Stupid question, What is the success rate for broilers laying and hatching eggs? Is it worth trying or should I just expect roast chicken from them? Albert
What breed are they? If their Cornish-Xs they will (most likely) start dieing at about 8-10 weeks (about the time you butchering them) from heart-attacks because their organs can't keep up with the massive amount of growth in such a short period of time.
Albert, doesn't look to me like a stupid question . . . folks have to wonder where the heck these birds come from if they can't reproduce. And, there's a tendency to experiment in our backyards with 1 or 2 that we'd like to keep around. About 35 years ago, my brother kept a half dozen Cornish X's and then the rascal gave them to me . After keeping them around for several months - I gave them back . Probably, the Cornish X's of today aren't a lot like the ones from the 1970's. But, they didn't amount to much as laying hens and they sure could go thru the feed! My contribution to their health was allowing them plenty of exercise by free-ranging thru the day. The parents of these critters are on carefully controlled diets from the moment they hatch. I learned not long ago that, sometimes, the roosters have a separate diet from the hens. They control these birds light, also, all in an effort to get productive breeders without them killing themselves over food. Slowing them down, is critically important. Once they've got them under control and they mature, apparently the Cornish X parent stock are pretty good layers. Seemed to me that they have more trouble maintaining the fertility of the roosters but I suppose those guys are a little more expendable. And, then their offspring . . . these critters are kind of the nuclear androids of the chicken world. Steve
I am actually not to sure what kind they are as they are still about a week old. A friend of mine, after hearing of my craze, thought it good to buy me some chicks. Here in SA we sometimes get guys standing by the roadside and selling boxes full chicks and this is where he bought them. The only thing I know is that according to the guy who sold them to my friend, they will be white when grown. I see some of the chicks have some very light brown stripes on their backs and the rest of the fluff is a bright and shiny yellow. At first I was quite skeptical about this "gift" but when I saw the little one's my heart melted and I just had to give in under the pressure!! So I will give them two or three weeks till their feathers appear, then it will be easier to see what color they will be. I have placed them in the brooder box with my other barred Plymouth rock chicks, so I will see what happen. The lot is very happy together even though they differ about 3 weeks. The only thing I am feeding them is plain grower mash with ample fresh water. No funny stuff like hormones etc. So I cannot see why the hens will not be able to lay and hatch eggs when they are old enough. They might not be the perfect breed for eggs, so what? Then they will just end up in the oven! Regards, Albert
I have one broiler hen that I saved when we butchered a batch of Cornish X. She lays eggs, though only 2 or 3 a week and at first they were tiny like a bantam. I don't know about hatching eggs though, she hasn't ever gone broody. The rooster likes her fine, so I know her eggs are fertile. Now that they've gotten bigger, I might stick a couple in the bator to see if they'll hatch. I've been a little worried about her lately. She doesn't walk as much as she used to, and seems to just rest in the grass frequently. She is about 12 pounds I would guess, so I think maybe she is getting too heavy for her legs. That is one of the risks of keeping Cornish X longer than their life expectancy of 6-8 weeks.
I manage to find out what breed my chicks are. White Rocks! I did some research on the internet and it does not seem to be a bad breed after all. Thanks for the help! Albert
