Right Breeds of Chickens For Poultry Raising
There are many reasons why people start poultry raising and one of the most important decisions to be made is what breed of chickens to raise. You might be raising chickens because of its meat, or for eggs or simply for the enjoyment of taking care of the fowl.
It is not easy to choose the right breed of chicken especially for those who lack experience. There is a wide variety of chickens that would make it more difficult for beginners to select the right one for them.
Egg Production
White Leghorn is a popular breed for white egg production. Those who prefer brown eggs usually choose Golden Comets and Red Sex Links. As a criteria, breeders usually associate breeds that have white ear lobes to produce white eggs an those with red ear lobes lay brown eggs. These types of chickens are poor producers of meat because of their small bodies. If you are going to start poultry raising because of egg production, select those breeds of chickens that are mainly used for laying eggs.
Meat Production
Most chicken used for meat productions are hybrids. There are breeds that grow faster within a few weeks but others are selected because of characteristics such as larger breast meat yield or disease resistance. These types of chickens do not lay as many eggs but rather are used mainly by companies that are selling broilers in supermarkets. Many breeders are choosing Cornish Cross since they can weigh 4-5 lbs in just 6 weeks and can reach 6-10 lbs in 8-12 weeks.
Dual Purpose
There are breeds of chicken that are raised for the purpose of meat and eggs. There are many of these that are American and English breeds. Most common are the Plymouth Rock, Sussex and Wyandottes. These types of chicken produce enough eggs and have the size for meat production. If you are in poultry raising because of egg and meat, then select those breeds of chickens that may not be superior in each characteristics but can give you both.
For additional information, order Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens: Care / Feeding / Facilities (Paperback). Just click on the book below.
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