Cornish Cross Cocks and Crowing

[ejcrist]

I'm in the process of raising my first flock of Cornish Crosses (all cocks) and they'll be 6 weeks old this Friday. They gained weight quickly and are averaging 5-6 pounds each. We're planning on butchering a few this weekend for family and the main butchering/BBQ will be the following weekend. Anyway my wife said she heard one of the cocks crowing a couple of days ago. I thought maybe she was hearing the beginnings of a crow but nothing too serious because I've read numerous places that they're typically butchered at 6-12 weeks which is much too soon before they mature enough to crow. Anyway, long story short, when I let my layers out this morning the gals were cackling and making noise as usual when a few seconds later I heard a very distinct couple of crows coming from my broiler pens. It wasn't full volume like the neighbor's mature cock's but there was no question it was a very good crow. I gave him a 9.0 - 9.5 at least. I was impressed. So I just wanted to pass the info along in case anyone raising Cornish Crosses in places where roosters aren't allowed, they might want to either order all hens if possible or have a BBQ before they hit the 5 pound mark because they can crow before 6 weeks. I wouldn't have believed it unless I heard it myself but it can happen.

 

[eleaserek]

Just had this experience myself!! Was woke up at 5:45 by a sad little crow right under my window!! I am in town so I had to plan a quick butcher that evening! Was planning on doing it on the weekend anyway, but bumped it up a few days so I wasn't annoying the neighbors, lol. They are 8 weeks.

 

[runt325]

What breed is this

 

[runt325]

 

[ejcrist]

Just had this experience myself!! Was woke up at 5:45 by a sad little crow right under my window!! I am in town so I had to plan a quick butcher that evening! Was planning on doing it on the weekend anyway, but bumped it up a few days so I wasn't annoying the neighbors, lol. They are 8 weeks.

I know exactly what you're going through. My neighbors are a good distance away and they all said they don't mind if I get a rooster so I wasn't too worried about it, but if I were trying to fly under the radar it would definitely be tough to do if you had a nosey neighbor. My wife said I denied her story more than three times before the cock crowed so I made it a point to apologize.