Mia Patel
Chicken breeds are distinguished by physical traits such as size, plumage color, comb type, skin color, number of toes, amount of feathering, egg color, and place of origin. They are also roughly divided by primary use, whether for eggs, meat, or ornamental purposes, and some are considered dual-purpose. While there are hundreds of chicken breeds, some of the common varieties of chicken for meat include the Cornish (or Indian Game), Barred Rocks, Orpingtons, Brahmas, Sussex, and White Wyandottes.
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What You'll Learn
Orpington chickens
Orpingtons are a British breed of chicken, developed in the late nineteenth century by William Cook of Orpington, Kent. They were originally intended to be dual-purpose chickens, kept for both eggs and meat, but they soon became exclusively show birds. Orpingtons are large, fluffy chickens with soft, full feathers that mask their true size. This dense feathering makes them excellent layers and helps them to endure cold temperatures, but it also means they are prone to heat stress in warm weather.
Orpingtons are a hardy breed, not genetically predisposed to many poultry ailments or diseases. They are known for their docile, friendly, and even cuddly personalities, which has earned them the nickname 'golden retrievers' of the chicken world. They are active and do well free-range or confined. However, their gentle nature can lead to bullying by more aggressive breeds.
Orpingtons were originally bred from Minorcas, Langshans, and Plymouth Rocks. They were created to be a new hybrid bird, with black plumage that would not show the soot and grime of London. Today, there are several recognised colour varieties, including black, blue, buff, cuckoo, jubilee, spangled, and white.
While Orpingtons are still considered dual-purpose birds, today they are mostly kept for egg production. Those raised for meat can be butchered at around 22 weeks for a good source of quality, white-skinned meat.
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Barred Rocks
As egg-layers, Barred Rocks are consistent and productive, known for laying large brown eggs even in winter. They are also good mothers, making them ideal for breeding. In terms of meat production, Barred Rocks are larger than average-sized chickens, which means they are good for yielding meat. They are said to have more dark meat than other breeds, although they tend to produce less breast meat than breeds specifically bred for that purpose, such as Cornish Cross.
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Brahmas
Brahma chickens are known for their friendly and gentle personalities, making them a popular choice for backyard flocks. They are tolerant, patient, and well-suited for multi-breed flocks as they tend to avoid conflicts. They are also good layers of medium to large brown eggs, producing around 3-4 eggs per week, and are known to be dedicated mothers when they go broody.
The breed is characterised by its large size, with cocks weighing around 5.5-8 kg and hens weighing 4.5-6 kg. They have feathered feet, a large and cuddly body, and a bouncy tail. Light Brahmas have a striking contrast of black and white feathers, while Dark Brahmas and Buff Brahmas also exist.
Brahma chickens are hardy in cold weather due to their dense feathering but may struggle in hot climates due to their large size. They have an average lifespan of 5-8 years. Overall, Brahmas are a popular choice for meat production and backyard flocks due to their size, temperament, and egg-laying abilities.
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White Wyandottes
Chicken breeds are distinguishable by physical traits such as size, plumage colour, comb type, skin colour, number of toes, amount of feathering, egg colour, and place of origin. They are also roughly divided by primary use, whether for eggs, meat, or ornamental purposes, and some are considered dual-purpose.
The Wyandotte is a heritage breed and an American dual-purpose breed, raised for both its brown eggs and its yellow-skinned meat. It was developed in the 1870s and named after the indigenous Wyandot people of North America. The name was suggested by Mr Fred Houdlette, from Waltham, Massachusetts, and it was also the name of a ship owned by Fred's father. The first type was the silver-laced, which was included in the American Standard of Perfection of the American Poultry Association in 1883 and taken to Britain at the same time.
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Indian Game
The breed is recognised by various names internationally. In the United States, the name was changed from Indian Game to Cornish in the early twentieth century, with a white variant, the White Cornish, being developed at the same time. This white variety is now much used in modern industrial chicken meat production worldwide, either for cross-breeding to produce hybrid broilers or to produce fast-growing "game hens". The Indian Game is also recognised as Cornish Indian Game and White Indian Game by the American Poultry Association, and as Indian Game in Australia and by the Poultry Club of Great Britain in the United Kingdom.
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Frequently asked questions
Some common chicken varieties that are used for meat are:
- Cornish (a.k.a. Indian Game)
- Barred Rocks
- Orpingtons
- Brahmas
- Transylvanian Naked Neck
Dual-purpose chicken breeds are those that can be used for both meat and eggs. Some common dual-purpose breeds are:
- Sussex
- Wyandottes
- Naked Neck
- Orpingtons
- Rhode Island Reds
Hybrid chickens are the result of crossing two or more breeds. Some common hybrid varieties for meat are:
- White Rock
- Black Sex Link (also known as Black Stars or Black Rock in the UK)
