Which Cockerel

[Dave C 63]

I have had Hens for eggs for a few years, mainly Leghorn's and Maran hybrids, but have recently got some Light Sussex and would like to raise some birds for the table, what type of cockerel would you use over them, stay with a Light Sussex cockerel or something real heavy an Orpington.

What do you think.

 

ATB

Dave.

[gnipper 6,412]

Don't people use an indian game cockerel over light sussex hens for table birds?

[foxdigger13 114]

I'd go for an Indian game cockeral mate,

 

atb fd.

[CarraghsGem 92]

+1 on the indian game cockeral, either that or dorking

[borderlad 0]

I'd either use a silver dorking or a rhode island red. The RIR is dual purpose and the offspring of this crossed with light sussex hens are sex linked i.e the chicks which are pullets are brown and the cockerels are white. This cross is an old fashioned dual purpose cross which would provide replacement laying hens for you and give reasonable meat birds for the table.

[Paid 935]

I thought rhode island red X light sussex = warren, and there just layers, no meat on them.

 

I too would go for the india game cock to add a big of meat.

[Tuzo 251]

Its not so much the size really......its the time you have to fatten them. A sussex cockerel would fatten up nicely in around 5-6 months, but if you were thinking something a bit quicker then your better off with a cross. Ideally you'd be better off getting some hatching eggs of chicks from one of the true (commercial)table breeds.

[Dave C 63]

Thanks for the replys lads, whats your thoughts on Orpintons and there crosses as table birds.

 

Dave.

[CarraghsGem 92]

Thanks for the replys lads, whats your thoughts on Orpintons and there crosses as table birds.

 

Dave.

 

nothing special, welsh blacks are meant to be genuine utility birds with decent size carcasses

 

http://castlefarmeggs.co.uk/?page_id=189

Edited March 22, 2011 by CarraghsGem

[darbo 4,774]

Thanks for the replys lads, whats your thoughts on Orpintons and there crosses as table birds.

 

Dave.

 

nothing special, welsh blacks are meant to be genuine utility birds with decent size carcasses

 

http://castlefarmeggs.co.uk/?page_id=189

have you had anything from castlefarm eggs. tried to get some australorp hatching eggs last year but was too late. he had too many orders.

[CarraghsGem 92]

Thanks for the replys lads, whats your thoughts on Orpintons and there crosses as table birds.

 

Dave.

 

nothing special, welsh blacks are meant to be genuine utility birds with decent size carcasses

 

http://castlefarmegg...uk/?page_id=189

have you had anything from castlefarm eggs. tried to get some australorp hatching eggs last year but was too late. he had too many orders.

 

a mate of mine hatched some last year, decent hatch rate, 70% i think he said, but he paid a fortune to courier them over to ireland as castlefarm dont usually post to ireland

hes got good stock, havent heard a bad word said about castlefarm anywhere

Edited March 22, 2011 by CarraghsGem

[darbo 4,774]

Thanks for the replys lads, whats your thoughts on Orpintons and there crosses as table birds.

 

Dave.

 

nothing special, welsh blacks are meant to be genuine utility birds with decent size carcasses

 

http://castlefarmegg...uk/?page_id=189

have you had anything from castlefarm eggs. tried to get some australorp hatching eggs last year but was too late. he had too many orders.

 

a mate of mine hatched some last year, decent hatch rate, 70% i think he said, but he paid a fortune to courier them over to ireland as castlefarm dont usually post to ireland

hes got good stock, havent heard a bad word said about castlefarm anywhere

thanks for the info.