Okay, now that I am reading and posting in the meat bird section again, this is bound to come out in subtle ways sooner or later, so I might as well 'fess up now and get it over with...
I am going to try raising Cornish Cross this year. Several hundred of them, in fact. I have already received an order to raise and process 200 and another for 100. And the farmers market hasn't even started up in my area yet.
Now, that might not sound like much of a confession, especially in the meat birds forum. But those who are familiar with my posts from the past will know it's quite a big one. I have hated these birds from the start, as they come from a factory farm system, bred for a factory farm system, and I hate factory farm systems.
But, reality has kicked in, and many of you have convinced me this Frankenbird can be raised humanely. I have tried several DP breeds and crosses and meat birds, and all of them are fine for my home table. But none of them would appeal to the general public, at least not enough to sell on a larger scale outside of a bird here or there, and that because of the length of time the cost would be prohibitive. I have tried (and loved) Dark Cornish, have crossed them with Dels, and have raised Freedom Rangers. None of them would be practical for a startup meat bird business like I am trying to build. Too small breasted, too small in general (except the FR) and too long and expensive in developing. People would have to pay a lot more money for a lot less bird, and would not get what they are likely to expect having grown up on supermarket fare.
So, I am taking the dive. I feel like I have raised enough chickens and have read enough here and talked to local CX experts enough to have the confidence to do it.
Maybe once I get up and going and have developed a customer base, I can try DPs for select clientèle who are willing to pay a higher price for the richer taste, but for now, I'm determined to raise these birds until I feel like I just can't handle it any more.
There. I said it. I'm done. Have fun.
Now I'll go stand in the corner.
I am going to try raising Cornish Cross this year. Several hundred of them, in fact. I have already received an order to raise and process 200 and another for 100. And the farmers market hasn't even started up in my area yet.
Now, that might not sound like much of a confession, especially in the meat birds forum. But those who are familiar with my posts from the past will know it's quite a big one. I have hated these birds from the start, as they come from a factory farm system, bred for a factory farm system, and I hate factory farm systems.
But, reality has kicked in, and many of you have convinced me this Frankenbird can be raised humanely. I have tried several DP breeds and crosses and meat birds, and all of them are fine for my home table. But none of them would appeal to the general public, at least not enough to sell on a larger scale outside of a bird here or there, and that because of the length of time the cost would be prohibitive. I have tried (and loved) Dark Cornish, have crossed them with Dels, and have raised Freedom Rangers. None of them would be practical for a startup meat bird business like I am trying to build. Too small breasted, too small in general (except the FR) and too long and expensive in developing. People would have to pay a lot more money for a lot less bird, and would not get what they are likely to expect having grown up on supermarket fare.
So, I am taking the dive. I feel like I have raised enough chickens and have read enough here and talked to local CX experts enough to have the confidence to do it.
Maybe once I get up and going and have developed a customer base, I can try DPs for select clientèle who are willing to pay a higher price for the richer taste, but for now, I'm determined to raise these birds until I feel like I just can't handle it any more.
There. I said it. I'm done. Have fun.
Now I'll go stand in the corner.
