Leewx 2 Posted February 16, 2011 Report Share Posted February 16, 2011 As the title says, in your opinion what are the best dual purpose birds? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CarraghsGem 92 Posted February 16, 2011 Report Share Posted February 16, 2011 As the title says, in your opinion what are the best dual purpose birds? sussex are supposed to be! heard la bresse are good as well, im getting a cornish cockeral to run with my hybrid layers this year, all the offspring will be for the table regardless of gender and plenty of eggs out of the hybrids for the table. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Leewx 2 Posted February 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2011 As the title says, in your opinion what are the best dual purpose birds? sussex are supposed to be! heard la bresse are good as well, im getting a cornish cockeral to run with my hybrid layers this year, all the offspring will be for the table regardless of gender and plenty of eggs out of the hybrids for the table. Thank you!! What layers do you have? Just curious as i'm taking the plunge into chickens so this could be a option also! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
artic 595 Posted February 16, 2011 Report Share Posted February 16, 2011 English light sussex are, and lay a nice large egg and often. Ixworths are a great meat bird, and taste lovely, just don't tell this day and age breeders that you want them to eat, they will not sell you them. Yes poultry keeping has gone soft in the head! There's Indian game too, heavy birds, good meat on them. I have Light sussex and cull at 12 to 16 weeks. Anything over 5 months I've found too tough in the teeth. You say your new to keeping poultry, when the time comes make sure you know how to dispatch your birds quickly causing no unnecessary stress to the birds. Good luck mate. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Capt Boo 2 Posted February 16, 2011 Report Share Posted February 16, 2011 Sussex, Plymouth Rock or Buff Orpington are often considered as good dual purpose birds. Rhode Island Reds are supposed to be one of the better 'layers' of dual purpose, though my Great Aunt Mary (God rest her soul) always swore by Marans. I'm sure there are more informed people on here who can help you more, though ATB 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Leewx 2 Posted February 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2011 English light sussex are, and lay a nice large egg and often. Ixworths are a great meat bird, and taste lovely, just don't tell this day and age breeders that you want them to eat, they will not sell you them. Yes poultry keeping has gone soft in the head! There's Indian game too, heavy birds, good meat on them. I have Light sussex and cull at 12 to 16 weeks. Anything over 5 months I've found too tough in the teeth. You say your new to keeping poultry, when the time comes make sure you know how to dispatch your birds quickly causing no unnecessary stress to the birds. Good luck mate. Cheers for the reply, looks like Sussex it is! I think i have the technique sorted from reading Hugh Fearnly Whittingstall's book , but different story putting it into practice. TBH i really cant see the little ones letting me do the deed anyway Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Leewx 2 Posted February 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2011 Sussex, Plymouth Rock or Buff Orpington are often considered as good dual purpose birds. Rhode Island Reds are supposed to be one of the better 'layers' of dual purpose, though my Great Aunt Mary (God rest her soul) always swore by Marans. I'm sure there are more informed people on here who can help you more, though ATB Marrans were another on the short list, perhaps a mix of both for the first try?!? Thanks for the reply mate!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CarraghsGem 92 Posted February 16, 2011 Report Share Posted February 16, 2011 http://www.irishfowl.com has a forum that also lists all the bring + buy sales in ireland, breeders lists, etc + a decent poultry general chat section, well worth a look Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Penda 3,341 Posted February 17, 2011 Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 From what ive learnt in the past i think murans are good laying birds Quote Link to post Share on other sites
artic 595 Posted February 18, 2011 Report Share Posted February 18, 2011 From what ive learnt in the past i think murans are good laying birds Marans are very good eggs layers. A nice dark chocolate egg. Hens can be real bully's, and are not frightened to give you a good peck or two. However they do make any egg box look pretty and certainly sell first! I'm having some lovely Wheaten Marans delivered at the weekend. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CarraghsGem 92 Posted February 18, 2011 Report Share Posted February 18, 2011 im buying eggs this year off this fella; http://castlefarmeggs.co.uk/ he is in wales and has created a breed he has named the "welsh black" they look the part, ive heard great reviews about this bird as a dual purpose bird as well, supposed to be great layers as well as good table birds Quote Link to post Share on other sites
darbo 4,774 Posted February 22, 2011 Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 there are breeders of top rate laying pure bred birds. breeds- rhode island red. light sussex plymouth rock brown/white leghorns white wynandotte marans cream legbar. get a copy of practical poultry look at the practical poultry utility register. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shepp 2,285 Posted February 23, 2011 Report Share Posted February 23, 2011 (edited) I used to keep light sussex x rhode island reds and they were bigger, healthier and better layers than both parents. They had some really nice markings too. Edited February 23, 2011 by shepp Quote Link to post Share on other sites
awen 29 Posted February 23, 2011 Report Share Posted February 23, 2011 marans, light sussex and rhode island red will give the best egg production and meat but orpingtons will give you a bit more meat but not as good egg production crosses between them can produce some better birds Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paid 935 Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 I've kept many of the breeds mentioned and the crosses, but the ones I have stuck with, which to me are the best utility birds I have keep for both eggs and meat, are Barnvelders. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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