Dark Cornish Meat Birds

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mountainpridefarm

mountainpridefarm

In the Brooder
10 Years
Jan 3, 2010
55
1
41
I am in search of an alternative to the CornishX meat birds. The rapid growth strikes me as inhumane and unnatural and I have personal issues with it. I like my birds hopping around and harvesting at least 30-40% of their own food on my pasture. I have noticed many people doing the crosses on pasture but I am simply not interested.

The Dark Cornish are really appealing to me. I have heard a world of good about them but not much detailed information about them. Has anyone raised them and if you have can you answer these questions of mine...?

-About how many weeks did it take for the birds to reach about 4-6LBS (with pasture? without pasture?)?

-About how much feed did it take to get to that point?

-Were the carcasses appealing? Would they get approval by wary city slickers?

-If you retained any hens about how big were their eggs?

-Have your tried McMurrays? What hatchery did they come from?

It would be really helpful if I could get these questions answered!
 
Ive never raised them but I have heard they have nice compact bodies and also have a good taste to them.Im thinkng somthing like 4-5 months or so for 5-6 pounds.Not to sure how much they would eat in that time but they are supposed to be great foragers.
 
This is what I want to know about too! Unfortunately, when people ask for an alternative, they just get a list of reasons why the Cornish Cross is best...hahaha it seems like a conspiracy to keep us all buying the things instead of raising our own birds...

I'd like to learn about Dark Cornish as well, thinking about raising some of them or maybe crossing them with something for meat birds that I can raise free range, and not have to keep buying the quick growing meat birds as I just don't want to set up another pen for growing those out...I want something I can turn loose all day and not have to worry about it being too slow moving to get away from predators.

From what I hear, Cornish hens don't lay well at all, right?
 
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If you're trying to gain the approval of"city slickers" you're probably going to have to do a little educating if it's anything other than a Cornish X.

I've heard Freedom Rangers are a decent alternative to the Cornish X - They are an active foraging hybrid that apparently take 10-11 weeks to finish to 4 pounds dressed.
 
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My Dark Cornish lays me an egg a day, even in the winter and she's almost 2 years old. However, she has all the roosters so intimidated that I don't think she's ever been bred!
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So, I'm not getting babies from her like I had planned on.
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Shelly
 
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Dark Cornish are a breed that should be protected. It just bugs me when people think of Cornish X's (white meat makers) are put down for what they do. You're good
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I think I have done a lot of research on this hybrid. The research has steered me AWAY from them. I respect what this selective breeding has brought to the table however it is not for me. I think I have done enough research to sustain my own views. I do not wish to spark a full fledged debate regarding CornishX, apparently that happens easily here. Could I please just get information on the Dark Cornish?
 
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