21 Best Meat Chicken Breeds For Your Backyard

As time progresses, we all learn more and more about nutrition and health, which is why we progressively lean more toward healthier foods. This is undoubtedly true in the meat industry, where misinformation has been spread to the point where most people nowadays don't know which meat to eat when dieting and which to avoid. Chicken meat has grown increasingly in popularity in these last couple of years, mainly thanks to its low-calorie and high-protein factor. However, it's essential to understand that not all chicken meat is the same. Let's start with what you need to look out for when buying a chicken breed for its meat in the first place.

How to choose a chicken breed for meat?

First is the size of the chicken. If you want your money's worth, you can't choose the smallest one just because it's cute.

Second, you need to consider flavor. Different breeds of chicken have different flavors when it comes to their meat. While the most significant factor determining taste is the chicken's diet, some chicken breeds' meat is sweeter than others.

Third, even though you were trying to get the best meat chicken breed, you can still go for a dual-purpose breed to enjoy their eggs. Fourth, you need to remember that the chicken's temperament is always something to look out for. You don't want to take care of riled-up chickens, especially since the more stressed out they are, the heart of their meat will be, which makes a huge difference, to say the least. 5th is the speed of growth. A chicken breed that grows quickly will hasten your return. You will be able to enjoy your healthy chicken meat much sooner with a fast-developing breed. Last, you must decide whether you're looking for a commercial or a heritage chicken breed. Given these factors, here is our list of the top 20 meat chicken breeds.

21. Sussex

This British breed is good for eating at just about any age. Known to be a dual-purpose chicken, it is increasingly more common to find them used as meat chickens.

20. New Hampshire Red

This is a classic American breed. Although well known for its egg production, it deserves to be mentioned here. They only take around 8 to 10 weeks to fully mature, and they can grow as large as 8.5 pounds during this period. The males can be aggressive, which is pretty hard to deal with. Still, if you can get over that, you will get your money's worth from this chicken breed.

19. Wyandot

is one of the most beautiful chicken breeds out there, and they're also very sought after, thanks to their exquisite meat. Each and every Wyandot chicken out there looks unique in its own way. While typically more expensive, these are one of the most sought-after breeds because of their size, temperament, and beauty.

18. Barred Rock

Known for its gorgeous look, many don't realize that this can be one of the top choices for chicken meat. The meat is delicious. And let's not forget that males grow much faster than females. This makes them perfect if you want to get to the butchering part as soon as possible.

17. Dorking

If you're looking for a chicken breed with a particular flavor to its meat, look no further than the Dorking right here. While this breed makes for an excellent choice for its meat. It will also produce around 140 large white eggs yearly with ease.

16. Croad Langshan

Try adding a new breed to your chicken coop. The Croad Langshan is gorgeous, with beautiful black feathers and green lining. They are also relatively large, at around 9 pounds or so when they are 14 to 18 weeks old.

15. Rhode Island Red

This chicken breed is known for laying extra large brown eggs at a rate of approximately 5 per week. But since males grow reasonably large, reaching around 7 to 8 pounds, they are also considered excellent for meat production. Although they can be enthusiastic, they're pretty docile as long as they're not provoked.

14. Delaware

Because its meat is delicious and easy to sell and can produce as many as 280 eggs annually, Delaware is one of the most acclaimed breeds. Delaware is considered a dual-purpose chicken and is well known for its meat and eggs.

13. Brown Leghorn

Although slightly smaller, the Brown Leghorn can still hold its ground against most other breeds by laying as many as 280 eggs yearly. In addition, they are heat tolerant, making them suitable for hotter climates. They are, however, known to have complex personalities and only reach around 6 pounds in size.

12. Plymouth Rock

Growing to 7 or 8 pounds in around 8 to 12 weeks, this docile breed is one of the first American chicken breeds. It has always been considered one of the world's best meat and egg chicken breeds.

11. Chanticleer

This cold hardy breed is docile and easy to care for. They make great egg layers as well. In about 11 to 16 weeks, they are ready for butchering. Around this time, they will have reached their maximum potential of approximately 7 to 9 pounds.

10. Australorp

Even though this is a relatively new breed, the Australorp chicken has already become one of the top choices in Australia. It has gone as far as to replace most other chicken breeds in Australia within a couple of years. They are easy to take care of and relatively large, with a total production of 250 eggs per year.

9. Buckeye

One of the hardiest breeds, adapting to all weather conditions and resilient to all diseases, producers love the Buckeye. Remember that they can be slightly violent towards small animals and children. They grow as large as 9 pounds in around 16 to 21 weeks, which is superb.

8. Turken (Naked Neck)

Despite their funky name, this breed is not a mix between a chicken and a Turkey. Quite the opposite, actually. The only reason they are named as such in the first place is that they look similar to turkeys. Their meat is delicious and flavorful, although they are a bit on the smaller side, reaching around 6 pounds or so as soon as they turn 11 to 18 weeks old.

7. Egyptian Bayoumi

A hot climate lover and one of the best foragers around. This is not a docile breed, but they are also resistant to most diseases.

6. Orpington

Suppose you're on the market trying to get your hands on a reasonably large chicken breed. In that case, we have to recommend this one because of how practical it is. Although the hen is much smaller than the rooster, with a female ranging around 7 to 8 pounds in the mail hovering around 9 to 10, they are still especially popular for their meat's tenderness and sweetness. However, they take around 18 to 24 weeks to mature, which is nowhere near as quick as most other breeds we have for you here.

5. White Leghorn

While they are mostly known as an egg-laying chicken breed, the White Leghorn will also produce about six pounds of meat from them after around 16 to 21 weeks.

4. Freedom Rangers

This chicken is one of the most economical because they have a lower protein requirement to reach full size than most others. They are docile and outstanding foragers. This is an ideal meat chicken for those free-ranging their flock. Freedom Rangers take around 9 -11 weeks to reach about 5 - 6 pounds, and the meat is delicious.

3. Bresse

This breed is known for the sweetness of its meat. Often it is served as a delicacy at restaurants. But be aware they take longer to mature and have less meat than most other meat breeds.

2. Jersey giant

This is one of the best and largest chicken breeds for meat. Initially, they were bred to replace Turkeys on the dinner table. Jersey Giant chickens grow as large as 13 pounds in total. This breed also matures fairly quickly, ready for butchering around 16 to 21 weeks into their lives.

1. Cornish cross

The typical Cornish Cross chicken can grow as large as 12 pounds in four to six weeks, and the meat they produce is of the highest quality. They are also an amiable and docile breed.