Cornish rocks

[PhlyinPheBee]

Hi there. I am new to the chicken life. Reading on this topic I am worried that I might have made a mistake. I bought several chicks from TSC last week. 2 of them are to be cornish rocks st run. I know what st run is but did not know anything about them except that they were going to be a big white bird.

My big question is does this mean that they are meat birds? Not meant to have in a free range flock of egg layers? Should I keep them apart from the banties and other chicks that I bought?

Thanks for all info you can share!

Rene'

 

[freddy22]

st run? or straight run.....just making sure because i have never heard of a st. run breed....they should be meat birds if they are cornish, and - correct me if i am wrong - big commercial meat chicken facilities breed cornish with a white rock bird? for better results.....

 

[PhlyinPheBee]

sorry.....my shorthand is not the best. yes straight run is right.

 

[Robin'sBrood]

Quote:
I picked up 6 chicks at TS on Friday and I'm afraid I may have 4 Cornish Rocks in my brooder too. There wasn't much left to choose from and they had mixed all the chicks together... the layers and the meaties. Darn that stupid 6 chick rule, now I'm stressing over possibly having meat birds!

 

[PhlyinPheBee]

My only saving grace is that my uncle will take them if the really are a meat bird. I so cannot bear to have to butcher them.

I had the choice wether or not to pick them. I just thought I would a variety of them. Boy I wish I could go back in time and not pick them out.

Rene'

 

[freddy22]

see if you cant sell them....thats if you really dont want them...personally, i dont have the need for them, but somebody on BYC surely would...ya know?

 

[Robin'sBrood]

Hmmm, I have an uncle who is a chicken person. I'll have to see if he would be interested in mine if they are indeed meaties. Thanks for the good idea!

Are yours bigger than your other chicks? What else did you get?

 

[PhlyinPheBee]

So far no. They were a week old today. They are in with some very small banties and other larger breed of layers. I will be weighing them tomorrow and see if there is a weight difference under that fluffy down.

Rene'

 

[Robin'sBrood]

You can see all of mine here https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=149073

 

[Judy]

http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html

Hopefully, someone who is knowledgeable will show up here soon!

I think "Cornish Rock" refers to a Cornish crossed with a white rock, which is most certainly a meat bird, and has its own unique set of care requirements. Usually called Cornish X. I think. A few people have raised them as flock birds, but it takes some knowledge and special care/feeding.

I could also be all wet. Have not raised meat birds. But it will be OK for a few days with the others, til you can get it figured out.