Two thoughts. Hire someone to come out for a day to process your chickens so you won't have to. Secondly, the chicken coop, you can use fiberglass pipe or tubes in place lumber making the coop much easier to move as it will be lighter. Gl and blessings!
I have been to Brazil 6 times and during one time we visited my wife's aunt. She has big land and her chickens are different kind much bigger, taller, muscled. By the way my wife is Brazilian. Their chicken meat when eat is way different and better than what we have here in USA.
I love the pull the chicken coop idea!!! A family I know is trying to decide which chicken to grow for fryers and for laying eggs in Arkansas? Should they raise two different breads for fryers and one for eggs?
Love this. Great info. I'm working on improving the Buff Orpington since it's gone down is size over the years due to commercial hatcheries that don't selective breed. I'm going to follow this journey of your closely with the Delaware. It was on my short list, but I didn't know they had a fast growing broiler that bread true. I may switch to these for meat. I have Freedom Rangers (1wk old) and was going to keep a few to breed into my flock in hopes of passing on some of the growth and size genes (multiple round robin lines), but the Delaware may make that effort pointless. For you breeding lines - I would check with neighbors, markets, Cregslist to see if you can find two completely unrelated Delaware Broiler roosters or someone looking to trade for genetic purposes. Last thought; the 'American' Bress is overrated and if you don't have a cow or access to colostrum, you won't be able to finish them properly or it will cost a fortune to do so. I also don't feed my chickens corn. Unless it's heirloom, yellow corn of any kind is no longer fit for consumption by any living thing.
How did the experiment go? I have a small flock of Delaware broilers I'm holding back to breed for next spring. Hopefully I'll be able to have a flock to butcher next year.
I chose White Rocks to raise as meat birds along with Buff Orpington and New Hampshire reds. My order is straight run chicks to allow me to pick a rooster for future breeding and dispatch the unwanted chickens for personal consumption.. When I was a little boy, my grandma was raising snow white chickens and dad dispatched them with a hatchet, a week later the chickens were picked up and went in our freezer. The white rock chickens were dope back in the day and forgotten with all the other breeds available. I was also interested in Delaware chicks.
I got some White Rocks from Meyer Hatchery years ago and they got to be quite big, yet were very friendly. In fact, I think the Delaware(which was the broiler of the day in the 1940's) would make a great mix.
We ordered some of these Delaware Enhanced Heritage Broiler.. we love them. They grew fast enough for us- especially since these are a sustainable breed without one loss. Very hardy breed. At 14 weeks the roosters are slaughter weight. I love the idea that they breed true 🤞🏼We also have Bresse”White” - I’d be glad to send you eggs in the Spring.
Where did you get the Delaware broilers? Also, your breese do they get along well with your other flock? How aware are the breese to predators? Thank you.
@@honeytoone8610 After much research, it appears that Murray McMurray's Delaware enhanced is an F1. There are many on the net stating that they are not completely breeding true. I think I'll just stick with Meyer's Delaware chickens(which I did have good luck with the past, for size and egg laying ability). I'm thinking a Delaware rooster over a White Rock would make a really nice bird(I had their White Rocks before, years ago and they not only laid well but gained a good size).
If you still have some Cornish Cross roosters, cross them with the Delaware Broiler Hens, that way the size of the Delaware Broiler chicks can be improved. Keep the Cornish Cross rooster on a very strict diet if you want him to remain alive for a few years and use him to increase the size and weight of your flock. Cornish Cross chickens are much more efficient at converting feed into flesh than the Delaware Broilers, so if you cross both, your new birds will put on more pounds with less feed and in less time. You can always feed them less if you wish for them to grow at a slower pace or if you wish to keep some for reproduction, as extra weight is not good for reproduction in the flock. Or just keep the Delaware Broilers as they are, and breed only the largest ones.
I have Delaware little lady chicks. They are seven weeks old and becoming beautiful. But they are very very nice and docile now. And I don’t spend much time with them other than just feeding them. Very nice chicken. They are not flighty, and they don’t even make a fuss or even move, when I pick them up. I have to push them out of the way when I want to leave the coop. I bought them because they should be a pretty good meat bird, but to cook them low and slow. They have to be cooked differently than the monster breed. I’m really looking forward to raising them. I know that we have eaten them all of my life, but it’s never too late to make a change on that. It just doesn’t sit well with me to eat something that is so freakish and grows so quickly.
