When it comes to the best meat chickens to raise on your homestead, you’ve got choices. Let’s explore the pros and cons of the best meat chicken breeds.
What are the best meat chickens?
While technically any chicken can be raised for meat, the best meat chickens are going to be your dual-purpose chickens and broiler chickens. Compared to a standard egg laying chicken they will have much more meat.
Broiler Breeds Vs Dual-Purpose Breed
There are basically two different types of meat chickens. The dual-purpose breed and broiler breeds are both great for meat production but vary in different ways. Lets take a closer look to help decide what the best meat chickens are for your homestead.
What to Consider When Selecting the Best Meat Chickens
- Size- Are you after large size meat birds? Or are smaller meat birds the best option for you?
- Taste- Broiler chickens will have a similar taste to grocery store meat birds, where as heritage breeds have a richer, earthier flavor.
- Egg Production- Are you looking for a dual-purpose breed for egg and meat production? Or do you want strictly meat birds with a fast growth rate?
- Temperament- Dual-purpose birds tend to be excellent foragers and more docile compared to broiler chickens, who can be ravenous when it comes to feeding time.
- Growth Rate- Does a fast growth rate matter to you? Do you want to harvest all the meat birds at once? Or are you ok with meat birds that grow at a slower rate or birds you can harvest as needed?
- Gender- When ordering day-old chicks, you’ll often get to choose male or female. Males will grow out to be larger. Females will be smaller. This choice depends on which breed you go with. For example, with meat birds that have a fast growth rate, I prefer to get all males, as they are butchered at 8 weeks. If I were choosing a dual-purpose breed I would not want all males, as I wouldn’t want that many mature roosters running around.
Broiler Chickens or The Grocery Store Meat Birds
You know those whole chickens you buy in the grocery store? Those are broiler chickens. They are a hybrid breed of chicken that was created to grow out fast into a nice meaty bird with lots of breast meat.
They are not the most sustainable choice when it comes to the best meat chickens, as breeding hybrids won’t give you the hybrid. Broiler chickens are raised for quick meat production and not usually kept for eggs. They are usually butchered all together, at the same time.
Dual-Purpose Breed or Heritage Breeds
If egg and meat production is what you are after, you may want to consider a dual-purpose breed or heritage breeds. These meat birds take longer to grow out and aren’t quite as meaty as a broiler chicken but do lay a decent amount of eggs.
Many homesteaders will butcher dual-purpose chickens as needed, vs all at once, since they are egg laying chickens also. They are typically ready to process around 16-24 weeks. Dual-purpose chickens are a sustainable choice for meat birds, as they will breed true.
Time to Reach Market Weight
Broiler chickens will reach market weight considerably faster than the dual-purpose breed. Some broilers are faster than others. When deciding what the best meat chickens are for your homestead, you’ll want to take time into consideration.
How Long Does It Take?
- Slow: Dual-Purpose Chickens (16-24 Weeks)
- Medium: Red Rangers Broilers (12-16 Weeks)
- Fast: Cornish Cross Broilers (6-8 Weeks)
What Should You Choose For the Best Meat Chickens?
Lets take a look at some of the best meat chicken breeds, starting with the broiler chickens.
Standard Meat Chickens, Broiler Chickens
Cornish Crosses
The Cornish Cross is a hybrid breed of chicken developed for meat production. It is a cross between the Cornish Indian Game chicken and a White Plymouth Rock chicken. These birds are bred to grow rapidly and efficiently, converting feed into muscle much faster than a traditional chicken.
Because of their rapid growth they can sometimes have heart and/or leg problems. They are ready to butcher in just 8 weeks and weigh in around 4-7 pounds.
Cornish Chicken Roaster
The Cornish roaster is also a hybrid meat bird that finishes out similar to the Cornish Cross chicken but take a little longer to grow out. The Cornish roaster does not have the leg and heart issues that the Cornish Crosses can sometimes have. They grow out in about 12 weeks and weigh between 4-7 pounds.
Big Red Broilers, Freedom Rangers
Freedom Rangers or red broilers are also a hybrid meat chicken. They are very hardy meat birds and are excellent foragers. Red broilers tend to have a little less breast meat than the Cornish Crosses. Their meat has a nice rich flavor. They grow out in 12-14 weeks and weigh in between 5-8 pounds.
Ginger Broiler
Ginger broilers are another excellent choice for hybrid meat chickens. They have a similar build to the Cornish Crosses but take longer to grow out, avoiding the health problems that can happen with rapid growth rates. They weigh in between 4-7 ponds and are ready to butcher around 12-14 weeks.
Kosher Kings
The cousin to the Freedom Ranger. A hardy broiler chicken known for it’s flavorful meat and moderate grow out time at around 11 weeks.
Popular Dual Purpose Breeds
The Naked Neck Turken
A Heritage breed chicken that is a relatively good egg layer and also a good choice for meat birds.
Brahma
Well known for its egg laying capabilities and meat production. Brahmas were the original meat chicken before the Cornish Cross was bred.
Delaware
A popular breed known for meat and egg production. These hens also go broody frequently, so you’ll have your own meat chickens hatching.
Bresse Chicken
These meat chickens are known for their delicious taste. They also produce an impressive number of eggs.
Buff Orpington
These are a very popular breed for both egg and meat production. They are extremely docile birds. Great for the backyard flock.
Wyandotte
Often known for its laced feathers, a beautiful chicken mostly kept for lot of large eggs but is also a great meat producer.
