- Meat Chickens
The meat breeds i have here are the Cobb 500 and the Ross 308. I will be doing a cross between the two.
- Specially reared meat bird
- Ideal for free range rearing
- Around 8 - 10 weeks from day old to average processed weight of easily 2.2 (size 22) – 2.4kg (free ranged)
If you are wanting to breed from these they have very specific requirements to ensure they even make it to reproductive age. they have a specific feeding schedule to ensure they dont become overweight and die from heart attacks. But if fed according to the breeders manual and they stay within the target weights then you can breed them as they are or out cross them to a high egg laying breed of sturdy stature to create your own ultimate eggs laying table bird. The photo of the rooster at the bottom of the page is of him at 14 weeks. These breeds seem to grow before your eyes.
If kept to the breeding schedule pullets should weigh within 10% of 2.9kg at 24 weeks. Roosters should weight within 10% of 3.9kg at 22 weeks. If raising for their meat and if they are on a free range system they would weigh between 4kg and 5.5kg at 24 weeks.