Cornish cross question

[Lgbchickie]

Does it matter the coloration of the Plymouth rock chicken? I only ever see white Plymouth used is it a genetic requirement? Or could I use a different color without problems, like a partridge rock or blue rock? (Rock being the roo & Cornish being the hen)

 

[Molpet]

Does it matter the coloration of the Plymouth rock chicken? I only ever see white Plymouth used is it a genetic requirement? Or could I use a different color without problems, like a partridge rock or blue rock? (Rock being the roo & Cornish being the hen)

White is used because when plucked they look cleaner.

The store birds have those breeds in the background, but have been out of refined stock for 50 years. They have 4 different grandparents stocks to make the parents of what we buy in the store.

 

[Lgbchickie]

ok! thanks!

 

[Ridgerunner]

White is used because when plucked they look cleaner.

The store birds have those breeds in the background, but have been out of refined stock for 50 years. They have 4 different grandparents stocks to make the parents of what we buy in the store.

The Cornish Cross took over the chicken meat industry back in the mid 20th century. Since then different companies have developed and refined their own version of Cornish Cross. It took years of careful breeding to develop them, they are not a simple cross of two breeds.

You can get a decent meat chicken by crossing a Rock with a Cornish. They will not grow nearly as fast or as big as a Cornish Cross, they will grow more like a dual purpose chicken. The Cornish heritage should give them more breast meat than most dual purpose chickens. Feather color can affect the appearance of the carcass if you pluck instead of skin. Darker pin feathers are easier to see. I skin mine so feather color isn't important.