Anyone the Colorado Springs area growing Cornish Cross. There is always a disclaimer about not for growing over 5000 ft. Was hoping to try some soon. Any thoughts?
There are some other crosses that might work best in our high altitude. Not sure if you have considered them, look up Freedom Rangers, also Red Broilers, AKA Red Rangers, they are more active than Cornish and Cornish X's. I have never had any meat birds here, but those are the ones I was leaning towards for our altitude.
Sadly, sometimes there is something wrong with some chickens, even though we can't see it, death does happen. Not every hen is going to be 100 percent healthy throughout her life.
ETA. Found this description of the Red Broiler.
"Red Broiler Chicken. The Red Broiler Chicken is a meat breed that is sometimes favored over the White Cornish Cross because of its darker skin. These birds have the same astounding growth rate of the White Cornish Cross, reaching about 4 pounds in 8 weeks, but they do not grow quite as large as the White Broiler.
Red Broiler Chickens are sometimes preferred by smaller chicken meat production because they are known to have less problems with their legs during their growth. This may be due to the fact that the don't get quite as big as the White Rock Cross, and their ability to maintain their health longer allows some farmers to let them grow between 11 and 14 weeks. Some claim that the extended growth period gives their chickens a superior and richer tasting chicken meat.
This chicken is not recommended for egg production, but it is an excellent choice for small farmers or backyard chicken owners who want to raise chickens specifically for their quality meat production. This is a great alternative for chicken farmers looking for an alternative to the common White Cornish Cross."
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/619617/high-altitude-meat-birds
Last edited: