on the bbc
its on every tuesday and if you can access the bbc i player you can watch it on there

really ggod promoting poultry for eggs and meat

it is episode 2  has cou cou and le bresse on there

[Dave C]

Yes I saw it, that's what reminded me of yours.

It's been a good series so far I'm enjoying it, I do like the La Bresse the ones I had were twice the size of them on the TV but decided not to replace them as they don't hold enough breast meat.

[Bramham Wiltshire Horns]

The coucou look nice eating birds if I must say so ha

[Dave C]

Nice.
I really feel like keeping a trio fro breeding. I might give them to my uncle because I don't want them to crossbreed with my dorkings and can't be bothered to separate them as all my birds run together.
I still have muscovy drakes to kill and I'm not looking forward to plucking them. Only the thought of their flavour keeps me sane lol
Oh and obviously the geese!

To be honest the cockerels I processed didn't look like they would last much longer on there legs, the 2 lighter ones I've kept back are also not ideal so they will be going to freezer camp in a week or so depending on there weights, so don't think I will be keeping any FR cockerels back.
The FR 3 hens will be getting crossed with the Slow growth Sasso's "Gallic" and also IG next year.

[macgro7]

Just watched the hairy bikers chicken and egg program! So cool lol
Its a  shame they didn't show dorking or other breeds of meat chickens.
Now I want to get coucou de renne and la bresse!

But before, right now, I'm going to slaughter some nicely fattened Ross broilers and maybe a red broiler cockrell!
Tomorrow we are eating Poulet à la Crème 

[Bramham Wiltshire Horns]

I'm getting coucou at the national this year

[macgro7]

I'll just get some chicks of next year then 
I was working on making enclosures for breeding chickens.
Decided to keep a trio of the red broilers. Probably will put one hen with a dorking cock. Now I'm going back to plucking!