By Leigh -
Many
people who decide to raise chickens for eggs do so after learning about the unfortunate
suffering that battery chickens on commercial egg farms experience in their
short lives. Unfortunately, birds raised commercially for meat face many frightening
abuses also. If a person hasn’t already seen upsetting footage on the news, they probably already know
that YouTube is teeming with undercover footage captured inside of various commercial
poultry farms that will leave the most stable of stomachs churning.
While
the idea of raising chickens just to kill and eat them may make many people
uncomfortable, perhaps it is the idea of raising these chickens in a natural,
healthy and comfortable environment and allowing them a quick and humane death
that draws some to raise meat birds. Many would rather eat a bird that lived a
happy life than one that never saw the sun, chased a bug through the grass and
suffered unknown horrors on a commercial poultry farm.
Of
course with concerns over the amount of chemicals, antibiotics and steroids in
commercially-produced meat, others will gravitate to raising meat birds in order to feed their families healthy and organic meat.
Photo courtesy Marcia Fisher
If
you have made the decision to raise your own birds for meat, it is important to
remember that birds of any dual purpose or meat breed may (and should) be kept
and raised in natural, healthy and comfortable conditions. The same generous
coop and run space rules apply to meat birds as to the egg-laying breeds. See our article on space needs HERE. All
breeds of chicken are prone to feather picking and cannibalism if kept in
crowded conditions.
Cornish Rock /
Cornish Cross
Photo from www.mcmurrayhatchery.com
Perhaps
the most popular meat chicken breed is the Cornish Cross. For all intents and
purposes, the Cornish Cross is a bit of a Franken-Bird. This breed has been selectively bred over the years to reach its full size in only 7-12 short
weeks. Faster growth means more meat in less time. Of course this crazy-fast
growth also has drawbacks including joint and heart problems.
Contrary
to many of the write-ups on the Cornish Cross chickens, this breed CAN free
range. In fact many chicken “Old Timers” will tell you this breed should free range in order to keep their
muscles stronger and their joints healthier. Free ranging can help slightly reduce
the rate that these birds put on weight, thereby avoiding many of the leg and
joint problems these birds face on commercial farms. Being allowed to move, run
and chase bugs will help keep their hearts healthier and make them less prone
to heart failure.
That
said, these birds are simply genetically predisposed to more health issues than
other meat breeds, and this factor should be kept in mind when selecting a meat
bird flock.
Cornish
The
Cornish (not to be confused with the Cornish Cross) was developed as a meat
bird in Cornwall, UK. This is a slow-growing
breed that reaches maturity (processing weight) at about 18+ weeks of age.
Because it has not been subject to genetic engineering, it is far less susceptible
to heart or joint problems like its cousin, the Cornish Cross. Many also prefer
the taste and texture of Cornish meat to that of Cornish Cross.
These
birds are excellent free rangers. They are wary of predators, with some owners
of these birds telling stories of flocks of Cornish actually chasing off foxes
and other smaller predators. Aerial predators are less likely to attempt an
attack on a full-grown Cornish as these birds can weigh upward of 10 lbs. as
adults.
The
Cornish comes in a number of color varieties including Dark Cornish, White
Cornish and some project colors like blue-laced red. While bred for its
delicious meat, the hens are also fair layers of light brown eggs. Cornish hens
are not overly broody, and can be quite friendly – mine have been known to
follow me about as I do my chores. As with other large chicken breeds, a single
Cornish can out-eat 2 birds of egg-laying breeds. Daily free ranging can vastly
lower feed consumption.
Brahma
The
Brahma is another breed primarily bred for meat. This is a calm, easy-going
bird well suited to colder climates. It is very broad in stature and has
feathered legs and feet. The breed originated in Asia and is a distant relative
of the Cochin. Like other slow-growing breeds, it needs at least 18 weeks to
reach a good weight for processing.
Common
Brahma varieties include the Light Brahma, Buff Brahma and Dark Brahma, and
while they are available in bantam size, the smaller birds are generally not
kept for meat.
Dorking
The
Dorking is one of the oldest known chicken breeds, dating back to ancient Rome.
It is considered a dual-purpose breed, used as both an egg-layer and meat bird.
The breed reaches maturity at about 18-20 weeks of age. The Dorking is built a
bit like a Bassett Hound with shorter-than-average legs and large, wide body.
Dorking
hens are good layers of large, white eggs. They are not an overly broody breed.
Dorking flocks enjoy free ranging from sunup to sundown, prefer mild climates
and cohabitate well with other poultry breeds. Dorking hens can be a bit
stand-offish, but the roosters tend to be mellow and calm. This is a great
breed for those who might wish to raise a pure-bred flock for both meat and
eggs.
Rhode Island Red
The
Rhode Island Red is another wonderful dual-purpose breed known for its
hardiness. The hens are very good layers of brown eggs, and will often lay regularly
for more than 3 years. There are reports of RIR hens laying at 6 or more years
of age.
A
true, Heritage Rhode Island Red is a large bird with a body shaped like a
brick. One could feasibly become quite self-sufficient by breeding these birds,
keeping hens for plenty of eggs and processing all extra cockerels for meat.
13-week-old Heritage Rhode Island Red cockerel
As
their breed name would indicate, they come in one color… white. (Just kidding.)
Well-bred roosters will have deep mahogany feathering with black feathers in
the tail, and the hens will range from deep red to mahogany. Be warned – some hatcheries
mislabel Production Reds as Rhode Island Reds. To be certain what you are
getting is a true RIR, buy from a reputable breeder.
RIR
roosters are usually very mellow and tend to be good around children, and the
hens are friendly and seem to enjoy being around people. With this bird you may
not have the most colorful barnyard flock, but you will have a very useful and hardy flock.
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While
I have touched on a few of the breeds best known for the quality and quantity
of their meat, there are plenty of other dual-purpose breeds I did not have a
chance to touch upon today. Do your research, and don’t be afraid to jump in
with both feet if raising birds for meat is of interest to you.
- Leigh
For some great information on egg-laying breeds, check out "What Kind of Chickens Should I Raise? Help Choosing a Breed" on Fresh Eggs Daily!
What kind of chicken do you raise for meat?
ReplyDeleteI was raising Dark Cornish, but just recently sold off my entire flock as we may be moving later this summer. I have some Heritage Rhode Island Reds and once we know if we'll be moving or not - - and complete a move if that's in the cards, we'll be trying some Cornish Cross. We simply don't have enough space to keep enough of a slower growing breed for 18 weeks a piece, to feed the family at this time.
DeleteThis is next on our list of things to do...raise some meat birds!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't even do in the roos I had fed and raised. I had EEs that would have been great meals but I couldn't do it. I couldn't kill them. I ended up selling them at auction for less then I bought them for.
ReplyDeleteIn my area of the country there are a lot of farms, Amish, Mennonites, just plain farm folks. There are several ladies that will process meat birds or roos or whatever for a very reasonable price.
DeleteSome folks that raise meat birds have them process all their birds. They're often farm wives with young children that need an extra income stream - or older women that need an extra income stream.
If you're raising for healthy meat and don't want to do the deed yourself, you still have the pleasure of knowing exactly how they're raised, and also the joy of helping someone else bring in a little extra $$!
If you don't have the $$ to do that, I also read something that I thought was a really good idea. Two ladies that lived in the same area made a pact together that they' would butcher each other's flocks when the time came. Either when they had too many roosters, were retiring layers, etc.
They each had small flocks that make it a bit harder to process because you "know" each one much more intimately than you would if you had LOTS of chickens. It was hard for them to process their "friends", but they knew they could do the other's since they hadn't formed an attachment.
:D
Cornish Cross - while ugly and non-sustainable for the average homestead - are NOT "genetically engineered". They are the product of the normal selective hybridization process. They have their place for those who want to raise their year's worth of chicken as quickly as possible and then use that area for other farm interests
ReplyDeleteYou are correct - in the true definition of the term, Cornish Cross are NOT genetically engineered, but selectively bred. :-)
DeleteCornish crosses are a sad bunch in the end you almost feel like you are doing them a favor
ReplyDelete