table birds

  • 27 Replies
  • 6751 Views
*

dannyboy2010

  • New Member
  • *
  • 29
table birds
« on: April 11, 2011, 13:03 »
i keep a few marans as egg birds and have been keeping light sussex as a meat bird for my own use.  is it the done thing to use a normal egg layer as a table bird if it is up to weight??
keeps 1 colubian black tail, 1 light sussex, 1 speckled maran, a 3 new chicks

*

Dominic

  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Location: Mossley, Tameside, Manchester
  • 564
Re: table birds
« Reply #1 on: April 11, 2011, 13:32 »
Suppose it depends how you define "the done thing".

The light sussex is a dual purpose meat and egg bird
We use chemicals in this garden, just as god intended

*

dannyboy2010

  • New Member
  • *
  • 29
Re: table birds
« Reply #2 on: April 11, 2011, 13:39 »
putting it another way, is there any reason why not to?? if they are simular weight?

*

Dominic

  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Location: Mossley, Tameside, Manchester
  • 564
Re: table birds
« Reply #3 on: April 11, 2011, 14:00 »
In that case, no not really.
If your planning on doing it a lot, you'd be better with a meat bird, which will eat less food and give you more meat.

*

dannyboy2010

  • New Member
  • *
  • 29
Re: table birds
« Reply #4 on: April 11, 2011, 14:13 »
i see your point,makes alot of sense
 what other birds aswell as light sussex make a good dual bird?

*

Casey76

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Alsace, France
  • 3242
Re: table birds
« Reply #5 on: April 11, 2011, 18:52 »
Faverolles, La Bresse Gauloise, Marans etc are all good dual purpose birds (I'm in France, so I have a bit of a French bias lol) - but like all tru dual purpose birds, the cockerels won't be up to weight until about 26 weeks, but which time they will have been crowing ages.

It you want to rrear table birds on a regular basis, consider getting some medium growth commercial hybrids.  They will be table ready in 12-14 weeks, so if you're lucky they may not be crowing yet.

I've got commercial Naked Necks and Gris Cendré (which is like a BlueBelle) the cockerels make table weight after about 12 weeks, and the girls make reasonable egg layers (about 4-5 eggs a week)

*

GrannieAnnie

  • Grandmother of the Forums
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Kent
  • 21104
Re: table birds
« Reply #6 on: April 11, 2011, 20:50 »
In that case, no not really.
If your planning on doing it a lot, you'd be better with a meat bird, which will eat less food and give you more meat.

I wish you'd tell our meat chickens that when they are trying to at us out of house and home!!   :lol: :lol:

*

SoniaBA

  • Experienced Member
  • ***
  • Location: Norht East
  • 110
Re: table birds
« Reply #7 on: April 12, 2011, 09:01 »
How long will it take for a light sussex cockerel to get to size for the table?

*

Casey76

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Alsace, France
  • 3242
Re: table birds
« Reply #8 on: April 12, 2011, 09:23 »
About 24-26 weeks, which is when they reach maturity ;)

*

SoniaBA

  • Experienced Member
  • ***
  • Location: Norht East
  • 110
Re: table birds
« Reply #9 on: April 12, 2011, 12:48 »
Hmmm, So i can only dispatch a cockerel to eat at 24-26 weeks? How old with a hen (light sussex) before i can dispatch and eat it?

*

SoniaBA

  • Experienced Member
  • ***
  • Location: Norht East
  • 110
Re: table birds
« Reply #10 on: April 12, 2011, 13:06 »
 :ohmy: I alive on the outskirts of a city with close neighbours who would not be happy (undrstatment of the year) with the crowing of a cockerel. I get my chicks on Friday as the breeder told us the Cockerels would be ready long before they crow  >:( Around 15 weeks. What shall i do now?

*

Casey76

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Alsace, France
  • 3242
Re: table birds
« Reply #11 on: April 12, 2011, 13:16 »
Well, it is possible that cockerels will start crowing from 10 weeks (and are sexually mature at 12 weeks!)

Pure breeds will be very weedy at 15 weeks, as they don't start to fill out until quite a long time after that.

Table hybrids can be classed as almost "over done" at 15 weeks!

But for a light Sussex, I would not want to eat one at 15 weeks... he would be all feather and no meat  :tongue2:

*

SoniaBA

  • Experienced Member
  • ***
  • Location: Norht East
  • 110
Re: table birds
« Reply #12 on: April 12, 2011, 21:08 »
  :( Well i shouldn't make that mistake again  :nowink:  I wont be able to keep them, and if i cant eat them then what?   :unsure:

*

joyfull

  • Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: lincolnshire
  • 22168
    • Monarch Engineering Ltd
Re: table birds
« Reply #13 on: April 12, 2011, 21:15 »
I would cancel the order and get just hens  :)
Staffies are softer than you think.

*

SoniaBA

  • Experienced Member
  • ***
  • Location: Norht East
  • 110
Re: table birds
« Reply #14 on: April 12, 2011, 21:24 »
And even at this late date cancelling is an option?



xx
My first tzo table birds dressed out at...

Started by Casey76 on Chicken Chat

0 Replies
1283 Views
Last post June 14, 2010, 20:01
by Casey76
xx
Can I mix egg laying chickens with ones for the table ?

Started by zombiechicken on Chicken Chat

8 Replies
2259 Views
Last post June 10, 2010, 07:50
by zombiechicken
xx
Preparing a table bird

Started by kegs on Chicken Chat

2 Replies
1346 Views
Last post October 21, 2011, 20:44
by min200
xx
Stupid birds!

Started by Ben_H on Chicken Chat

8 Replies
3097 Views
Last post August 30, 2011, 15:13
by Elcie
 

Page created in 0.146 seconds with 40 queries.

Powered by SMFPacks Social Login Mod
Powered by SMFPacks SEO Pro Mod |