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Meat chickens. #7144553
01/19/21 12:04 PM
01/19/21 12:04 PM
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 2,874
Kentucky
KYtrapper2005 Offline OP
trapper
KYtrapper2005  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 2,874
Kentucky
I’m gonna be ordering meat chickens in March. I don’t like the taste of the Jumbo Cornish cross or the lack of flavor I should say. I’m thinking a heritage breed like a white Wyandotte. Any opinions?


Trapping is what built North America, why take that away?


pro second amendment-- pro God-- pro Trump-- Pro America!
Re: Meat chickens. [Re: KYtrapper2005] #7144563
01/19/21 12:13 PM
01/19/21 12:13 PM
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 135
Ozark Mtns, AR
J
JD Hornet Offline
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JD Hornet  Offline
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Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 135
Ozark Mtns, AR
Started using Freedom Rangers also called Red Rangers two years ago they grow a little slower than the cornish cross but faster than a heritage bird and if you raise them on grass they forage well, they will move around verses sit by the feeder all day. They taste good, the only down side is the breast isn't as big but then they are real chickens. I have raised several different heritage breeds like the freedom or red ranger the best. Have fun raising those chickens.

PS I'm a firm believer that having access to green grass is the biggest factor for taste of chicken.


Farm Hard
Re: Meat chickens. [Re: KYtrapper2005] #7144604
01/19/21 12:45 PM
01/19/21 12:45 PM
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 233
Georgia
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GaTurkeyHunter Offline
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Georgia
I raise over 100 Cornish Cross on pasture each year. They are the best chicken when you factor in time to butcher and feed to weight conversion. I have raised freedom rangers and various other breeds of leaner broilers too. Those other breeds consume just as much feed, often more because they need more time to reach an appropriate butcher weight.

All the heritage breed birds are too tiny to even fool with. The only heritage breeds I would consider due to their large size would be the jersey giants, delewares, brahma.

Once you look into heritage birds, you'll have to keep them 6 months to even get close to possible butcher weight. By that time the meat has gotten less tender, especially the thighs and legs.

As stated previously, I raise a lot of CC birds. I can get them to 5 plus pounds in 8 weeks. Some of the birds reach that point a week or so earlier.



[Linked Image]
Re: Meat chickens. [Re: KYtrapper2005] #7144642
01/19/21 01:12 PM
01/19/21 01:12 PM
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 18,388
Green County Wisconsin
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GREENCOUNTYPETE Offline
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Green County Wisconsin
it may not be the best flavor possible , however the Cornish cross definitely taste different I think better when given greater variety of feed than just commercial mix.


America only has one issue, we have a Responsibility crisis and everything else stems from it.
Re: Meat chickens. [Re: GREENCOUNTYPETE] #7144688
01/19/21 01:54 PM
01/19/21 01:54 PM
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 8,866
Indiana
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Providence Farm Offline
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Indiana
Originally Posted by GREENCOUNTYPETE
it may not be the best flavor possible , however the Cornish cross definitely taste different I think better when given greater variety of feed than just commercial mix.



This is the winner here. We raise cc and keep them in a chicken tractor that gets moved once ot twice a day. They are on grass and get axcess to insects. Once they have gotten larger they get moved 2 times a day. It aimed of the best chicken I have eaten. Freedom rangers take several weeks/months longer to reach the same weight eating much more food. Duel purpose birds are like multi purpose tools they can do both but neither well. For meat they are to small have a hatchet shape breast and take to long to grow out becoming tough.

Re: Meat chickens. [Re: KYtrapper2005] #7144698
01/19/21 02:11 PM
01/19/21 02:11 PM
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 5,214
Crivitz WI
Sprung & Rusty Offline
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Sprung & Rusty  Offline
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Crivitz WI
Originally Posted by KYtrapper2005
I’m gonna be ordering meat chickens in March. I don’t like the taste of the Jumbo Cornish cross or the lack of flavor I should say. I’m thinking a heritage breed like a white Wyandotte. Any opinions?

Frank's hot sauce helps with lack of taste.

laugh


No Jab.
Re: Meat chickens. [Re: KYtrapper2005] #7144706
01/19/21 02:16 PM
01/19/21 02:16 PM
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,241
The Hill Country of Texas
Leftlane Offline
"HOSS"
Leftlane  Offline
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Posts: 20,241
The Hill Country of Texas
Chicks are not that expensive. If you have room to let them free range maybe you could order a few of the Cornish X, something in the middle, and another dozen of a heritage breed and see for yourself.

Like a couple other guys, I am betting if you let one of those big super breeds hit the ground and eat more than a milo mash the flavor might surprise you.


“What’s good for me may not be good for the weak minded.”
Captain Gus McCrae- Texas Rangers


Re: Meat chickens. [Re: KYtrapper2005] #7144818
01/19/21 03:36 PM
01/19/21 03:36 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,301
Waterville Minnesota
M
mudtracker Offline
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Waterville Minnesota
If you feed the ccs as much table scraps, kitchen scraps, weeds and garden waste as they will eat in addition to grain or feed they are much better tasting, they will also grow just a little slower which I think is better for them healthwise. Less bone problems and sickness.


WHO MADE THIS MESS ALL OVER MY FLOOR THE MUDTRACKER WAS HERE HE HE HE
Re: Meat chickens. [Re: KYtrapper2005] #7145030
01/19/21 06:28 PM
01/19/21 06:28 PM
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 8,763
East of the Mason-Dixon Line
DelawareRob Offline
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DelawareRob  Offline
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East of the Mason-Dixon Line
Following, as I may get into meat birds at some point.

