Healthy soil and sustainable growing

[Barbara Money <bmoney9@verizon.net>]

Still debating raising my own chickens. I get my eggs from a neighbor 
that free-ranges them, but they do get some commercial feed. But, I am 
finding it next to impossible to locate a good source of pasture-raised 
meat (any kind) that will sell small cuts/packages that I don't need a 
huge freezer for. So I'm thinking meat birds, that I can cull on an 
as-needed basis. What are good breeds for:
    1. greater percentage of dark meat (so many meat birds boast huge 
gobs of breast meat which I end up feeding the cats--hmm, not a bad idea 
save on cat food--but they have skinny little thighs),
    2. hardy for New England winters,
    3. disease resistant/easy care in general
    4. can pack on the pounds with free-range/minimal protein feed

And would it be efficient enough to slaughter one or 2 birds at a time, 
or would it be better to have a processor do a bunch of them? But then I 
am back to needing a big freezer...

...or, meat rabbits?

thanks,
Barbara M, Foster, RI

--
"Animals Are A Gift"