Chickens: Best Meat-producing and Utility Breeds

After a request, I have put together a list of all the best chicken breeds for meat production. As a bonus, many are also great egg-layers (see my post Chickens: Top 5 Best Egg-Laying Pure Breeds). Utility breeds are breeds that produce both good numbers of eggs and good meat. Broilers are breeds bred specifically for meat-production, also known as Table Birds.

Pure Breeds

Utility Light Sussex is best known for its dual-purpose meat and egg production.
Credit: Captain Vindaloo. Permission: Public Domain

Utility Light Sussex

The Light Sussex is a British breed, ideal for both the table and for eggs. There are many colours available, but the utility light sussex is the best known for its meat and eggs.

Weight: Large male: 9 lb (4.1 kg), large female: 7 lb (3.2 kg)

Personality: Docile, friendly and very easy to tame, these are a really amazing breed when it comes to personality.

Care: These birds are great for the beginner chicken keeper as they are easy to keep and require no special care. They are a hardy breed great for cooler climates.

Dorking

The Dorking is a very old breed, thought to have either been introduced to Britain by the Romans or to be from pre-Roman times. The Dorking is a fair layer and has very tasty meat. However, it is harder to source a stock than some of the more common breeds.

Weight:  Large male: 10 - 14 lb (4.6 - 6.4 kg) Large female: 8 - 10 lb (3.6 - 4.6 kg)

Personality: The Dorking is a docile breed that is easy to handle and tame.

Care: Despite all its qualities, the Dorking needs plenty of space to scratch, explore and run around, and is not too happy in confinement.

Cuckoo Maran free-ranging with a Rhode Island Red.
Credit: Captain Vindaloo. Permission:  Public Domain

Marans

Marans are known for their fleshy meat and beautiful brown eggs. They have a traditional yet interesting look, especially the Cuckoo variety.

Weight: Male: 8 lb (3.6 kg), female: 7 lb ( 3.2 kg)

Personality: Marans are very active birds, and need plenty to do. They do not appreciate being handled and can be a little temperamental as a breed, but it depends on the individual and strain.

Care: The Maran will not tolerate confinement and needs free-range or close to free-range conditions, otherwise it is a hardy breed with no specific problems.

The Barred Plymouth Rock is a striking breed, 
happy to free-range.
Credit: smerikal. Permission: CC-BY-SA-2.0

Plymouth Rock

The Plymouth Rock is a very popular breed in both the UK and America. It was introduced to Britain from America. It is not an efficient eater but matures early.

Weight: Male: 7 1/2 lb (3.4 kg), female: 6 1/2 lb (2.95 kg)

Personality: the Plymouth Rock is a friendly, calm breed that is happy to be handled.

Care: The Plymouth Rock will tolerate relative confinement but is equally happy to free-range. It is an ideal breed for the beginner.

Rhode Island Red

The Rhode Island Red is arguably one of the most well-known and best-loved breeds in America and the UK. They were first developed for their size and egg-laying abilities and remain to this day a very productive chicken.

Rhode Island Reds are great backyard birds.
Credit: U&I (Useful & Interesting Blog) Permission: Author's permission

Weight: Male: 8 1/2 lb (3.9 kg), female: 6 1/2 lb (2.95 kg)

Personality: RIRs (as they are sometimes known) are a great dual-purpose breed and also make great pets as they have a calm and docile nature. They are also inquisitive but will be happy in free-range or confined conditions (although do not overcrowd)

Care: They do well in most situations and are ideal beginner birds. They mature relatively early and are a perfect breed for the backyard or garden or for their meat and eggs. 

Australorp

The Ausralorp is a well-fleshed, white-skinned, excellent table bird, but is also a wonderful layer of about 200 light-brown eggs a year, as well as being a good exhibition bird.

Austalorp mature relatively quickly and are great table birds.
Credit: Jason buildakicker Permission: CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 

Weight: Male: 8 1/2 - 10 lb (3.8 - 4.6 kg), female: 6 1/2 - 8 lb (2.95 - 3.6 kg)

Personality: The Australorp is a handsome, quiet breed well-known for its calm temperament. It is also a good exhibition breed.

Care: The Ausralorp requires no specific care, tolerating confinement well and maturing early, as well as being an economical eater. 

Hybrids

There are many great hybrid breeds that are good table birds. These include Hubbard-ISA, Sasso, Cobb 500, Ross broilers, Cotswold Whites as well as many others. Unlike pure breeds, hybrids have many different names and are frequently allocated numbers instead of names. Hybrids are economical eaters and produce good meat and large quantities of eggs.