Best Pure Breed for Table?

[pebojuno]

Hi All,
Just wondering which breed of chicken you all consider best for eating? I'm thinking of getting some birds especially for the table. They would be free ranging until fattening time.
I'd like to have a pure breed so that I don't have to keep buying eggs in every few months and I don't like the idea of hybrids which go off their legs.
Any ideas?

 

[Anonymous]

large indian/jubilee game , very large meaty carcas
large sussex , utility good layers and good eating
large wyandotte

stefan

 

[pebojuno]

Thanks Stefan,
I don't like the look of the Indian Game much so they might be a good choice (sounds silly I know - but somehow it would be easier :roll: )
There's a chap near me breeding utility Ixworths. Do you know if they give a decent carcass?

 

[Anonymous]

Yes, I think they do if they are the right kind. I understand that the 'show' ones can be quite fluffy with not much underneath, but the 'utility' strains are good.

I eat my barnevelder boys. They don't grow as quickly as a barnevelder/LS cross, which is what I do sometimes because the progeny are sex-linked at hatch; but they are nice meat, if dark.

 

[Tim]

I think Indian Game would be my number one choice. They are very broad breasted and are the forefathers of many supermarket chickens!

You could also try some traditional crosses to create your own hybrid table birds. There are a few Table / Meat Hybrid Chickens listed here.

Hope this helps.

Tim.

 

[pebojuno]

Thanks all, You've given me lots to think about!

I'm going to a big poultry sale near me today so will have a look at some of the breeds you've all suggested that I'm not so familiar with to see if that can help me decide.

I'm not in a massive rush to buy just thinking ahead for the next part of the plan! I can't find anyone local selling young pure breed meat birds so it might pay for itself a little. There are lots of smallholdings in these parts and I think there is a bit of a backlash against the super fast growing hybrids.

Would be good to keep my brood and my partners parents in chicken anyway - I was worried my children would be a bit upset about eating our first home hatched excess cockerel but they thoroughly enjoyed it. We went to a agricultural show shortly afterwards and they were proclaiming in the loud voices (that chidren keep especially for saying inappropriate things) "I'd like to eat THAT one mummy!" "I'm going to eat his legs" etc- Got me a few odd looks from the exhibitors

 

[Tim]

I know of a breeder that sells Indian Game hatching eggs if you want to go down that route. They are table birds too, not exhibition lines. They aren't big layers so I would think the season would be short.

Tim

 

[Castle Farm]

I have a blog on dual purpose breeds on my web site including useing Indian Game.


www.castlefarmeggs.co.uk

 

[snifter]

I'd go for Sussex. Let the eaters grow for 6 months at least.

We used to get Sassos. Never went off their legs and took about 3 months from hatching to table. Good meaty birds, just intended to be slower growing and therefore meant to walk round and be like a proper chicken.

 

[pebojuno]

Lots to think about- thank you all!

Castle Farm- I'd stumbled across your website before when I was looking into meat birds- It's very informative so thanks.

Snifter- I bought a trio of speckled sussex yesterday at a sale- the hens are far bigger than the ones I had already - I'm going to breed them so I'll fatten a few cockerels and try them out.

I'm going to leave getting the specific meat flock until next Spring by which time I'll hopefully have persuaded the in laws into a couple more runs

Incidently the sale I went to had a pair of Ross Cobbs for sale- they were grim :shock: