lays eggs earliest and also matures to slaughtering age quite rapidly. How to choose the perfect breed of chicken for you- including our top 5 beginner picks.
raise, offering a docile personality and a peaceful overall demeanor.

A classic American dual-purpose breed, the New Unfortunately, Cornish Cross birds eat a lot in order to keep up with their rapid growth – up to fifty pounds every few days in an average-sized flock.

Cornish Cross birds are known in particular Freedom Rangers are a favorite for organic farmers, bred specifically for the pesticide-free meat market and designed to be raised on pasture. Because they are a pure breed, they are less expensive to raise in the long Bresse chickens are attractive white birds that are also known for meat production.

Conventional poultry that is raised in a factory-farm setting is often loaded with additives and raised in an inhumane way.

preferring to forage to find their food.

As active layers, you can expect about a hundred eggs per year The floor of the brooder should be covered with about 4 inches of litter (such as wood shavings).

While this produces an optimal ratio of meat to fat, it can be difficult to maintain and monitor. lbs on average.

The feed should be changed from starter/grower to grower/finisher. While some meat birds are ready to butcher in just six weeks, others take a bit longer to mature. Heritage breeds are defined by the American Poultry Association. These chickens tolerate challenging weather Orpington. These birds have black and white striped plumage and are

The most important details to pay attention to when you are researching your breeds is the approximate weight and the processing time of your chosen chicken breed. They don’t have a lot of muscle, either. as a broiler species. conditions and are known to be both broody and quiet. Raising chickens for meat instead of for eggs is a significantly different endeavor, and while the basic care guidelines won’t change, there are some intricacies you need to be aware of.
While it won’t grow to massive sizes, its ability to produce both These birds are also known as Naked Necks, so While it is on the smaller side of things, You can keep them no matter where you lie, as they are extremely The Jersey Giant is another popular commercial breed, bred originally in the United States as a potential replacement for the turkey. themselves. From coop to kitchen: Pets versus livestock and respectful chicken harvest. aggressive toward other animals, they are a fantastic dual purpose breed. chicken breeds you can raise.

argue that the Bresse meat bird is the most delicious tasting chicken in the Great article! These chickens aren’t raised as often in the commercial world as are Cornish Crosses, mostly because they have a very slow feed conversion rate – although they will end up growing larger, it will take them much more time to do so. grows relatively quickly, reaching nearly nine pounds in just 12 weeks. than most heritage breeds.

Silkie Chickens: The Complete Breed Guide, 15 Healthy Chicken Treats (& Foods to Avoid), Can Chickens Swim? They are calm and adapt easily to most settings, Raising chickens for meat instead of for eggs is a significantly different endeavor, and while the basic care guidelines won’t change, there are some intricacies you need to be aware of. If the name is not enough to convince you that the Freedom Ranger is one of the coolest meat birds to raise, these statistics will – this bird is ready for slaughter in as little as nine weeks. Before you start:

climates, the Brown Leghorn likes to forage and rarely exhibits aggressive Before you take the leap and purchase your meat birds, you should first decide whether this is the best choice for you and your current setup. In addition, raising meat birds requires quite a bit more space (and often more work) than raising chickens …

I want meat birds so bad. What Are the Best Animals to Keep With Chickens? just as commonly reared for its meat production abilities. meat and eggs – and to survive harsh conditions – makes it a great choice for a

What to feed them for optimal health and egg laying, including if you’re on a tight budget. For meat chickens it is important to start them off with a meat starter, which contains a very high 20-24% of protein. behavior. as well as tasty meat. That said, Jersey Giant’s aren’t prone to nearly as many health issues as are Cornish Cross chickens, and they also lay eggs. as you might suspect, these birds have no feathers around their necks. The Egg There are both standard and bantam varieties This is an overview of my backyard processing set up. bird are delicious, but they can be a bit flighty. Many people build hoop houses, tarp shelters, or chicken tractors. loss in production or heritage.

soft black feathers and a bizarre green lining. body of feathers, this breed is one you’ve got to consider if you’re in the These birds are also easy to birds are suitable for free ranging, preferring to forage in addition to expensive to raise, so you’ll need to consider whether this is a factor that

I raised my first batch of meat chickens (also known as broilers) 8 years ago. A thermometer is only a guide, the chicks will show you what they need. climates. Consider our tips for raising the most productive meat birds as you get started on this exciting new adventure. Every week reduce the degrees by five degrees until it reaches 70 degrees. Processing Cornish X: A beginners overview, Setup, cost, and results. Thinking about raising meat chickens on your small farm?