Meat breeds of chickens: descriptions of the 15 best for breeding at home

Household products are of high quality, are in demand in the market and contribute to the family budget. Novice poultry farmers or breeders with experience may be interested in chickens of meat breeds. Let's consider the advantages of their breeding in the conditions of homestead and summer cottages, which breeds are better to have, the features of their maintenance.

Features of meat breeds

Meat varieties of chickens are larger than egg varieties, less mobile, more peaceful in chicken coops. For households, it is important that they are little exposed to multifactorial stresses, quickly gain weight, and you can get several types of products from them - meat, eggs, feathers.

History of occurrence

Chickens, which give a lot of high quality meat, along with the ability to incubate large eggs, have long attracted people who conducted a targeted selection of breeds - selection. So Brahma and Kochinhin appeared in Indochina. These hens are beautifully built and are kept as ornamental birds by many breeders.

Targeted breeding for the industrial production of meat chickens began at the end of the 19th century, in England and France, and then in the USA. The main goal of breeders was to obtain fast-growing birds, well adapted to local growing conditions. This is how the Dorking breed appeared (from crossing native chickens with a variety brought by the Romans).

Birds of the Cornish breed were bred in England and for a long time remained fighting. In France, by crossing Bram, Gudans, Cochinchins and silver Dorkings, they achieved the appearance of Faverolles chickens.

Currently meat breeds are used to create broiler crosses that are characterized by rapid weight gain and soft dietary meat, such as the offspring of the Cornish and Plymouthrock lines. The Sasso color broiler appeared about 35 years ago and has firmly conquered the French meat products market.

A separate selection line was the selection of miniature meat chickens, which were fashionable to keep even in urban apartments. Chickens with dwarf genes were selected from breeds such as Plymouth Rock, Egg Leghorn, Cornish and Rhode Island.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of meat breeds include:

• rapid growth of individuals and weight gain;
• high dietary properties of meat;
• you can get large eggs at the same time;
• high market value of carcasses.

Disadvantages of breeding meat chickens:

• high need for feed and vitamin and mineral supplements;
• some breeds are susceptible to infections.

As you can see, there are more advantages in breeding these birds than disadvantages.

Popular varieties

Let's consider the best breeds that are suitable for growing for meat in private farms and summer cottages.

Ameraucana

Breed of American origin. Chickens lay blue, pink, greenish eggs. The color of the birds is varied - from white to blue and dark yellow. The weight of roosters is 3, chickens - 2.5 kilograms. Egg production - 200-350 eggs per year, weighing 60-65 grams.

Brahma

Distinguished by powerful paws with plumage, strong wings and a large fluffy tail.The body color is white, the neck is black and white or gray, the tail is black. You can meet birds with beige plumage. The crest is medium-sized, fleshy, powerful yellow beak. Mother hens produce, on average, about 100 large eggs over 60 grams per year. Weight of hens - 3.5, roosters - 4.5 kilograms. The bird is thermophilic, but continues to rush in winter. Requires a large amount of food rich in proteins, fats and vitamins.

Hungarian giant

Large chickens with a rounded body, red-brown color. Gaining weight quickly. Carcasses of an attractive appearance. The mass of a rooster is 4-4.5, chickens - 3.5-4 kilograms. The bird is ready for slaughter at the age of 3-4 months. Egg production - up to 200 eggs per year, beige, weighing 55-60 grams.

Bress Gallic

An old French breed, the history of its breeding has about 500 years. The white cockerel of this particular breed has become a symbol of France, its profile appeared even on the coins of the republic.It has blue paws and a bright red crest. Breed with a high degree of adaptability to the conditions of detention. The mass of the rooster is 5, the chicken is 4 kilograms. Egg production - 240 eggs per year, with a weight of 60 to 85 grams.

Gudan

French breed, distinguished by white juicy meat with thin bones. There is a distinct crest on the head, which is why this variety of chickens is highly decorative, especially in combination with a variegated color. The mass of a rooster is 3.6, chickens - 3.2 kilograms. Egg production - up to 150 pieces per year, egg weight - 45-60 grams.

Jersey Giant

Complex cross, bred in the USA by crossing Brama, Orpington, Langshan and others. Color black, white, blue with a green tint. The crest is six-toothed, even, red, the beak is dark. Birds of calm temperament, do not fly. Laying hens often throw out or crush newly laid eggs with their weight, so they need inclined planes in the nests - slopes.

Requires a lot of balanced feed. The main advantage of these birds is the rapid weight gain. The weight of cockerels by the age of 7 months reaches 5, hens - 4 kilograms. Egg production - up to 180 pieces per year, with an average egg weight of 65 grams.