I do suggest a heavy breed that is white feathered for most people as the colored feathered have different flesh coloring... i dont mind the colored flesh
American Bresse. The breed was imported from France. They are ready for harvest at around 14-16 or 16-20 weeks and if you want a marbled meat on them, because that’s what the breed is know for, you’ll need to soak your feed in raw milk for the remaining 4 weeks before the harvest. If you don’t have access to whole bunch of raw milk, almost seems that there ain’t no point of keeping them except for being able to have your self an ability to hatch the same chicken and not being dependent on the outside source for a meat bird.
@@l0I0I0I0 really doesn’t matter on what milk one or the other will work, as long as it’s raw. There are tons of vids about this breed and this breed is gaining a lot of popularity as far as I can see. I’m currently enjoying my buff Orpington but really thinking on trying out the Delaware chicken to see how it’ll do for meat. I don’t do mixed flock so I only do one breed at a time.
@@slavmiro2352 Ty, I'm learnimg and working on my business plan for a farm. Why do you only do one breed at a time? Hope you don't mind all the questions?
@@l0I0I0I0 The reason I’m doing one breed at a time is, because mixing Orpington’s with other breed does not give you as much meat as it does clean breed. I know this is not the same with other breeds but I’ve seen a vid somewhere, where this was explained. I’m not into trying to create a new breed so I like to work with one breed at a time to have my own means of meat and not be dependent on the outside source. I have heard that it’s ok for Orpington’s to be mixed within its self different variety of colors and patters but not with a whole another breed.
The free bonus chicken is always a rooster. The hatcheries always have to many roosters left over. They would rather give them away to make customers feel special. Ifhey did not give them away they will be forced to cull them.
Thats NOT true...if they arent fed as much and allowed to run more they WILL BREED.I had a big 15 lb roo and 2 hens that i did manage to hatch chicks from.
Two thoughts. Hire someone to come out for a day to process your chickens so you won't have to.
Secondly, the chicken coop, you can use fiberglass pipe or tubes in place lumber making the coop much easier to move as it will be lighter. Gl and blessings!
I have been to Brazil 6 times and during one time we visited my wife's aunt. She has big land and her chickens are different kind much bigger, taller, muscled. By the way my wife is Brazilian. Their chicken meat when eat is way different and better than what we have here in USA.
I love the pull the chicken coop idea!!! A family I know is trying to decide which chicken to grow for fryers and for laying eggs in Arkansas? Should they raise two different breads for fryers and one for eggs?
Love this. Great info. I'm working on improving the Buff Orpington since it's gone down is size over the years due to commercial hatcheries that don't selective breed. I'm going to follow this journey of your closely with the Delaware. It was on my short list, but I didn't know they had a fast growing broiler that bread true. I may switch to these for meat. I have Freedom Rangers (1wk old) and was going to keep a few to breed into my flock in hopes of passing on some of the growth and size genes (multiple round robin lines), but the Delaware may make that effort pointless.
For you breeding lines - I would check with neighbors, markets, Cregslist to see if you can find two completely unrelated Delaware Broiler roosters or someone looking to trade for genetic purposes.
Last thought; the 'American' Bress is overrated and if you don't have a cow or access to colostrum, you won't be able to finish them properly or it will cost a fortune to do so. I also don't feed my chickens corn. Unless it's heirloom, yellow corn of any kind is no longer fit for consumption by any living thing.
Glad to see a comparison of these breeds
How did the experiment go? I have a small flock of Delaware broilers I'm holding back to breed for next spring. Hopefully I'll be able to have a flock to butcher next year.
I chose White Rocks to raise as meat birds along with Buff Orpington and New Hampshire reds. My order is straight run chicks to allow me to pick a rooster for future breeding and dispatch the unwanted chickens for personal consumption.. When I was a little boy, my grandma was raising snow white chickens and dad dispatched them with a hatchet, a week later the chickens were picked up and went in our freezer. The white rock chickens were dope back in the day and forgotten with all the other breeds available. I was also interested in Delaware chicks.
I got some White Rocks from Meyer Hatchery years ago and they got to be quite big, yet were very friendly. In fact, I think the Delaware(which was the broiler of the day in the 1940's) would make a great mix.
@@gregzeigler3850 Thx, I got two more White Rock and one Delaware two months ago and very similar with some dark markings.
We ordered some of these Delaware Enhanced Heritage Broiler.. we love them. They grew fast enough for us- especially since these are a sustainable breed without one loss. Very hardy breed. At 14 weeks the roosters are slaughter weight. I love the idea that they breed true 🤞🏼We also have Bresse”White” - I’d be glad to send you eggs in the Spring.
Where did you get the Delaware broilers? Also, your breese do they get along well with your other flock? How aware are the breese to predators? Thank you.
