Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Breeding for meat
If you are planning to breed and raise your chickens for meat then you should choose breeds
that are known to be good meat chickens. Many of the chickens discussed here will be good
for your table, but some chickens excel. The White Plymouth Rock and the White Cornish are
outstanding birds for meat production. They make the most use of their feed and grow large in
a short time. These birds can gain 4 to 5 pounds in just six weeks from the time of hatching.
You can eat them or sell them as fryers or roasters.
Even if you are not raising your chickens for meat, there will come a time when you will need
to cull chickens from the flock, especially if you are breeding. Often, you will find a weak or
sick chick, even under the best conditions, and instead of trying to nurse it back to health,
most of the time the humane choice is to kill the bird. This is not easy for some animal own-
ers, and if you do not feel comfortable taking on this task, have a plan, so when the time ar-
rives, you are not in a panic. If you know other chicken owners, talk with them to see what
they do in these circumstances. They may know someone to refer you to for these purposes.
Breeding for show
Breeding for show requires more attention to detail when you purchase the bird. When you
choose an ornamental bird, you do not want to reproduce its flaws. This is true when you
make your selection for any breed, but a show bird's main purpose is its physical attributes.
Do not mistakenly think certain genes will not appear in your future flock because there are
no guarantees. You do not want to set yourself up to be disappointed. Pick a bird that has the
ideal traits for its breed, and you can then improve one trait at a time. Part of the enjoyment of
breeding for show is creating the perfect bird for you.
Once you select your breeds, you will need to find high-quality birds to get started. You can
find quality breeders through other chicken owners. It is always better to get a recommenda-
tion and purchase a bird from someone you trust. When buying an adult bird, a pullet, or
cockerel, it is easy to be misled on the quality of the bird you are getting. Even experienced
chicken owners can be duped when buying an older bird because you really do not know its
exact age or history. If you do not know anyone who can give you a reference, ask around at
your local pet store or co-op. Chicken owners most likely frequent these places, and
salespeople are there to help you. They usually can point you in the right direction. If this is
not an option, check local classified ads. You may not know your seller, but do not be hesitant
in asking questions. Inspect your bird for any physical deformities or parasite infestation. If
