Buckeye X Cornish X breeding project. Third generation pics pg. 20

[KatyTheChickenLady]

well put Steve . . . I'm going to come to you for help with my marketing!

 

[dancingbear]

Thanks for the clarification, Steve, that makes more sense than what I thought I remembered!

 

[bnentrup]

Well,
I can't imagine that there have not been other experiments similar to this out there.. but something tells me when there is success, the success is kept secret!! I want to say THANK YOU for this type of research. It is something that will indeed benefit us all and I am looking forward to the results.

 

[redbarnmeadows]

Just FYI in response to this - I think the small-scale hatchery SteveH was referring to is me (though I'm just a backyard breeder, not a hatchery). I had posted before that I've used CX roos over White Rock hens for the past couple of years and sold some chicks locally. The resulting chicks are great, growing just about as fast, getting to the same shape and size, and they seem to me to be healthier, but they're just nowhere near as cost effective as ordering from a hatchery. I've decided not to continue with them after this year as they are just too expensive to keep and I can't charge enough for the chicks to even break even. If I really got into detail with the $ figures I'd probably end up having to charge at least $2/chick to make it even close to worthwhile, so there's just no way to compete with hatchery prices. Disappointing, but reality nonetheless.

It's still a nice idea for someone who just wants to breed them for their own use and doesn't mind spending the extra money on them. Like I said, the resulting chicks are great. If anyone wants to try it, I've had good success with Hoffman Hatchery CX cockerels and White Rock pullets.

 

[SteveH]

Quote:
Yes , I was thinking of your post . I apologise if the term " small scale hatchery " was misleading or insulting . Personally I think that if you can sell them at $2 and make a profit it would be better for the locals than paying $1.20 or more , plus shipping , for chicks that are stressed by the shipping process ; that's on the assumption the customers are happy with the way they perform and produce .

 

[redbarnmeadows]

Not to worry Steve, I wasn't offended at all. I'm just a bit neurotic and a stickler for details, can't help it. Another reason I'm getting out of breeding them for sale is that I'm finding myself getting into too much quantity with selling the broiler chicks when I'd prefer to focus on a heritage breed or two and work on quality. The broilers are a lot of maintenance as well, with regulating their weight, making sure the girls are always properly saddled, lots of food, lots of cleaning - just more work than it's worth to me for such modest reward. My interests just lie elsewhere is all. It was fun while it lasted and I'm glad I did it. Live and learn right?

And hey, if any of you get into it and start selling chicks, let me know. I'll buy from you

 

[SteveH]

Quote:
I'm in complete agreement with you , the time and money spent managing a CX for use as a breeder then producing the chicks would not be worth it to me if I wasn't trying to use them for my own personal project . If I do this cross in the future again [ haven't done this one yet ] I might consider going with one of the slower strains of CX and do a lot of things different right from the start .

 

[Bucky182]

Red Barn,

Were you using a fast or a slow growing Cornish as your Rooster? Also, at what age do you process these chicks and what do they dress out at?

 

[redbarnmeadows]

I use the fast-growing CX for the roos. They're whatever strain Hoffman Hatchery uses - that's where I got them. Unfortunately, I was never thorough enough to get weights and measurements on the chicks, but I do have a series of pictures on my website that shows their growth rate: http://www.redbarnmeadows.com/breed/broilers

I processed those chicks from the pictures at I think 8 weeks if I remember correctly (that batch was last spring and I haven't done any for myself yet this year). I didn't weigh them though - they just got quartered and went straight to the freezer. Sorry, at the time it was more of a casual project and not very scientific. I was just trying to get healthier meat birds that I could produce myself. To me they looked exactly the same as hatchery CX. I just didn't have as many come up lame or drop dead before butchering day as I've had with hatchery birds in the past.

All of my local customers that have bought chicks from me have been thrilled with them and many have come back for more a couple months later. I feel bad that I can't continue with them since so many people want them. I know I'll have a lot of disappointed neighbors next year. They're just too expensive and high-maintenance. And to be totally honest they're not a lot of fun. I prefer my Marans and my BR turkeys.

I'm sure I'll keep some meat chicks for myself before I finish out the season with them at the end of summer. I'll try to get some weights and post them.

Jennifer Reed
Red Barn Meadows

 

[Brunty_Farms]

A little update...

So I was going back to see they date on the chicks that have hatched way back in April, I have severely neglected my efforts with this breeding program and it seems that summer is slowing down. I can now focus my efforts on year two of the breeding program. Seems I have lost most of the goals that I'm trying to accomplish but I'm very happy with what I have going right now with the "brunteye" breeding project... Ok so maybe not the best name but I could sell it! I'm going to get some pics tonight of them and possibly get them on here latter tonight.

I have I believe 5 females and 1 male, however I'm not exactly sure as they are running around with the rest of the layers. When they hit about 10 weeks I put them into the layer house to free range.

What I have noticed from these Buckeye x CornishX crosses is the fact that they are first to greet me at the front door for food... very friendly and docile birds. Definitely a good fit for people with kids. They forage very well, I would have to say better than the Buckeyes but haven't really paid too much attention to them to really tell. That could be from the hunger gene that is built into them from the CX side... they are hungry... so they go look for food when it's not available. However now that the overwhelming "weight" gene has been bred out, they have the ability to forage... seems to me that the will is there in CX's but the bone structure will not allow it.

Secondly, I've noticed just from picking them up, that they are much heavier than the Buckeyes... and tower over my golden buff layers. They seem to be the same stature as the buckeyes but way denser... breast are very long and wide. They fit the birds body.... DP's have very small, skinny breast and the CX's have very wide double breasted. This seems to be a mix of the two, which is what so many are trying to accomplish. This is only the first breeding and only year one... so time will tell... but so far so good.

I have been following most of your projects and I'm envious of the time you have put into them! I wish I could have that time year round, but it seems that I can only do it for about 4 months out of the year. It sucks, but it's reality. Can't wait to get back at it, seems like it's almost perfect because the crosses are now 22 weeks as of Wednesday next week, I'm going to separate them and see how long it takes for them to lay some eggs. Only 2 hens are 22 weeks, the rooster is 22 weeks and hasn't crowed yet or mounted any hens *but he very well could have*.

Will keep updates... with pictures... I promise!