[Fowlmood]

Hi there, I'm currently in the almost ready to commit to keeping chickens stage.
I have a couple of questions that I can't find the answers to.

1. If I keep a dual purpose bird for eggs and meat, how old can I keep a bird before killing it. Are older birds not so tasty? Ideally I would like to get fresh eggs for a year or so, but is a year old bird too old to eat?

2. I have a very small garden, but I think I can make a decent sized run, maybe 5' x 12', is it ok to keep the birds in the run for their whole lives, or do they need let out regularly? I was thinking of maybe keeping 4 (although everyone seems to agree that you end up with more than you originally set out for).

[compostqueen]

they do like to be out and about and practically mow me down in the morning when I let them out of the run into the garden  

[woodburner]

1) As long as you like but the older it is the longer cooking it will need. Can't speak from experience (yet) but the limit for straight roasting seems to be 6 months, after that it will need boiling first. Older birds are tougher but tastier. In the old days cockerels were kept for the pot and older hens would also go in the pot as they stop laying so much, and younger hens came into lay to replace them. AFAIK there is no age limit. Personally I think I'd cull them before they start getting age related illnesses and losing weight though
2) 5'x12' is plenty for 4 birds. They will probably still scratch it bare though. If you keep them confined you will have to either feed them pellets or regularly feed them green stuff as well as grain.

Hmm, you're not going to get much meat off 4 birds :roll: and where are you getting replacements from?

[Fowlmood]

I know I wouldn't get a lot of meat from 4 birds, I would be keeping them primarily for the eggs. You never know, I might get too attached to even think about eating them, but I do like the idea of being able to eat the chickens as well, just to see if they do taste that bit better. As for replacements, surely I could buy more the way I buy the first lot?

What do people think? Should I forget about meat and just enjoy the eggs? Has anyone kept dual purpose breeds for what I'm suggesting?

[woodburner]

Utility breeds are quite expensive to buy, (and more so since HFW et al,) so most people breed their own.

As you are primarily wanting eggs, you'd be better off with Lohmans, Isa browns, or some other egg laying breed. They're not so attractive though, and you won't get much meat off them! But they are easier to find. There are some first generation hybrids out there that aren't quite so expensive as pure breeds (e.g Amberlink, Black Rock, Speckledy, Sussex Star.) that look better, will probably age more gracefully or will at least put something in the pot when the time comes.

IMHO dual purpose breeds are a bit of an investment, and as their main advantage over the hybrids mentioned is that they breed true, I'd go for the hybrids, unless of course, if you think you might want to breed your own . . . :roll:

[treacleminer]

Got 2 Light Sussex's 6 weeks ago at 18 weeks and was told that they were dual purpose.  They are much bigger and lazier than my hybrids.
OH likes idea of dual purpose and keeps eyeing them up but got the first egg from one of them yesterday  (verry very small but its a start!

[Foxy]

Bodger or Munty have raised odds and sods for meat... We will be eating our spare cockerels which are traditional dual purpose birds faverolles and are huge!
When I pick up our biggest boy just one leg would be bigger that most breast fillets you could buy!!!  

PS dont worry folks not Bigfoot!!! Anyway I am sure before the deed is done I will suddenly find homes for them!