Meatbirds
Although we raise chickens for eggs for our familys use,meatbirds are our specialty.
We perfer the Cornish-X because of the rapid growth,large breasts and their quality meat.
A Cornish-X can be raised from hatch in as little as 6 weeks depending on the size that fits your needs.
![processday-1.jpg processday-1.jpg](https://www.backyardchickens.com/data/attachments/1354/1354600-5b517197b5231cec2b1ff5f68f7859e6.jpg)
Although we raise chickens for eggs for our familys use,meatbirds are our specialty.
We perfer the Cornish-X because of the rapid growth,large breasts and their quality meat.
A Cornish-X can be raised from hatch in as little as 6 weeks depending on the size that fits your needs.
![babychicks.jpg babychicks.jpg](https://www.backyardchickens.com/data/attachments/1354/1354601-345d56f85eb5228e060bc6c31a4e911d.jpg)
![Chicks023.jpg Chicks023.jpg](https://www.backyardchickens.com/data/attachments/1354/1354602-d6042a37a28ad69007f3598abc761782.jpg)
We buy day old chicks from hatcherys and raise them in our brooder.
They stay in that brooder until 4 weeks old or until they feather out.
We usually buy egg layers at the same time for the kids to enjoy long after the others
are in the freezer.
![Scan0001.jpg Scan0001.jpg](https://www.backyardchickens.com/data/attachments/1354/1354603-22c66fdce1eca4a2e65b6670866131d0.jpg)
![babychicks011.jpg babychicks011.jpg](https://www.backyardchickens.com/data/attachments/1354/1354604-264421c971e2cdaf42e38d3db21cf285.jpg)
We think one of the best ways to raise meatbirds is in a chicken tractor.
The tractor is moved alittle each day so that it is always on fresh ground.
This is one of the cleanest and most heathly way to raise a meatbird.
Once they are in there,they can stay til processing time.
![pens.jpg pens.jpg](https://www.backyardchickens.com/data/attachments/1354/1354605-b4c69786f254a0d3ab4191a1fd920294.jpg)
![processday.jpg processday.jpg](https://www.backyardchickens.com/data/attachments/1354/1354606-6de64b32ff49ba3c49bac267e53cd8ac.jpg)
Notice the large legs needed to support the large heavy bird.
![meatbird.jpg meatbird.jpg](https://www.backyardchickens.com/data/attachments/1354/1354607-8cfb225ffb86a1acaa2d316d4aba5693.jpg)
Many people ask"Why choose cornish over a standard heavy breed?"
Why not just raise standard heavy breeds and butcher the roosters?
We will show you why.Below is a Cornish-X and a Standard Heavy.
Both are male,hatched same day,fed same diet,housed together.
3days old
![Chicks030.jpg Chicks030.jpg](https://www.backyardchickens.com/data/attachments/1354/1354608-9e77436b21548dd93b8c3a8ab70544bd.jpg)
2 1/2 weeks
![babychicks015.jpg babychicks015.jpg](https://www.backyardchickens.com/data/attachments/1354/1354609-177be8d006062659c0148d3bad501d03.jpg)
3 1/2 weeks
![babychicks021.jpg babychicks021.jpg](https://www.backyardchickens.com/data/attachments/1354/1354610-8f2dbbdc3cb21d0a12d2df29791a7a93.jpg)