Dorking

English breed, known since the end of the 19th century, has high decorative qualities. The color is varied - from variegated to bright white, brown and black-and-blue individuals with a wide body. The crest of the roosters is red, fleshy, vertical, in the hens it hangs on its side. The beak is light. Roosters weigh 3.5-4.5, hens - 2.5-3.5 kilograms. Egg production - 120-140 eggs per year, with an average egg weight of 66 grams. Birds are susceptible to infection that causes encephalitis, so chickens are vaccinated.

Cornish

Wide Cornish is widespread. Paws without plumage, together with a beak are yellow. The carcass gives well-formed breasts.This variety provides the highest economic efficiency of cultivation. Birds have high growth rates with relatively low feed intake. The American Poultry Association has named the Cornish as the meat standard. The weight of roosters is 3.5-5, chickens up to 3.5 kilograms. Egg production - 140-170 eggs per year, average egg weight - 55 grams.

Pay attention! With insufficient walking, birds of this breed suffer from obesity. Too fat carcasses are not in demand in the market.

Cochinchin

Stately chickens with powerful paws, completely covered with plumage. Color - from red to gray, motley and gray-black. The beak is yellow. The transition from the head to the body with a strong bend, because of which the head seems to be held high, with a proud bearing. They tolerate winter well in warm sheds, can do without walking, are inactive, do not fly. Weight of hens - 4, roosters - 5 kilograms. Egg production - about 100 eggs per year, with the preservation and slight increase in the number of eggs in the winter, the average egg weight is 55 grams.

Langshan

The breed comes from northern China, obtained by crossing the Minor and black chickens. Two varieties are known:

• English furry (suitable for free range in the country);
• German barefoot.

The body is tall, the birds have a proud posture. Weight of roosters - 4, chickens - 3 kilograms. Egg production - 110 pieces per year with a weight of 56 grams.

Mini

Red-black, fawn and white colors are common. They are characterized by low paws, which is why they should not be released for walking in wet weather. Eggs retain the weight inherent in ordinary individuals. Roosters reach a weight of 3, chickens - 2.7 kilograms. Egg production - 180 pieces per year, average egg weight - 60 grams.

Orpington

Distinguished by a massive squat body, soft white, red, gray, marbled, black or black-banded (gold-banded) feathers.Color has many other varieties. The head is small, paws without plumage. The meat accumulates a small amount of fat, which is why it is highly valued. The mass of cockerels is 4-4.5, hens - 3-3.5 kilograms. Chickens lay up to 160 eggs per year, with an average weight of 50 grams.

Plymouthrock

American breed, producing excellent quality meat, with a well-developed breast, quickly gaining weight. White Plymouth Rocks are the most common - they adapt well to the climate, they start laying early. The breed can be considered as meat and egg. Comb four-six-toothed, straight, red. The beak is yellow-gray, the iris is orange. The mass of roosters is 4.5, hens - 3 kilograms. Egg production - 160-200 eggs per year, the average weight of one egg is 60 grams. The variety is highly immune, needs walking.

Sasso

Highly productive cross, the daily gain of chickens reaches 60 grams. Has a large body. Paws are powerful, bare. Color reddish, black, fawn, variegated. Weight of roosters - 5, chickens - 4 kilograms. Egg production - 120 eggs per year with an average weight of 55-60 grams.

Faverol

Elegant French breed of meat chickens. Differs in low paws with five fingers covered with feathers, a small tail. The color is varied, salmon or the so-called "Colombian silver". The beak is very short, powerful, light-colored. The carcasses are easily plucked, the meat is tender, tasty, slightly reminiscent of game. Chickens need free range, plants do not nibble. The mass of roosters is 3.5-4, chickens - 2.5-3.5 kilograms. Egg production - 160-180 pieces per year, average egg weight - 55-60 grams.

Features of maintenance and reproduction

For meat birds, it is important to keep chicken coops clean. Bedding should be made of sawdust or straw. The old bedding is regularly removed, scrubbed to the base of the floor, and a new layer is poured. Meat poultry should be provided with walking. Chickens without movement are prone to obesity, which leads to negative consequences for keeping.

Important! Chickens can't stand high humidity in a chicken coop. Clean and ventilate regularly.

Meat hens are wonderful mother hens. Young animals are kept indoors with air humidity of 50-60 percent. In the early days, chicks are fed hard-boiled yolks.

Which breed is better to choose?

Beginner poultry farmers are advised to opt for the White Plymouthrock breed, as it is the most unpretentious. The balance in feed cost and carcass weight is achieved with the Cornish breed. The best option in terms of feed costs, floor space, meat and egg yield is provided by mini chickens.

Recommended