A Cornish Cross (Breeding?) Journey

[DemeterAD9]

I would guess this too, he seems to lack the dominant trait of feathered legs that marans have.

In this thread a CX started laying at 17 weeks old.

I wasn’t too sure how dominant/recessive feathered legs were so I figured best not to go off that. I should look into it though, I’ve got a couple pullets with clean legs who I was hoping were from the maran but now I’m second guessing it This would help me sort through them though and figure out who will stay/go. The BJG rooster was a pathetically built bird that I could hardly get my relatively small hand inside of to gut.

I very well may end up culling this cockerel anyways. There’s a handful of little guys running around that my broodies hatched out, one being from the same SLW hen and 2 or 3 who may carry the blue egg gene. Would be cool to get some colored egger meat birds.

 

[Molpet]

I may try again to keep a CX pullet this year. I'm going to keep anything I get out of her and mix and match with current stock.

Promising 8 weeks pullet on bale

Trying to get away from a meat mutt hen

 

[Skyeknight]

Do both of you weigh your CX pullets to see if they don't become too heavy? At the moment I weigh mine weekly to see if I should alter the amount of feed I give them. I have two 13 week old Ross 308 and two 16 week old Hubbard JA757, all of them are around 3.3 kg.

But honestly I have no real idea if they are on "target" so to speak, as there isn't really any weight data on older CX.

 

[Molpet]

Do both of you weigh your CX pullets to see if they don't become too heavy? At the moment I weigh mine weekly to see if I should alter the amount of feed I give them. I have two 13 week old Ross 308 and two 16 week old Hubbard JA757, all of them are around 3.3 kg.

But honestly I have no real idea if they are on "target" so to speak, as there isn't really any weight data on older CX.

I don't handle my birds because I became attached and it was harder to dispatch. So no I don't weigh them until after dispatching.

 

[DemeterAD9]

Do both of you weigh your CX pullets to see if they don't become too heavy? At the moment I weigh mine weekly to see if I should alter the amount of feed I give them. I have two 13 week old Ross 308 and two 16 week old Hubbard JA757, all of them are around 3.3 kg.

But honestly I have no real idea if they are on "target" so to speak, as there isn't really any weight data on older CX.

I was weighing my group but once they hit about 6lbs they struggled too much and I didn't want to stress them out. At some point I'd like to make a sort of cloth sling with handles on either end that I can wrap a bird up in and hook to a hanging scale for easier and less stressful weighing. Right now if I had to guess I'd say Chunky probably weighs about 9lbs

 

[DemeterAD9]

I think Chunky has laid her first egg(s). Found one in the run and one under the coop the next day where she tends to hang out most often. They are pretty average sized for a pullet, skin toned with vertical markings. Heavier bloom makes them look more pinkish. Compared to my best layer on the right.

Close up of the texture and markings for future reference.

Comb is starting to flop over now, good for helping with the heat.

I’ll be keeping her eggs set aside until I’ve got 10 good ones, then pop them under a broody. I know pullet eggs aren’t ideal for incubating but time is of the essence. It’s hot here and Chunky could keel over at any time.

 

[Molpet]

I think Chunky has laid her first egg(s). Found one in the run and one under the coop the next day where she tends to hang out most often. They are pretty average sized for a pullet, skin toned with vertical markings. Heavier bloom makes them look more pinkish. Compared to my best layer on the right.
View attachment 4181933
Close up of the texture and markings for future reference.
View attachment 4181936

Comb is starting to flop over now, good for helping with the heat.
View attachment 4181996View attachment 4181997

I’ll be keeping her eggs set aside until I’ve got 10 good ones, then pop them under a broody. I know pullet eggs aren’t ideal for incubating but time is of the essence. It’s hot here and Chunky could keel over at any time.

Yes my CX didn't lay long before she quit for the winter and then keeled over right before turning 1

 

[Skyeknight]

I think Chunky has laid her first egg(s). Found one in the run and one under the coop the next day where she tends to hang out most often. They are pretty average sized for a pullet, skin toned with vertical markings. Heavier bloom makes them look more pinkish. Compared to my best layer on the right.
View attachment 4181933
Close up of the texture and markings for future reference.
View attachment 4181936

Comb is starting to flop over now, good for helping with the heat.
View attachment 4181996View attachment 4181997

I’ll be keeping her eggs set aside until I’ve got 10 good ones, then pop them under a broody. I know pullet eggs aren’t ideal for incubating but time is of the essence. It’s hot here and Chunky could keel over at any time.

A Hubbard JA757 pullet of mine has started laying at 17 weeks. Her eggs are brown and very tiny. She also has some shell less misfires that have me a bit worried. But she acts generally normal, apart from some weird behaviours and increased aggressiveness.

Do you know if your pullet is a Ross 308, Cobb 500 or other CX strain? That could help with identifying the should be egg colour at least.

 

[Skyeknight]

Yes my CX didn't lay long before she quit for the winter and then keeled over right before turning 1

Everytime you mention this I get a bit worried mine won't survive the winter. I plan to get my rooster in with my CX pullets next spring. But they seem healthy and active, so hopefully nothing to worry about!