How did they compared with the Bresse white?
@@honeytoone8610 Murray McMurray hatchery has Delaware Enhanced.
@@gregzeigler3850 they didn’t have them this past spring. Hopefully they will have some this next time.
@@honeytoone8610 After much research, it appears that Murray McMurray's Delaware enhanced is an F1. There are many on the net stating that they are not completely breeding true. I think I'll just stick with Meyer's Delaware chickens(which I did have good luck with the past, for size and egg laying ability). I'm thinking a Delaware rooster over a White Rock would make a really nice bird(I had their White Rocks before, years ago and they not only laid well but gained a good size).
If you still have some Cornish Cross roosters, cross them with the Delaware Broiler Hens, that way the size of the Delaware Broiler chicks can be improved. Keep the Cornish Cross rooster on a very strict diet if you want him to remain alive for a few years and use him to increase the size and weight of your flock. Cornish Cross chickens are much more efficient at converting feed into flesh than the Delaware Broilers, so if you cross both, your new birds will put on more pounds with less feed and in less time. You can always feed them less if you wish for them to grow at a slower pace or if you wish to keep some for reproduction, as extra weight is not good for reproduction in the flock. Or just keep the Delaware Broilers as they are, and breed only the largest ones.
Thanks
Living Traditions Homestead did a comparison with Freedom Rangers both r hybrids. Their very comprehensive comparison very illuminated
I have Delaware little lady chicks. They are seven weeks old and becoming beautiful. But they are very very nice and docile now. And I don’t spend much time with them other than just feeding them. Very nice chicken. They are not flighty, and they don’t even make a fuss or even move, when I pick them up. I have to push them out of the way when I want to leave the coop. I bought them because they should be a pretty good meat bird, but to cook them low and slow. They have to be cooked differently than the monster breed. I’m really looking forward to raising them. I know that we have eaten them all of my life, but it’s never too late to make a change on that. It just doesn’t sit well with me to eat something that is so freakish and grows so quickly.
I have the regular, Delaware, not the broiler.
Did you butcher the Delaware cross already? I would love to know how did it go compared to the broilers?
There is another dual purpose breed you could check out and that is American Bress from what I've seen they look to be a good chicken for a homestead
well, here's the thing bryan, many people over popularize it. they exaggerate that it is just more better and just like it's french parent.
I do suggest a heavy breed that is white feathered for most people as the colored feathered have different flesh coloring... i dont mind the colored flesh
What are breast chickens? Pros cons? Ty!
American Bresse. The breed was imported from France. They are ready for harvest at around 14-16 or 16-20 weeks and if you want a marbled meat on them, because that’s what the breed is know for, you’ll need to soak your feed in raw milk for the remaining 4 weeks before the harvest. If you don’t have access to whole bunch of raw milk, almost seems that there ain’t no point of keeping them except for being able to have your self an ability to hatch the same chicken and not being dependent on the outside source for a meat bird.
@@slavmiro2352 Guess I'll have to get some milking cows, or perhaps goat milk?.. ..and ty!
@@l0I0I0I0 really doesn’t matter on what milk one or the other will work, as long as it’s raw. There are tons of vids about this breed and this breed is gaining a lot of popularity as far as I can see. I’m currently enjoying my buff Orpington but really thinking on trying out the Delaware chicken to see how it’ll do for meat. I don’t do mixed flock so I only do one breed at a time.
@@slavmiro2352 Ty, I'm learnimg and working on my business plan for a farm. Why do you only do one breed at a time? Hope you don't mind all the questions?
@@l0I0I0I0 The reason I’m doing one breed at a time is, because mixing Orpington’s with other breed does not give you as much meat as it does clean breed. I know this is not the same with other breeds but I’ve seen a vid somewhere, where this was explained. I’m not into trying to create a new breed so I like to work with one breed at a time to have my own means of meat and not be dependent on the outside source. I have heard that it’s ok for Orpington’s to be mixed within its self different variety of colors and patters but not with a whole another breed.
The free bonus chicken is always a rooster. The hatcheries always have to many roosters left over. They would rather give them away to make customers feel special. Ifhey did not give them away they will be forced to cull them.
There is a youtube video of a lady breeding cornishx.
🌅❤️💯👍💐
Thats NOT true...if they arent fed as much and allowed to run more they WILL BREED.I had a big 15 lb roo and 2 hens that i did manage to hatch chicks from.
how many eggs does cornish cross hens lay per week? and why only 2 hens?
Beautiful madam please make video of butchering bird's 🔪🦆🦆❤️❤️🔪🔪🐓🐓🐓