how do I breed chooks if I cant keep a rooster??

greenaus · **Posted:** Tue Jul 29, 2008 9:11 pm

I wouldn't be concerned about "breed" for a meat chicken. Even if I worked for a produce store, unless I asked the supplier lots of questions (that he/she could answer), I probably wouldn't know what breeds went into them either.

I reckon the answer would be similar if you asked what breed the commercial laying hens are at a produce store.

Ummm... :?:

$3.50 compares well to the $4.00 down Jimboomba way.

As long as they have been specifically bred as meat chickens I reckon it's a great deal. Go for it.

spanner · **Joined:** Wed Jun 04, 2008 12:42 pm **Posts:** 91

fair point .... Ill cop that one on the chin. [smilie=new_tomato.gif]

But I still dont like the idea that they dont really know what it is they are selling that is all.

rocky · **Joined:** Mon Apr 28, 2008 3:36 pm **Posts:** 144

Produce store would not know the breeding of these birds & I'm afraid you will never find out what they are. Reason is the Poultry Giants have spent $1000s of dollars and probably 100000s of hours developing them. The are all Trademarked and shrouded in secrecy. Most are ,at least, a 4 way cross of very inbred lines,which are designed to make two separate parent lines in order to produce a terminal bird.

spanner · **Joined:** Wed Jun 04, 2008 12:42 pm **Posts:** 91

when you say a terminal bird do you mean that they are sterile and you can not breed from them to continue your own self sustaining meat bird flock??

What if you were to cross breed them again with something like an austrolorpe or orpington??

Drew Smith · **Posted:** Sun Aug 03, 2008 10:41 am

spanner wrote:

when you say a terminal bird do you mean that they are sterile and you can not breed from them to continue your own self sustaining meat bird flock?

Hi yeald, short lived so lots of meat.
Drew Smith

rocky · **Joined:** Mon Apr 28, 2008 3:36 pm **Posts:** 144

The definition of a terminal bird is one bred for a single purpose. The inbred lines are used to make a line of birds to produce the final male (and female) parent of the terminal meat bird. All of these three birds are fertile but not designed to be bred to birds of the same breeding,the terminal meat bird is not designed to be bred at all. However meat birds have been used to improve size.weight etc of breeds like White Wyandottes,White Rocks etc.
It is a more difficult job to raise meat chicks to sexual maturity. Usually only the male is used,its egg laying traits having come from the terminal hen line parent. The meat pullets are rarely productive.

Cordelia · **Posted:** Sun Aug 03, 2008 11:53 am

Fascinating topic, enjoying all the information.

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