Cornish x crossed with turken (necked necks)

[SlipsWife]

We are wanting to start processing our own meat birds. We will be starting with extra roosters but I would like to eventually have our own 'flock' of meaties. I have an order of 9 turkens that should be arriving Wednesday (and 2 hens already) and I've read how they are great for dual purpose. Our hens laid pretty steady through the winter. I would say their eggs fall in the large category but barely, for some reason they aren't near as large as our red sex-links eggs. They were also on the smaller end of things when we got them (we honestly thought they were bantams but Cackle doesn't sell bantam turkens) but they caught up with their growth.

Since turkens have less feathers and are said to be easier for plucking, I would like to do a Cornish x with a turken. Which way would be the best to go about this? A turken rooster and slow growing Cornish x pullet/hen? Since we are in Texas, I would want to wait and time everything out where our Cornish is ready to lay in the fall so the heat wouldn't be to much on her. Would that be the best way to go about it? Its not something that's going to happen tomorrow by any means. The turkens I've ordered are suppose to actually all be pullets but since we all know hatcheries make sexing mistakes and its not 100%, I'm hoping there's at least one rooster in there, regardless if I follow through with this project or not.

 

[ijon]

I crossed a red ranger with a naked neck. It was a nice sized chick when I left for Florida. I have not seen in six weeks.

 

[SlipsWife]

I crossed a red ranger with a naked neck. It was a nice sized chick when I left for Florida. I have not seen in six weeks.

I need to read up on red rangers. Do they have the same health issues that CornishX's?

 

[ijon]

I have raised both. The red rangers don't seem to have the heart problems. I have a rooster and two hens from last years hatch. The rooster will try to fly when I let them out. And he is a big boy. Tons more active than Cornish rock.

 

[SlipsWife]

I have raised both. The red rangers don't seem to have the heart problems. I have a rooster and two hens from last years hatch. The rooster will try to fly when I let them out. And he is a big boy. Tons more active than Cornish rock.

Where did you get your Red Rangers from? We might try a small number of Cornish and Red Rangers together and see what works best. Do you feed them the 12 hours on/off like you would the Cornish or can you let them eat with your regular flock and not worry about them over eating?

 

[ijon]

I got my chicks both red rangers and naked neck from Cackle hatchery in Mo. I have ordered from them twice, had good luck. This cross would probably work better if you could get your hands on heritage naked neck.