Cornish X--Never again

[Chicktastic]

Is the cornishX exactly what it sounds like - a cornish crossed with another type? Are they always a F1?

It seems like if they are going to be slaughtered at 8 weeks or so that they wouldn't ever get to breeding age. What is the cross? Is there any one specific cross?

The actual cornish chickens don't suffer from this do they? Would I risk getting one of these crosses if I had a cornish in my flock?

I am asking because I really don't know much about these chickens and I want to learn. I don't think I want to go the meat chicken route, at least not right now. But my sons are interested in cornish because they look very cool. I don't want an unintentional broiler because it would be my luck that would be my favorite!

 

[silkiechicken]

The cornish x is a cornish crossed with a rock. You won't get either if you order just cornish. The cornish line has 60 years of selective breeding in them, to match perfectly with the rock line, that also has 60 years of selective breeding, with the parent birds kept on the breeder farms to make the F1 crosses that are the cornish x birds.

 

[Chicktastic]

So, I am safe if I never have both a cornish and a rock in my flock, right?

Well genetics are pretty cool. It sounds like this cross definitely has it place and purpose. Do both the hens and the roos grow in the same way?

Maybe one day, a long time down the line I will order some and try it out. For now I will stick with my ordinary chickens.

 

[Brunty_Farms]

There is four lines that go into a cornish x rock cross. You have the grandparent stock and the parent stock.

Each parent stock has it's own set of parents as well (this is where the four lines start). For example the males have their own parents and the females have their own parents. They then cross the f-1 males and the f-1 females together to create the cornish x rock chicks you buy at the hatchery.

It's a series of crosses which makes it so difficult to mimmick or recreate yourself.

But... the cornish x rock parents if fed a diet like their offspring will turn into broilers. They are given a very selective diet..... males can only eat out of certain feeders and females can only eat out of certain feeders. They are only given so much feed / day (all done by computers)

For example the males of the female parent stock are not used, they are called by-products and sold like broilers to growers by the thousands every week / hatchery.

You can slow the growth down of a broiler to a normal chickens growth if you properly feed it right and have the right housing. Google a search on "housing broiler breeders" and I'm sure that will give you plenty of information.

So, I am safe if I never have both a cornish and a rock in my flock, right?

No.... this cross will not give you the cornish x rock found in hatcheries.... just a start of what has been 60+ years in the making of what it is today.

Genetics are a lot of fun to understand... the males and females grow about the same rate. Males are usually larger.​