Black Australorp
A very popular breed, so they are easy to find. One of the best egg laying chickens that grow to to be a decent sized chicken.
Speckled Sussex
One of the original meat chicken breeds until the Cornish Cross hit the market. Will lay about 4 eggs a week.
Dominique
This dual-purpose breed is a hardy, self sufficient chicken. They lay about 3-4 eggs a week and will also be a decent sized table bird.
Jersey Giant Chickens
These dual-purpose chickens can grow out up to 12 pounds. They will also lay 3-4 eggs a week.
Plymouth Rocks
A beautiful dual-purpose breed that will grow out to 4-6 pounds and lay 200 large brown eggs a year.
New Hampshire Red
A good option for their egg laying capabilities and meat production. Slightly larger that its cousin the Rhode Island Red.
Buckeye
This is one of the best meat chicken breeds for cold climates. Not a super friendly chicken but good for meat and egg production.
Chantecler
Just like the Buckeye, this dual-purpose breed is great in cold climates. An active forager that is good for meat and egg production.
Dorking
A more rare breed that lays about 150 white eggs a year. They also grow out to a decent size, making them a good choice for meat birds.
Dark Cornish
A very hardy breed that is a little smaller and compact but still with lots of breast meat. Also a good layer of brown eggs.
Cornish
The Cornish chicken is a good dual-purpose breed but only lays a small amount of eggs a year. This is one of the breeds used to make the Cornish Cross.
White Rock
The other half used to make the Cornish Cross birds. Compact but grow big and lay 4-6 eggs a week.
Rhode Island Red
While these dual purpose birds tend to grow out a little smaller than the others, they are active foragers and produce a ton of eggs.
Cochin
Known to be extremely docile and friendly. A Good dual-purpose breed that lays very large tinted eggs. Also known to go broody, which means you can have a steady supply of your own meat birds.
Where to Buy the Best Meat Chickens
Know that we’ve sorted through the best meat chickens and you know what’s right for you and your homestead, it’s time to go shopping. So, where do you buy the best meat chickens?
Hatchery
Hatcheries are my go to for ordering meat chickens. They typically have the best selection and prices. To help narrow down the choices start by looking for hatcheries in your region. They will be able to provide the quickest shipping, which means your baby chicks will make it to the warm, safe brooder faster.
Local Feed Store
Seasonally, you can find baby chicks at your local feed store but they aren’t always meat birds. They usually will carry the popular dual-purpose varieties but may not have as good of a selection as a hatchery. Their prices are typically higher than the hatchery.
Local Breeder
While you probably won’t find a local breeder for broiler chickens, as they are a hybrid variety, you may have a local dual-purpose chicken breeder. Search around in your local farm and garden groups.
Raising Meat Birds
Raising the best meat chickens is easier than you think. Just like most living creatures, they need food (lots of it), shelter, a heat source and water.
Housing and Shelter
A popular method is raising them in a chicken tractor that gets moved on a daily basis. It gives them fresh grass and bugs everyday and keeps you from having to clean a chicken coop. Chicken tractors are easy to build or you can check out this affordable metal chicken coop. Be sure to know how much space do chickens need.
How to Feed Your Meat Chickens
For broiler breeds, I like to start my meat birds out on game bird feed. It has a 28% protein content. Their feeders are kept full 24/7 for the first week. On week two I switch them to a chick starter feed that has 21% protein. From week two until the day before butcher day, their feeders are kept full with chick starter from sun up to sun down. This is my protocol for broiler breeds.
If I were raising dual-purpose chicken breeds, I would feed them chick starter, then a regular layer feed, along with chicken grit. I only recommend this because I would be raising them along side my egg laying chickens so they would be fed the same.
Water Source
Meat chickens, especially the broiler chicken breeds drink a lot of water. Be sure to keep their water clean and topped off.
Meat Chickens, From Hatchery to Butcher Day
If you are raising your own meat chickens, you’ll need a plan on butchering those meat birds. Meat Chickens, From Hatchery to Butcher Day is a great resource to have in your homestead library. It has everything you need to know about raising and butchering your own meat birds at home.
You may also enjoy reading, How to Process Chickens: Home Butchering Guide for Beginners
What Do We Do on Our Homestead?
On our homestead we prefer the quick grow out of broiler chickens and raise egg layers separately. We often raise the Cornish Crosses but love the Freedom Rangers as well. We raise them in a moveable chicken coop and then free range the last two weeks.
What are the Best Meat Chickens for Your Homestead?
When deciding what the best meat chickens are you may just have to try a few. Do a little experimenting with the dual-purpose breed and the broiler chickens to really figure out what are the best meat chickens for you and your homestead.You can check out my chicken playlist here.
Happy Homesteading & Chicken Keeping,
Jenny @ The GrahamStead Family Farm
Jenny and her family have been homesteading for over 20 years. They are currently farming on their 10 acre Florida farm, that they built from the ground up, 8 years ago, growing 100% of their meat and a lot of their vegetables. From their small herd of Aberdeen Angus Cattle, Pastured Poultry, Sheep, and seasonal pigs, they are able to raise enough meat for the family while selling extra to the community. All the while, striving to butcher at home, as much as possible, and use the bits and pieces of their harvest by preserving food, making bone broth, and (Jenny’s favorite) tanning all kinds of hides!
Chickens Homesteading
 WEB-DL [Hindi (ORG 5.1) & English] 1080p 720p & 480p [x264/10Bit-HEVC] | [ALL Episodes] | Amazon Series)