Cornish X--Never again

[TGB3RN]

The farm store had chicks and the wife wanted a few EE for the green/blue egg thing to add to our egg layers. I get there and they had the CornishX as well so I figured I would get 4 of them to see how they were. I plan on buying some property soon and want to do meat birds. I will have to try Rangers instead. These things are NASTY. They grow like crazy but all they do is eat, drink, and crap---ALOT. They are about 12 days old and 3X as big as the EE of the same age. The stink is unreal, they are going out to the garage on Tuesday. UGLY, STINKY, EAT LIKE PIGS, did I say STINKY. They had better fry up nice.
Tom

 

[Steve]

Yep...and they do taste great!

 

[jackiedon]

yes they are stinky and nasty but they sure do taste good. We put 32 in the freezer in the middle of Dec and I only have 2 left.

They are a lot of work but will do it again.

jackie

 

[silkiechicken]

I agree, stink up a storm. But they are some good eating. That 6 lb table bird will eat the food that a layer eats in 6 months in 6-8 weeks! Talk about a time warp. That's why I raise the broilers from day olds in movable dirt floor tractors.

 

[jaku]

Quote:
Here's where you went wrong!

NEVER keep Cornish X's in your house!! Start them in the garage, then move them to the yard. Man, I feel your pain. That must be awful. They're really a great bird, and I hope you reconsider getting them again when you're done- you just have to consider them farm animals and not pets.

 

[ltimmermans]

Quote:
Thats what they are designed to do ! Eat and grow fast thats the whole point of the Cornish cross. If you want a bird to watch and get entertainment from choose another breed.

 

[PurpleChicken]

Rangers taste so much better than Cornish. Don't fry Cornish as they
are too fat unless you process at 5 to 6 weeks.

 

[ltimmermans]

Quote:
Thats why 5 week olds are called fryers, run em on grass and they dont get the fat build up as confined do. I cant get rangers for less than $2 ea , I can get cc for .75 and thats to my door.

 

[ewesfullchicks]

Like you, I could never raise a breed that drops dead from heart attack after just a few weeks, or who's bodyweight exceed their capacity to walk....

Therefore....I've gone with the "Label Rouge" European style birds.
Yes...they take at least twice as long to raise to slaughter weight as the Cornish X, but boy they are WONDERFUL!

These birds can actually free range, and don't drop dead from heart-attacks, and have NO leg problems, nor liver/asities deaths.

The flavor is wonderful....tender, but not "mushy", but with a more developed leg muscle from their being able to run around and be a chicken.

I sold my first batch to a top-class restaurant with rave reviews.

I'll keep more of my present batch for myself!

Rachel,
TX

 

[FrenchHen]

I thought I was going nuts that the stink was so bad! I have five in the laundry room. They are the poopiest birds ever.
If I get more, it will be summer and they will be brooded outside.