Little Clucker Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 Reet, I'm hoping this is the right place to put this; I'm starting breeding chooks for the table and was wondering if anyone who does the same has any breed recommendations? I've currently got a brahma boy and 3 gingernut girlies with a 12'+ WIR and I'm not too fussed about egg laying numbers as the are firing them out at about 1.5 eggs each a day I've always had a soft spot for sussex's but was wondering if it was worth breeding some of the rarer breeds? Although I could always go for one of each... Any nuggets of wisdom are welcome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 My table bird pen is a Welsummer cockerel with three wives: Wyandotte Copper Black Marans Commercial table bird The first two will produce pretty laying hens and slow growing boys and the third will produce faster growing tasty birds of both sexes If I could do it again I would have an Ixworth cockerel as that wil prodce more meaty birds that are a little faster growing A pen of Ixworths wold be fab, they are rare and the girls are good layers as well as being good table birds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Clucker Posted February 8, 2010 Author Share Posted February 8, 2010 Hmm Ixworths are on my top 4 along with the sussex (cus they're pretty ), Indian game and Naked Neck; mainly cus I likes the kooky looking ones Seeing as you're just up the road do you know any good local suppliers of goodies? Or any recommendations for hatching egg stuff as I heard some real nightmare stories about ebay...I'm a bit too trusting and got saddled with definite girls and not one was! well my excuse was it was my first time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 You won't go wrong with a nice utility strain of Light Sussex as they'll be sought after as pure breed layers and the boys make a tasty dinner at around the six month mark. We ate our last one at Christmas! My last year's LF hatches were FCB Marans x Rhode Island Red and while I haven't actually tried one yet (they're all in the freezer), they did yield around 4lbs of meat each, which aint bad. The girls look like Black Rocks with slightly feathered legs and are laying a nice brown egg, but they wouldn't fetch as much money as a pure breed would. I also have Indian Game and the males are very large with absolutely massive chests on them. My spare boy will be going in the freezer anytime now. I'd probably avoid breeding them as pures though because I think their "fashion" value has dropped a little now and the girls don't make the greatest of pets. They're easily spooked and okay layers, but they are stunningly beautiful .... if you like the game bird look. However, this year I'm looking to do Indian Game x Rhode Island Red, if I ever get my breeding groups sorted out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Clucker Posted February 8, 2010 Author Share Posted February 8, 2010 Hmm, I've definitely had a lot to chew over today and I've always liked Sussex's like my departed stealth cockerel I've heard that Indian Game and Sussex makes a nice cross for the table but I suppose the only way to find out would be to have some... hehe totally an excuse to get more chooks Now just need to book up on a course to deal with the technical side of things... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 Now just need to book up on a course to deal with the technical side of things... Cotswold chickens have a course coming up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Clucker Posted February 9, 2010 Author Share Posted February 9, 2010 Thanks, I've emailed Alison and await a reply with baited breath! Hope I don't pass out lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 It may be a good idea to start off with day old chicks rather than spend money on hatching equipment just to see if you can cope with the deed etc.. Cotswold Chicksn have a batch of table birds coming in at the end of the month, they will be faster growing than a pure breed but are a good way to start Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Clucker Posted February 10, 2010 Author Share Posted February 10, 2010 That's a good idea about the already hatched chicks as there's no way I'd be able to afford an inccy or anything like that for a looong time I've done some research on culling various ways and I'm not so freaked out about it now I was planning of thinking of starting with older birds to establish a line as advice given by various people says thats the best way? As there's only me to feed I won't need too many or have the farmers been pulling my leg again?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 That's a good idea about the already hatched chicks as there's no way I'd be able to afford an inccy or anything like that for a looong time I've done some research on culling various ways and I'm not so freaked out about it now I was planning of thinking of starting with older birds to establish a line as advice given by various people says thats the best way? As there's only me to feed I won't need too many or have the farmers been pulling my leg again?? If you're on your own, then you wouldn't need many; I'd suggest that you get say 3 now (you'd need a brooder to keep them warm) then get another 3 in a couple of months. That way you can have a rolling programme of chooks ready for the freezer, and if you do get bogged down, you can always sell one to an eager neighbour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Clucker Posted February 10, 2010 Author Share Posted February 10, 2010 That sounds like a plan, I'm hopefully going to the next course in oxford so we'll see how I go! The neighbours said today they're definitely interested in at least a few every now and then so I might just have to get a few more, more often...oh what a shame Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 You'll have to rope them in to help you with the plucking then - it takes ages. I can draw and prep a chook in about 5 mins, but the plucking takes so long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Clucker Posted February 12, 2010 Author Share Posted February 12, 2010 Hehe I could make that a part of the deal- you can have as many chickens as you want....as long as you help me pluck them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 I have that arrangement with a friend; she has a few meat birds in a top paddock, but is too squeamish to do it herself. If I take two birds, then I catch an extra one, despatch, pluck and gut it for her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Clucker Posted February 12, 2010 Author Share Posted February 12, 2010 Hmm what a good idea Well I'm booked in for a slot on Alison's kill, pluck etc course and I'm actually looking forward to it now; Alison's been very reassuring Fingers crossed all goes well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 I'll see you there then! Make yourself known to me, won't you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Clucker Posted February 12, 2010 Author Share Posted February 12, 2010 Will do; I'll be the girl who's about 4' something with huuuuge black-framed glasses I was worried about going by myself til I heard some Omleteers were going Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 I'll be the one helping out and up to my elbows in chicken guts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Clucker Posted February 12, 2010 Author Share Posted February 12, 2010 Hehe I'll make sure not to shake hands then! at least til the pinny is safely tied! The mother thinks I'm a bloodthirsty beast (she is polo vegetarian), but she eats chicken... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 My mum thinks its barbaric that I kill hens for meat, she wont even discuss it with me anymore LC if you ever want to visit to see my table bird pen let me know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 I don't discuss it at work - none of the blokes heer want to know where their food comes from! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Clucker Posted February 12, 2010 Author Share Posted February 12, 2010 I'm quite lucky at work, most of the gangs who go and dig your water meter holes are about 90 years old and reassuringly old fashioned several of my colleagues have said they'd like to try it when I do it to see if there's a difference from tescos intensively reared ones! RW that would be very helpful, I've got some ideas on how I want things set up, but I'm sure I'll change my mind once I see a working set up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 Several of my colleagues have asked for a taste of chicken I culled my first pure breeds for meat the other day (three seven month old Marans cockerels) the breast meat looked lovely and there was lots of it, the leg meat is very dark though so that will be used in curries and stews, there seems to be a big difference in pure breed meat as opposed to traditional table bird meat, I will be interested to taste the diifference I still have a table bird that never made it to the table (dont ask ) so you can see the difference in size between that and a utility pure breed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 Pure breed meat has a much deeper taste and the meat is denser. Legs in particular being more chewy and needing a bit of slow cooking with wine, but well worth it for the taste. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Clucker Posted February 12, 2010 Author Share Posted February 12, 2010 I'd heard that the pure breeds of chicken have a more gamey taste which is fine with me the ultimate carnivore (apart from pork and lamb ) and will be a good way of slipping the odd bit of more "exotic" meat onto my fella's plate he still won't touch rabbit but I'm working on it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
