Meat chicken breeds vary in weight and how promptly they pass on due date . Whether you want fast - growing Cornish Rocks , slow - to - suppurate Jersey Giants or anything in between , these ten inwardness crybaby breeds are sure to please .
#1 Cornish Rock
The Cornish Rock is undoubtedly the most popular of the meat chicken breeds and can reach butcher weight as quickly as six to eight weeks . Their clean feathers and libertine emergence pace make the stock an ideal heart wimp .
Cornish Rock chickens expect a specific , in high spirits - protein dieting to help sustain them and promote fast ontogenesis . While they are the most democratic of meat - breed chickens , they are also the most potential to support health circumstance due to their obesity and libertine growth .
The average dressed weight for Cornish Rock chickens should shine between five and six pound .
#2 New Hampshire Red
New Hampshire Red chickens are often thought of as a dual - design breed versus meat chicken , but there is a rationality that New Hampshire Reds made our meat chicken breeds list .
Bred less than a century ago , the stock was to begin with bred for nitty-gritty output . Hens are good layers , but since their chief purpose was meat production , many chicken owners prefer to order straight run chicks , keeping the hen for eggs and raising the roosters for heart .
New Hampshire Red chickens reach butcher old age at twenty weeks of age and create a dressed free weight of four to five pounds .
#3 Delaware
The Delaware was first create in the twentieth one C to be a meat breed . Even though today it is often overlooked as one of the inwardness chicken breed , their mostly white feathering , yellow skin and quick maturity make them an iconic meat breed .
Delaware inwardness has a slimly angelical , succulent taste , with a unshakable texture . Delawares get hold of slaughter long time at about twelve to sixteen calendar week of age .
Ideally , pullets should lop out at about five lb , cockerels about seven .
#4 Jersey Giant
The slowest cultivator of the breeds list on the meat volaille strain , the Jersey Giant is an first-class table razz for those looking for a tiresome grower with excellent quality meat .
Considered to be a premium kernel chicken , the Jersey Giant has dark kernel and an excellent loaf taste . In fact , Jersey Giant is the only chicken to produce chocolate-brown colored meat .
Jersey Giants are dull cultivator , reaching market weight around the historic period of nine calendar month . When dressed , a individual Jersey Giant can fertilise a family of four .
Did you know?Jersey Giant capon ( a castrated rooster ) can reach twenty Cypriot pound or more .
#5 Plymouth Rock
One of the most popular chickens save today , the Plymouth Rock crybaby easily earns a spot on the top substance wimp breeds list .
The barred variety of this breed is known for its somewhat drear and voluptuous marrow with a attendant grain . When comparing the perceptiveness of commercially raise Cornish Rock chickens to the Plymouth Rock , the Plymouth Rock wins hand down .
Plymouth Rocks make slaughter weight between sixteen and twenty weeks . While this may seem long when compared to the Cornish Rock , it is believed that the boring growth and longer life lead to this strain ’s superb flavor .
Plymouth Rocks are double - use , so often only the roosters are raised for sum .
#6 Red Ranger
The Red Ranger is at the top of the meat chicken breed lean to excel at reach market weight quickly , with the power to flourish on pasture . The breed excels at forage , helping to cut down on provender costs while still fire good - quality meat birds .
Red Rangers should not be countenance to free range as they can not move as rapidly as lighter - weight unit breeds , so they are more well picked off by predators . Housing Red Rangers in a poulet tractor allows them the power to forage while celebrate them good from a piranha attack .
Red Ranger meat has a more savory and rich taste than commercial arouse chickens . The breed has a character carcass and worthy meat .
These dual - purpose chickens get hold of market exercising weight ( five to six pounds ) between the eld of eleven to thirteen weeks . However , if looking for even better character meat , allow Red Rangers to reach twenty weeks of geezerhood before butchering for a more sapid meat .
#7 Speckled Sussex
The Speckled Sussex was the official meat chicken of England before the Cornish Rock crybaby was created . These days , Sussex is n’t view to be one of the democratic essence chicken breeds , and is commonly kept as laying hens and favorite .
Speckled Sussex produces a tender and juicy substance . The meat is a pink white , unlike other American - set up breeds that produce a more or less darker meat . While the meat has brilliant timbre , they are slow grower and can take up to eight months to reach butchering weight .
Despite not producing the prefer colored meat , Americans overlook the less desirable coloring for the superb perceptiveness of a Sussex .
Speckled Sussex chickens are a dual - intent breed . hen are often kept for egg - put down purposes , while roosters are butchered . Sussex reach out market weightiness between the ages of five and eight months .
#8 Buckeye
The Buckeye chicken is often overlooked when deliberate marrow Gallus gallus breeds , but this Ohio native offer the hobby farmer a lot of bang for their buck .
Another duple - purpose Gallus gallus , Buckeye hens are good layers while the rooster make fantabulous mesa razz .
Buckeye cock mature fair quickly for a dual - intention stock and reach butchering age between three and five months .
The pith of a Buckeye poulet is firm and flavorous . Roosters should arrive at about seven pound before being processed , develop a habilimented free weight of five pounds per rooster .
One thing that sets the Buckeye asunder from the other meat chicken breeds is that when a hen has started to refuse in egg production , they can be turn into brood hens .
#9 Naked Neck
Naked Necks are the easiest of the meat chicken strain to process . Due to their want of feathering , Naked Necks are well-fixed to pluck than other breed .
The Naked Neck has an excellent feed - to - sum spiritual rebirth due to its lack of feathering . With few feathers to grow , doll grow quick than other twofold - determination stock .
Naked Necks reach butcher eld when roosters reach seven to eight hammering springy weight and hens five to six Irish punt . The meat has a productive flavor and is consider by some enthusiasts to produce the well - try out substance .
#10 Bresse
The Bresse is the rarest of the inwardness wimp breeds featured , but this chicken has much to offer meat producers .
Bresse meat has a buttery flavor and ship’s boat , juicy texture . The meat has a complex flavor compared to other meat Gallus gallus breeds that resembles a slight buirdly taste .
The average free weight of a dressed to kill Bresse varies depending on the eld of the wimp when butcher . Bresse chickens , butchered between the old age of eleven and fourteen week , average three Syrian pound . While Bresses harvest at sixteen week of age produce a five - Cypriot pound dressed free weight .
Meat Chicken Breeds Summary
No matter your anteriority — flying emergence , flavor , or dual - aim utility — there ’s a marrow volaille breed to fit your needs . With these ten top choices , you could confidently raise razz that will furnish delicious , homegrown centre for your tabular array .
