Can I make mixed breed meatie mutts?

[DanIndiana]

I have a flock of various DP breeds: Barred Rocks, RIR, Orp., Wyandottes, Australorps, etc.
I have a batch in the incubator that will be various mixes. Can I just select the fastest growing, largest birds over a few generations and have some results for a decent meatie mutt, or is that too simplistic?
Thanks

 

[Lollipop]

Sure you can. That's what everyone did befor science gave us CornishX........Pop

 

[SmokinChick]

Science! Cornish X is just selective breeding at its best.

 

[Chris09]

Science! Cornish X is just selective breeding at its best.

Genetics is the science of genes so yes science, also there is a lot more to the Cornish Cross than "selective breeding".


Chris

 

[hudsonnascarfan]

thats what im doing here im useing my extra roosters for meat birds true they might never get as big as the cornish X and they grow much slower but they are nice meaty birds at 16 to 20 weeks and we only have to do a few birds at a time so it does make it easyer for us anyways

 

[SmokinChick]

Genetics is the science of genes so yes science, also there is a lot more to the Cornish Cross than "selective breeding".


Chris

My exclamation of science, meant. No test tube or gene splicing. Yes, genetics is a science.
What else goes into the Cornish Cross other then selective breeding?

 

[Fred's Hens]

The CornishX is selectively bred, but has been bred for over 50 years. The commercial layers? Same thing. The huge genetics conglomerates spend millions on research. Further, the parent stock is not merely a two way cross of birds A and B. The ISA Brown layer, as well as the CX, use grandparent stock A, B, C and D. It is quite a science indeed.

 

[Fred's Hens]

To the OP.

I agree with Pop. It's what has been done for centuries.

 

[lynn1961]

I would be interested in how your project turns out.
I have started a simular project with Easter eggers, jersey giants and welsummers.
Am hoping the Jersey giant will lend a larger size frame to the welsummer x Easter egger mix.
So far the Welsummer x Easter egger has produced a large, fast growing male offspring, with the female offspring being faster to mature and lay than the Easter egger girls. Added bonus to the femal offspring are the blue, pink and green speckled eggs. makes a beautiful contrast with the pure welsummer eggs. As soon as I find some Delaware to add to the mix I will see how the cross breeding turns out.
Mutts for sure in the works.

 

[Chris09]

My exclamation of science, meant. No test tube or gene splicing. Yes, genetics is a science.
What else goes into the Cornish Cross other then selective breeding?

Well knowing what four breeds to breed and in what order to breed them for one.
You also need to know about Cp gene, Feed Conversion, etc. The basic Cornish/ Rock cross is a slow growing leggy fowl that's feed conversion is very poor.


Chris