HENS-Good Eaters

[dogs-n-natives 1,182]

Ive kept hens for about 5 years now. Had loads of different breeds, the thing is, I try a lot of 'growing my own' eaters, and was wondering if others do the same?? I have allways eaten my young cockerels as its a bloody shame to waste them, but there not great, and theres not a lot of meat. So I started crossing my layers with my game birds and Ive produced some great tasting meat! I usually eat the males and keep the females for further experimentation! Well Ive mated these to an Orpington cockerel and im sure ive found the holy grail of all chicken!! There big, meaty, and great tasting! Anyone else tried other crosses and had success??

Or are you happy with a pure breed??

Let us know!!!

[john hubery 9]

In years gone by I have crossed susex or dorkins with indian game I found these to be the best, what kind of game birds are you using

[leegreen 2,208]

There are such things as muti-purpose birds. Egg layers come eating birds. Never had any myself but I looked into them once. I just stick to hybred layers as I get them POL from a man that runs an egg farm....cheap! cheap get it.

[dogs-n-natives 1,182]

HUGH FEARNLEY-WHITINGSTALL TRYED THE SAME OVER A FEW YEARS ,GET THE BOOK, THE RIVER COTTAGE MEAT BOOK , MASSIVE READ OVER 500 PAGES ABOUT £25

Sounds good! The game birds I have are indian and old english (L/F)The layers are leghorns and blackrocks. I also keep australorp, pekin and modern game bantams which I breed pure and sell. Also buff orpington(l/f). Im aware that theres breeds that do both jobs, but when I can create something so tasty from what I've got, it saves buying in new stock.

[bagforthebadgers 0]

Mmmm holy grail chicken!! That american game you had was tasty but again not the best amount of meat on it!!

 

 

 

Ive kept hens for about 5 years now. Had loads of different breeds, the thing is, I try a lot of 'growing my own' eaters, and was wondering if others do the same?? I have allways eaten my young cockerels as its a bloody shame to waste them, but there not great, and theres not a lot of meat. So I started crossing my layers with my game birds and Ive produced some great tasting meat! I usually eat the males and keep the females for further experimentation! Well Ive mated these to an Orpington cockerel and im sure ive found the holy grail of all chicken!! There big, meaty, and great tasting! Anyone else tried other crosses and had success??

Or are you happy with a pure breed??

Let us know!!!

Edited March 13, 2008 by bagforthebadgers

[darren 0]

light sussex are good for eating

[Netter 0]

I read somewhere that at the beginning of the 1900's the Indian Game was highly valued as a table bird, not purebred because they're slow growers and heavy boned, but crossbred with breeds such as the Dorking or Sussex, which produces a traditional type table bird with a large proportion of breast meat.

 

So I suppose an Indian Game cock over a Black Rock hen would be worth a try.

[Guest bullterrier]

black rock are good eating birds have got 12 on my allotment

[Tis TM 8]

I've got some French Sasso's I aquired before christmas as week old chicks. I still have them, as I've been letting them free range - they must be, ooh, 20 weeks old now, and they're ready for the table. I just need a possy to help me do them. I will take and post some pics

I did eat some of my normal cockerals, plymouth rock, sussex, and french marran x's, but they were very short of meat on the breast, but had MASSIVE thighs.

I've found the best way to eat these birds is to do start off putting the whole bird in a big stock pot, with a load of veg and herbs, as if you were making a stock. When the meat starts to go nice and slack, cut the breast and legs off, and pot roast these slow in the oven. (I normally chuck a tin of chopped tom's in, mushrooms, big chunks of carrot, herbs, seasoning, and some of the stock thats in the pot on the stove) I've got a lovely terracotta thingy which cooks food beautifully.

Anyway - then I keep reducing the stock down, till its really tasty, and put that in the fridge for other meals in the week and the dogs get the scraps of the carcass. sorted

[dogs-n-natives 1,182]

I've got some French Sasso's I aquired before christmas as week old chicks. I still have them, as I've been letting them free range - they must be, ooh, 20 weeks old now, and they're ready for the table. I just need a possy to help me do them. I will take and post some pics

I did eat some of my normal cockerals, plymouth rock, sussex, and french marran x's, but they were very short of meat on the breast, but had MASSIVE thighs.

I've found the best way to eat these birds is to do start off putting the whole bird in a big stock pot, with a load of veg and herbs, as if you were making a stock. When the meat starts to go nice and slack, cut the breast and legs off, and pot roast these slow in the oven. (I normally chuck a tin of chopped tom's in, mushrooms, big chunks of carrot, herbs, seasoning, and some of the stock thats in the pot on the stove) I've got a lovely terracotta thingy which cooks food beautifully.

Anyway - then I keep reducing the stock down, till its really tasty, and put that in the fridge for other meals in the week and the dogs get the scraps of the carcass. sorted

I'll be sure to give that a try!!

 

Are Sasso's a comercial meat breed?

[Elmerfudd 5]

We have Light sussex and various reds and crossed reds. They're ok to eat, but take ages to get to size. We also have a pair of cornish rocks which we're hoping to breed for meat. In the mean time, we are buying hatching eggs. We use Poulet Anglais who sell Hubbards eggs for 35p each. They are fast growing, about -100 days, and hardy enough for free ranging. This enables us to be self sufficent for chicken in a relatively small area.

Edited March 16, 2008 by Elmerfudd

[dogs-n-natives 1,182]

We have Light sussex and various reds and crossed reds. They're ok to eat, but take ages to get to size. We also have a pair of cornish rocks which we're hoping to breed for meat. In the mean time, we are buying hatching eggs. We use Poulet Anglais who sell Hubbards eggs for 35p each. They are fast growing, about -100 days, and hardy enough for free ranging. This enables us to be self sufficent for chicken in a relatively small area.

Sounds like youve got your chicken meat situation well under control there. Good on ya!!

[Waz 4,274]

When you are crossing the game with the other breeds, do you just run them all together?

[dogs-n-natives 1,182]

When you are crossing the game with the other breeds, do you just run them all together?

I will run a game cock, (say Indian Game) with my indian game hens AND my laying hens. So ill get some pure game, and some cross bred meat birds.

At the mo' ive got an Orpington cock running with my game and orpington hens. This will hopefully produce some massive meat birds and some pure orpingtons to keep or sell.

[Ballybricken 1]

Apparently Orpington cross dorkings .. make good eating , would know im no chicken expert though.