Rhode Island Red Cornish Cross?

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Eggs&Toast

Eggs&Toast

Hatching
8 Years
Aug 9, 2011
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Hi everyone,

I've gotten myself into an odd situation by ordering "old-fashioned" Rhode Island Reds through the local farmers' co-op. My intention was to raise heritage (as opposed to production) RIR laying hens, but the chickens turned out buff and are currently very heavy at 18 weeks. I called the hatchery (Clearview Farm & Hatchery) and it turns out that what they meant by old fashioned was RIR crossed with cornish chickens to create a very heavy chicken capable of laying eggs.

My question is this... Given the notorious health problems of cornish-rock chickens reaching adulthood, should I go ahead and slaughter these chickens for meat, or see if they end up as healthy adults? I should also mention that one died last week for no clear reason, and the others are seeming increasingly languid as they continue to widen out.

Thanks for any advice you can offer.
 
Eggs&Toast :

Hi everyone,

I've gotten myself into an odd situation by ordering "old-fashioned" Rhode Island Reds through the local farmers' co-op. My intention was to raise heritage (as opposed to production) RIR laying hens, but the chickens turned out buff and are currently very heavy at 18 weeks. I called the hatchery (Clearview Farm & Hatchery) and it turns out that what they meant by old fashioned was RIR crossed with cornish chickens to create a very heavy chicken capable of laying eggs.

My question is this... Given the notorious health problems of cornish-rock chickens reaching adulthood, should I go ahead and slaughter these chickens for meat, or see if they end up as healthy adults? I should also mention that one died last week for no clear reason, and the others are seeming increasingly languid as they continue to widen out.

Thanks for any advice you can offer.

Cornish Rocks are not really Cornish crossed with Rocks, they are years of work creating a super hybrid. If they used real cornish to cross with the RIR and you only have had 1 die then I think you should be fine raising these for meat and eggs, if you have pics that would be awesome
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Here is some information that may help you. (The cross has been used for years in the U.K. before the time of Cornish Crosses)
• Indian Game (Cornish) X Rhode Island Red
This produces a yellow skinned bird which can be greatly enhanced in color by feeding corn and allowing access to fresh green grass. The Rhode Island Red is a fast growing breed which dominates the slower growing Indian Game. Since Rhode Island Reds are prolific layers, there is never any shortage of hatching eggs.

Chris
 
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The pictured birds are not Cornish crossed with RI Reds. Cornish are pea combed and hard feathered, plus, super heavily muscled. All of which is dominant in an F1 cross. If they were as you were told, they would look like Cornish with bigger wattles, somewhat looser feathering, and a larger pea comb. I don't know what they are, but they look like good meaty birds regardless.
 
I will definitely continue to limit their food. Will that also help limit any developmental problems caused by very fast growth?

It's funny, the coloring on these hens varies substantially. The chickens with markings closer to RIR's are the biggest and slowest ones but those closer to a buff color are a little smaller and far more active and intelligent; the opposite of what I would have expected.
 
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I agree. I don't think there is a reason to limit feed unless they're fat.
Do you know what they weigh? Very fast growth would be over 10 pounds at this age (Cornish X). Some breeds grow at a decent rate (Rocks for example), I have a chick that is over 5 pounds and is only 14 weeks old, and comes from a top-line (too back he's a cull, crooked toes).
 
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Doh I cant believe I missed that, they would also have white legs. Unless these are made like Cornish Rocks to have the SC.

No, they would be Yellow. Both Cornish and R.I. Reds have yellow legs.
They wouldn't have to be a F1 they could be a BC1 or even a BC2 and still be a "Cornish /Rhode Island Red" cross.

Chris
 
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