BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[ejcrist]

I think so, too. Any feeding tips?

I fed mine Nutrena Starter Grower. I gave them 24 hour access for about a week and then cut them back to morning and afternoon only. I never tried fermented feed but I read a lot of good things about it. Be prepared when you go to deliver the feed after you cut them back to twice a day because they'll kill you to get to the feed. I'm glad Cornish Crosses aren't much bigger because if they were we'd be seeing a lot of stories on the news about people getting trampled to death by chickens during feed time.

 

[DesertChic]

Today was 4 week old weights and measures day for my little flock of four and I'm absolutely blown away. Not only have the Dark Cornish and DC/White Cornish mixes exceeded my expectations, but my own little hybrid has shown greater size and a faster growth rate than any of my birds that I've hatched prior to this...and I think it's even a pullet! It puts into question the whole nature vs nurture issue for me....Since Basil, my bird, is growing up with other birds that eat A LOT, is she developing the same tendencies and thereby increasing her own growth rates, or does she just have really good genetics? I see more experimentation and examination of this issue in my future.

My bird first - this is Basil, a Bielefelder/White Rock mix: 14.53 ounces for a 902% growth rate since hatch.



Now the pure DC, Katinka - presumed pullet = 13.55 ounces for a 1001% growth rate since hatch.



And now the hybrids...
First, Clara, my DC and WCC presumed pullet = 28.85 ounces for a 1761% growth rate since hatch.




And now Tubbs, my DC/WCC cockerel - 30.02 ounces for a 1875% growth rate since hatch.

 

[bramblefir]

I fed mine Nutrena Starter Grower. I gave them 24 hour access for about a week and then cut them back to morning and afternoon only. I never tried fermented feed but I read a lot of good things about it. Be prepared when you go to deliver the feed after you cut them back to twice a day because they'll kill you to get to the feed. I'm glad Cornish Crosses aren't much bigger because if they were we'd be seeing a lot of stories on the news about people getting trampled to death by chickens during feed time.

Hahaha! My husband did my chicken chores for me one morning when I had CX and my instructions were: Don't fall down in the coop.

 

[lcertuche]

Looks like you've got a couple of winners in the meat production breeding experiment. What is the WCC of the DC/WCC mix?

 

[DesertChic]

Looks like you've got a couple of winners in the meat production breeding experiment. What is the WCC of the DC/WCC mix?

Sorry...White Cornish Cross. I got the hatching egg from @lpatelski for all but the first chick.

She has amazing birds!

 

[Turk Raphael]

Bet her birds aren't any more amazing than MINE...LOLOLOLOLOLO

 

[ejcrist]

Today was 4 week old weights and measures day for my little flock of four and I'm absolutely blown away. Not only have the Dark Cornish and DC/White Cornish mixes exceeded my expectations, but my own little hybrid has shown greater size and a faster growth rate than any of my birds that I've hatched prior to this...and I think it's even a pullet! It puts into question the whole nature vs nurture issue for me....Since Basil, my bird, is growing up with other birds that eat A LOT, is she developing the same tendencies and thereby increasing her own growth rates, or does she just have really good genetics? I see more experimentation and examination of this issue in my future.

My bird first - this is Basil, a Bielefelder/White Rock mix: 14.53 ounces for a 902% growth rate since hatch.



Now the pure DC, Katinka - presumed pullet = 13.55 ounces for a 1001% growth rate since hatch.



And now the hybrids...
First, Clara, my DC and WCC presumed pullet = 28.85 ounces for a 1761% growth rate since hatch.




And now Tubbs, my DC/WCC cockerel - 30.02 ounces for a 1875% growth rate since hatch.

Wow! That's some serious growth.Very interesting.

 

[Kusanar]

I wonder, if you could solve the being trampled chickens thing by putting a hopper that empties be pulling on a rope, take the feed out and fill the hopper, do not feed the chickens anything, then wait about 5 minutes, ring a bell and pull the rope from at least 10 feet away... the chickens should learn that they only get feed when the bell rings and that the hopper gives it to them, not the human.

 

[abbevilleoz]

I fed mine Nutrena Starter Grower. I gave them 24 hour access for about a week and then cut them back to morning and afternoon only. I never tried fermented feed but I read a lot of good things about it. Be prepared when you go to deliver the feed after you cut them back to twice a day because they'll kill you to get to the feed. I'm glad Cornish Crosses aren't much bigger because if they were we'd be seeing a lot of stories on the news about people getting trampled to death by chickens during feed time. 

I will warn my wife! Maybe after I take a video first, though . Do the hatchery Cornish Crosses forage any? I'm in SC, any recommendations on which hatchery to use?

 

[ejcrist]

I will warn my wife! Maybe after I take a video first, though . Do the hatchery Cornish Crosses forage any? I'm in SC, any recommendations on which hatchery to use?

I kept mine in a pen but I've read they will forage and supposedly it helps keep them healthy. I don't have much to forage on and a lot of predators so I kept mine penned. I ordered mine from Murray McMurray and was very happy with them. The local feed store here carries them too but I was so happy with MM that I ordered from them again.