Parront
Crossing the Road
I have raised the Cornish-X years ago in So. Calif. Riverside county, very hot in the summer and the CX were fine in the Spring and Fall -- winter would be fine there, no snow, maybe not for you. Since they only take about 8 - 10 weeks you can raise them pretty easily and have them in the freezer before bad weather. After the first batch I ordered a 15 cu ft freezer from Sears. I should have ordered the freezer when I ordered the first batch of chicks! For a large family nothing is more efficient. I also hatched my chicks, the broody Orpington would sit on anything. For layer breeds, you are looking at a 2 to 3 pound broiler at 12 -14 weeks depending on how tender you want them and how you cook them.
I just got some chickens again since we are retired now. The first Barred Holland cockerel was just processed at 10 weeks, he was getting loud. Lots of pin feathers, so the rest get to grow another week. I was hoping for BBQ this weekend, but it will be store chicken and hamburgers again. Here is a photo of the one I processed.
Weighed 1 3/4 pounds dressed.
Dinner for 2. I cut out the back, feet & neck for freezing for stock when his fellows join him. My weight includes these parts, since I use them. Just about exactly what I used to get from my Brown Leghorns, maybe a little better breast.
The ruler is 6 inches. This has the back bone removed and flattened for grilling. Depending on your preferences for white or dark meat one of these guys serves 2 adults. The red jar is a quart mason jar humming bird feeder for size scale. Same with the Morton salt, I hope everyone can tell the size of the bird with that to compare.
