Cornish Cross or what breed?

[mmhne]

We purchased 45 chicks from our local farm supply store, we thought we were buying the Cornish Cross chicks that would be butchered in six weeks. However, they are not big meaty birds that we have read about. When it came time according to the calendar to butcher them they weighed in at 4 1/2 lbs (6 weeks), we decided to keep feeding them the Grower feed to get them meatier. They have had feed and water available at all times and now 3 weeks later they weigh in at only 4 lb 14 oz. They are not the slow lazy type bird that we have read about, instead they are very quick and noisy. We approached the store about this and are not getting any help. What type of chicken did we actually get? This is our first time to raise chickens and were hoping to have some great fried chicken dinners by now! Are we trying to bulk up some chickens that will never be a broiler? Can we butcher them to eat? Will we end up with only chicken nugget meat? Thanks for any help and advise.

 

[lsg1007]

They look like Cornish X to me, but I don't have personal experience with meaties.

 

[hdowden]

they look more along a white rock or white leghorn both of which are a duel purpose breed but they dont grow and get the meat on them like the cornish x do and takes time to grow them out at this point they look like good chicken nuggets not much meat for anything to me

 

[Fred's Hens]

The photo's aren't the clearest, but they look rather like a strain of plain old White Rocks. Actually, they'll make a decent, old fashioned meat bird, but it will take 16 weeks. You could keep back a half dozen of the pullets. They'll lay very, very well for you this fall and winter. Just a thought. The WR was one of the prized dual purpose birds of yesteryear.

 

[mmhne]

Thank you for your information!!! We aren't able to keep them much longer because of other committments. A 16 week grow period is 10 weeks longer that we planned on, since we originally were purchasing Cornish Cross hens. What a bummer of a first time experience.

 

[Pele]

It's really hard to see in the photos, but I suspect that these chickens don't have straight combs, is that true? Are the combs pea combs (bumpy masses instead of a single straight edge)?

 

[Pele]

The reason I ask is that if they have pea combs, then I believe that they are actually Indian Games, ie just plain Cornish (not crosses). It's unusual to see a hatchery not cross Cornishes, as it does result in a slower growing bird.

You would be able to sell them on Craigslist for a good price, I should imagine.

 

[Oregon Blues]

They are not Leghorns.

They look like Cornish Cross hens to me, except they are too small. So maybe you scored super big time and got white Cornish (Indian Game). Although it would be odd indeed for a hatchery to make that sort of mistake.

Maybe on the order form, the feed store just wrote "Cornish" not realizing that is a different breed of bird than Cornish Cross.

Cornish chickens have heavy legs and a wide stance like the Cornish Cross, but they grow slower. They are a pure breed, not a hybrid

 

[mmhne]

Not too sure what you mean by "maybe you scored super big time and got Cornish (Indian Game)" Thanks for explaining that a little more, since right now I am just bummed that we still have them walking around and not in the freezer.

I've had them listed on Craigslist with no luck so far either.

Thanks!

 

[WasabiChicki]

I think the previous comment "scored super big " refers to the fact that they are a pure bred Cornish... Great chickens to keep!
Unfortunately for you, that wasn't the plan. I think their pretty tho & I would buy some if you were in Northern Ca...
Good Luck!