BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[lpatelski]

I finally made my choice from the stock of firstborns. DC=Dark Cornish WCR= White Cornish Roaster(Murray McMurray stock)
The first is a 3/4 Dark Cornish in white lace red and she is whopping good. I can barely get my hand around her wing muscle. I don't have small hands!









My Second pullet is a 50DC/50WCR bred to 50DC/50WCR. She is white with a blue bar spot.



She is good enough to keep despite her straight comb. I am shooting for pea.

The third is...BIG BIRD #58 - surprise! I believe BIG BIRD is a gender bending pullet - 3/4 White Cornish Roaster. I have watched and watched this bird. Believing it to be male all this time due to size. I am hoping it is not a sterile cockerel. The feathering is my only clue. It has no male feathering on the saddle. Only time will tell. We still don't know what the true gender of BIG BIRD is on Sesame Street.
In this pic BIG BIRD is the whiter bird on top @ 92 days old today(DOH 3/23/16) Big Bird is as large as my other hens.

 

[Turk Raphael]

I finally made my choice from the stock of firstborns. DC=Dark Cornish WCR= White Cornish Roaster(Murray McMurray stock)
The first is a 3/4 Dark Cornish in white lace red and she is whopping good. I can barely get my hand around her wing muscle. I don't have small hands!









My Second pullet is a 50DC/50WCR bred to 50DC/50WCR. She is white with a blue bar spot.



She is good enough to keep despite her straight comb. I am shooting for pea.

The third is...BIG BIRD #58 - surprise! I believe BIG BIRD is a gender bending pullet - 3/4 White Cornish Roaster. I have watched and watched this bird. Believing it to be male all this time due to size. I am hoping it is not a sterile cockerel. The feathering is my only clue. It has no male feathering on the saddle. Only time will tell. We still don't know what the true gender of BIG BIRD is on Sesame Street.
In this pic BIG BIRD is the whiter bird on top @ 92 days old today(DOH 3/23/16) Big Bird is as large as my other hens.

My brother has some chicks that I think might wind up being the same color as the one you have chosen as favorite and I suppose with good reason. The brood matron is white with black flecks all over her body and she is enormous. I tried to talk him out of a couple of the chicks but he just laughed and said he intends to get more from you and might be able to ask you to send me a pair with his, saving me money.

I've been taught how to make capons but I don't like the process. I don't think these hybrids will have to be castrated, just cooked with the most advantageous process for birds that are more mature. We do like capon but it's much easier to raid Hillbilly Heights aka Shillelagh Farms and take a fair share of capon and rabbit meat rather than messing with them ourselves. We have trouble enough taking care of our layers. Looking forward to getting some of your young chickens.

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

I finally made my choice from the stock of firstborns. DC=Dark Cornish WCR= White Cornish Roaster(Murray McMurray stock)
The first is a 3/4 Dark Cornish in white lace red and she is whopping good. I can barely get my hand around her wing muscle. I don't have small hands!









My Second pullet is a 50DC/50WCR bred to 50DC/50WCR. She is white with a blue bar spot.



She is good enough to keep despite her straight comb. I am shooting for pea.

The third is...BIG BIRD #58 - surprise! I believe BIG BIRD is a gender bending pullet - 3/4 White Cornish Roaster. I have watched and watched this bird. Believing it to be male all this time due to size. I am hoping it is not a sterile cockerel. The feathering is my only clue. It has no male feathering on the saddle. Only time will tell. We still don't know what the true gender of BIG BIRD is on Sesame Street.
In this pic BIG BIRD is the whiter bird on top @ 92 days old today(DOH 3/23/16) Big Bird is as large as my other hens.

Awesome chicks again, congratulations! nice colour on the red laced one- she sure does look huge! I think your big bird is a hen.
I'm curious why you are selecting for pea comb, don't they overheat in Georgia? And I have been wondering if that seam down the middle of the breast in pea combed breeds looks odd on the final roast?

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

It's almost time for me to start culling my chicks, they are 7 weeks old and of course way too many roosters. I've never been able to get up the nerve to actually process one of my own chicks for the dinner table so this will be a first for me. At seven weeks, I'd like to cook two of them. I have a few with single combs so they will be the first to go. Any suggestions what the best (simple) method would be for cooking such young chicks? I'm a lousy cook, any tips appreciated! We have a barbecue, would they have enough fat to cook like that? Should I cut them up and do it that way (no rotisserie) or would the oven be a better idea? They will be approximately cornish hen size, maybe a bit smaller.

 

[lpatelski]

I guess I selected none too soon as one of the two older pullets dropped an egg today.

If I had to guess, it would be the white Lavenia daughter. She is 17 weeks old 122 days today.

 

[DesertChic]

I guess I selected none too soon as one of the two older pullets dropped an egg today.
If I had to guess, it would be the white Lavenia daughter. She is 17 weeks old 122 days today.

Woohoo! That's almost Fairy Egg size.

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

that egg looks almost white!

 

[bramblefir]

I'm so sorry to hear about Ron! My condolences to Turk, Jason, and Ariel. I've never been very good with the right things to say in regards to loss, so please insert something comforting and eloquent here 'cause that's what I'm trying to say.

 

[RattlesnakeRidgeWV]

Christine,
Thanks for letting us know about Rons passing. I will really miss his posts, he was a mans man!
Rest in peace my WV Brother. Prayers out to Jason, Turk and Ariel.
Kurt

 

[lpatelski]

It's almost time for me to start culling my chicks, they are 7 weeks old and of course way too many roosters. I've never been able to get up the nerve to actually process one of my own chicks for the dinner table so this will be a first for me. At seven weeks, I'd like to cook two of them. I have a few with single combs so they will be the first to go. Any suggestions what the best (simple) method would be for cooking such young chicks? I'm a lousy cook, any tips appreciated! We have a barbecue, would they have enough fat to cook like that? Should I cut them up and do it that way (no rotisserie) or would the oven be a better idea? They will be approximately cornish hen size, maybe a bit smaller.

I skin during dressing. I cook in foil. Oven at 250 degrees bake for 4 to 5 hours depending on the size. Low and slow. I put marinade right on the muscle then seal up the foil and bake.
Don't forget to brine for a few days before you cook. The meat needs to rest for a few days in the fridge after the processing. Like aging beef.
My chickens do not have any fat even after months of feeding. You can put olive oil and seasonings. Remember if you skin there is no barrier. The muscle is flavored with what ever you put on it, so you better like the taste of your spices. My mom put a load of thyme on one of the birds. Oh too much!
This bird has the "seam" It just looks more accentuated than it really is.