I’m thinking chickens is going to be a fun endeavor.


Who is John Galt?

You don't rise to the occasion, you fall to the level of your training.

Semper Paratus
Re: Meat chickens. [Re: KYtrapper2005] #7145036
01/19/21 06:31 PM
01/19/21 06:31 PM
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,947
South metro, MN
C
Calvin Offline
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Calvin  Offline
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South metro, MN
I suspect feed has a direct effect on taste. I know I can taste a drastic difference in my layers eggs from summer (when the are free ranging on grass, bugs, etc) and winter (when they just eat bag feed). The eggs taste a LOT better in the summer. Just a thought.

Re: Meat chickens. [Re: Sprung & Rusty] #7145627
01/20/21 12:10 AM
01/20/21 12:10 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62,664
Minnesota
330-Trapper Offline

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Posts: 62,664
Minnesota
Originally Posted by Sprung & Rusty
Originally Posted by KYtrapper2005
I’m gonna be ordering meat chickens in March. I don’t like the taste of the Jumbo Cornish cross or the lack of flavor I should say. I’m thinking a heritage breed like a white Wyandotte. Any opinions?

Frank's hot sauce helps with lack of taste.

laugh

wink


NRA and NTA Life Member
www.BackroadsRevised@etsy.com




Re: Meat chickens. [Re: KYtrapper2005] #7145668
01/20/21 12:36 AM
01/20/21 12:36 AM
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 811
Interior Alaska
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30/06 Offline
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Interior Alaska
We have raised both Cornish Cross and Freedom Rangers. We butcher CC at 8 weeks, FR at 10-11 weeks. The CCs will poke around the pasture, but they don't seem to get much out of it. Our "pasture" is mostly chickweed, grass, and scattered barley plants. We prefer FRs.

Re: Meat chickens. [Re: KYtrapper2005] #7145699
01/20/21 01:16 AM
01/20/21 01:16 AM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,763
Central, SD
Law Dog Online content
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Law Dog  Online Content
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Central, SD
Plymouth Rock birds are a great combo type.


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: Meat chickens. [Re: Law Dog] #7145731
01/20/21 02:54 AM
01/20/21 02:54 AM
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 34
ND
S
Silage Offline
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Silage  Offline
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Posts: 34
ND
Of the heritage breeds I've raised Turken roosters were the fastest to 5lbs. Faverellos tasted the best and the most tender. Faverellos also reached butcher weight at areasonable time. My faverello/Brahma crosses were the fastest last summer.

My Cochin and Cochin crosses were the slowest and had the most fat. But had good proportions.

My straight Brahma were slow also.

My chickens are free range with access to constant feed. Also Fed house scraps, scraps from a bar and grill, and lots of garden and orchard excess.

Re: Meat chickens. [Re: KYtrapper2005] #7145737
01/20/21 03:44 AM
01/20/21 03:44 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Bruce T Offline
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Bruce T  Offline
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Northern Maine
I love cornish x rock meat birds.Put them in a slow roaster and yummy.


Nevada bound
Re: Meat chickens. [Re: KYtrapper2005] #7146138
01/20/21 10:40 AM
01/20/21 10:40 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,134
So. IL
pintail_drake04 Offline
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pintail_drake04  Offline
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Posts: 2,134
So. IL
I raise a couple hundred meat birds a year. I use both Cornish Cross and Red Rangers. If you properly care for your Cornish Cross, they will taste nothing like what you get in the store. Mine are forced to move around, and go to pasture daily. Red Rangers take a couple extra weeks to hit weight, but they are good too.
2 Cornish in the plucker
[Linked Image]
Couple hundred pounds of home grown, pasture raised chicken.
[Linked Image]
Pasture raised Cornish, packaged and ready to go.
[Linked Image]
Comparison: 15 week Heritage in the back, 8 week old Cornish in the front.
[Linked Image]


Last edited by pintail_drake04; 01/20/21 10:41 AM.
Re: Meat chickens. [Re: KYtrapper2005] #7146143
01/20/21 10:43 AM
01/20/21 10:43 AM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,763
Central, SD
Law Dog Online content
trapper
Law Dog  Online Content
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Central, SD
I raised the Cornish birds once the meat was tasteless and mushy but it was my first run at it my bad most likely.


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: Meat chickens. [Re: KYtrapper2005] #7146160
01/20/21 10:54 AM
01/20/21 10:54 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Bruce T Offline
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Bruce T  Offline
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Northern Maine
Mushy?Never had any chicken that was like that.


Nevada bound
Re: Meat chickens. [Re: KYtrapper2005] #7146166
01/20/21 10:59 AM
01/20/21 10:59 AM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,763
Central, SD
Law Dog Online content
trapper
Law Dog  Online Content
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Central, SD
Separated from the layer they did not get much exercise I think was the problem they eat the same feed they die.


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: Meat chickens. [Re: Law Dog] #7146225
01/20/21 11:36 AM
01/20/21 11:36 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Bruce T Offline
trapper
Bruce T  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Originally Posted by Law Dog
Separated from the layer they did not get much exercise I think was the problem they eat the same feed they die.

I always had mine out in a good sized pen.


Nevada bound
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