Alternatives to Cornish X; and, alternatives to commercial feed?

[greyfields]

Quote:
While you may be right that much of the evidence is anecdotal, I think that you will find many people right here on this forum who have seen these problems up close and personal and with their own eyes -- and not always as a result of poor management practices. A lot of folks don't mind adapting their management practices to meet the needs of the Cornish Cross...others would prefer a different type of bird. There are always two sides to every coin and different viewpoints.

It all comes down to a matter of personal preference and choice...just like most things in life.

Lazy J has a compulsion to defend the traditional farm/food system because that's his life. Those of us on small farms are making our money doing things completely differently and outside 'the system'. But, I know who is more profitable on a per animal basis.

I worked on chicken farms as a teenager growing up. They factored 25% mortality into their costs and were doing crops every 42 days (with 48 hours to clean-up between 'crops'). It changed my life completely working there.

 

[Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay]

Quote:
Greyfields:

I have a compulsion for the truth. While it is true that I work in the Commercial Livestock industry, I have been a champion of people doing just what you and many of the others on BYC are doing by telling their story and providing meat, milk, and eggs for their customers. What I will not tolerate is people attempting to market their "family raised" products using lies, inuendo, and half truths.

You would probably be surprised that I have 200 pullets free ranging on our farm right now and that my daughter's 45 4H broilers will be housed in two tractors.

Jim

 

[greyfields]

Good for you!

 

[blue90292]

well, if everyone is sticking in their 2 cents...lol

i think the cornish are a great invention. can you imagine how much you can feed the world with those guys! they have their purpose and they do it well. any bird can suffer and die even with your best intentions and greatest care. and they were created to work in an environment different than what we can provide or afford. my friends uncle is a millionaire raising broilers for tyson or whoever it is around here parts. to them, the broiler is the golden egg. the chicken gets processed, guts and other parts are ground for dog/cat food, their poo is burned to create energy and their feathers used for pillows, etc. they are very efficient birds.

i actually have two older cornish X i got from a guy free and they just make me laugh. they're about 3 - 4 months old and i actually have them free ranging and they are working hard for their food. lol they walk around like big giant babies and i have to be careful they don't sit on anyone or they'll kill them with their weight. i plan to buy cornish X chicks one day and do what my friend did, sell them at 4 weeks as cornish game hens.

but i LOVE the FRs. i had the priviledge of raising the gold and red FRs recently and they were so much fun! such hardy birds who enjoyed the outdoors, weren't scared of humans or the dogs, just overall nice nice birds. much nicer than my pure breeds put together! lol. it's amazing what can be done with genetics.

both birds are very efficient birds that do their job very well for what they were breed for. i think it's more of "should i get an orpington or a polish". get as much information about the birds and get the bird that suits your environment and your need the best. it's great to have options!