4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[kinsk]

Up until now the we have just had 3 for eggs, in and eglu with an extended run and let out in the evenings to trash the place (sorry free range ) originally we had 3 ex-bats, we now have a blackrock, columbian blacktail and light sussex. These have now gone to my parents.

 

OH has built the most amazing hen house, will get you some pictures, and is currently constructing a run. We are thinking about getting about 10 hens and a cockerel.

 

I was originally just thinking about eggs, but he has just been asked if we would do any for meat (we breed pigs for meat so the request came from a pig customer)

 

Is there any breed that can do both or do you end up compromising on both quality of eggs and meat?

 

If that's the case would it work if we stuck with an egg laying breed (we were thinking about wellsummers) and getting a cock from a meat rearing breed so the resulting younstock would be a cross to be raised for meat.

[jimnpaula]

A bird that is good for meat and eggs is known as dual purpose. There is a list of such breeds here (scroll down).

Certainly when I look at my chunky Sussex hybrids I can see why they are listed (not that I could possibly eat Onyx, Pearl or Crystal.)

 

P

[Redwing]

Sussex, Indian Game, Welsh Blacks and Ixworths are some that are good

 

I cross my pure breed 'improved' (longer legged) Indian Game hen with meat bird cross cockerels and get a slow growing meaty bird

 

Try Castle Farm for hatching eggs or birds, I think they are in Wales their website is down I think but the email is: castlefarmpoultry@lycos.com

 

Also you could just buy standard meat bird eggs, there are birds that mature fast or slowly and as long as you keep the weight off the females they lay well, try Simon at Poulet Anglais who supplies hatching eggs and chicks

 

I estimate that my slow growing crossbreeds cost me about £8 each to raise to 25+ weeks then there is my time on top to pluck and gut so you may find its more cost effective to buy the commercial ones and give them a short but comfortable life and raised on grass they'll be a lot more tasty than they would be if bought from a supermarket

[kinsk]

Thank you both, and Redwing thanks for the recommendations. Like everything it's going to be another learning curve! Really looking forward to it though.

[TAJ]

Sussex are the ones we breed and find spare cockerels a decent weight.

 

Tracy

[WitchHazel]

Having part Indian Game in your bird will give you a really delicious "meaty" tasting bird, without it being gamey.

 

Another vote for castlefarmeggs here. David has a superb cross called "Welsh Black" who are Indian Game x Australorp. Australorps are large birds which are fantastic egg layers, in an Australorp holds the world record for egg production (364 eggs in 365 days, I think, something like that).

 

I have two of his girls in my breeding flock (and 1, the egg one of them laid on the way home, in my Garden Girls. She's gorgeous). They are unusual to look at, because of their Indian Game heritage, but are absolutely lovely. We have a Sasso cockerel, and the resulting offspring are very contented happy, friendly chicks. If we hatch later in the year (say hatch in May) then by the time the boys reach maturity, the cold weather puts a dampener on their ardour. This year we hatched early, and we had to separate the boys and girls when they reached about 15 weeks..

 

The oldest we've kept them before culling is about 32 weeks, and they were still fantastic at that age,