Cornish X secret revealed! Ran across this and wondered if it is true.

[Bossroo]

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YUP !!! Too, about a half century and a whole bunch of millions of dollars and millions of chickens ago, some very smart geneticists may have spotted a new mutation, or two, or three and was able to then have it to successfully reproduce. This resulted in a patent or two, or three for the grandparent lines to cross to produce the parent male lines and female lines to cross to produce the now very successful terminal crossbred bird that is the most efficient feed to meat converter in all of chickendom, and that has a limited life span and not be able to reproduce in its' own immage or in any great numbers... .Then a very smart marketing expert came up with the brand name of "Cornish X". The rest is history, as BILLIONS of these birds are produced very profitably to the corporations while being able to be commercially sold to the consuming public at the local grocery store WAY BELOW the production costs of what any small backyard breeder can produce on their own. Clear as mud !

 

[Ridgerunner]

There was an extremely long thread on here about people trying to raise Freedom Rangers and breed them, and also some threads about raising and breeding the Broilers, sometimes called Cornish Cross or Cornish X. Some people had some success, but it was usually very limited and often totally unsuccessful. It takes a lot of work and dedication for it to have much chance of success.

I really don't think there is a "fast growth" gene. I think it is purely seelctive breeding over many generations by people that really know what they are dioing and that are able to hatch out a whole lot of chickens to select from and also keep very detailed records of growth rate and feed conversion to help them make that selection. They could actually make a chicken that has an even better growth rate, but the skeleton can't grow fast enough to keep it from breaking down. It is a pretty fine line maximizing growth rate yet keeping them alive and healthy enough to utilize that growth rate without losses being unacceptably high.

The commercial egg laying breeds are much the same. Breeders selected certain breeds to start with, obviously using leghorns as a base for most if not all of them, and have produced a chicken that starts to lay Grade A large eggs fairly early, after a forced molt, and will lay the right sized eggs practically every day with the right feed, light and housing regimen for a long and hard laying season. They are not designed for longevity and they can have medical problems in other than their "ideal" circumstances. These are still chickens and will sometimes do quite well in a backyard flock, but they are just not as hardy as our regular dual purpose birds.

For both the broilers and the commercial egg layers, I think it is a case of slective breeding over many generations with a lot of hatched chicks to choose from, not anything as random as a mutated gene'

 

[galanie]

And by the way, don't sweat it if the subject has come up before. There's lots of subjects and lots of questions in all sections here that come up over and over and over and no one screams about them so no reason to scream about this one coming up multiple times either. It's a valid conversation for a chicken board.

 

[WVDan44]

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I have to agree with you on this one. Who knows when one of us will stumble onto a cross that is heretofore unheard of and produce the next super chicken with hybrid vigor that takes us to the next giant leap in a meat chicken breed. This kind of discussion could inspire someone to try a new approach that works. Now, if I could just invent a chicken that cleans up after itself....

 

[kfacres]

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I couldn't have said it much better myself...

read my BYC page.

 

[Cowgirlgrace]

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I couldn't have said it much better myself...

read my BYC page.

Thanks for your BYC page. That was very informative. Are you actually doing this project? Too bad you are so far away. I have a question. Would it be possible to get the same results using Freedom Ranger females in the first cross?

 

[kfacres]

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I couldn't have said it much better myself...

read my BYC page.

Thanks for your BYC page. That was very informative. Are you actually doing this project? Too bad you are so far away. I have a question. Would it be possible to get the same results using Freedom Ranger females in the first cross?

Where do you live? You'd be suprised at my travel routes, and contact list over the countryside.

Personally, I have not "really" started this project yet, althought I kind of have. I have a set of 4 half hatchery, half breeder quality Cornish pullets, which I could consider to be a DP breed-- which will be covered by a great Cornish male this hatching season- I'm not sure which step you would consider that though- either F1 or F2... I'm planning on keeping the females from that cross though, or atleast some of the better ones. I most interested in seeing how long it takes me to get them up to par with the rest of my flock- if ever. But if I end up keeping enough of them, I'll likely stick in a few for this project.

I do also have a pair of pullets that we kept back this year, which are DC x Maran- although this really isn't much over hatchery quality- so right there is some DP influence. Either way, I think I have that step covered- kind of- for right now.

As of right now, I do not have any CX birds left around. By the time I thought of this breeding scheme, our spring batch was already butchered, our freezer full- and the rest of our chicken pens as well. We'll have to wait until Feb or March to order the next batch- so that will be awhile. Now I do have a friend, who's trying to make a very meaty, blue egg layer- and he's got about 10 CX pullets, which should be getting ready to lay- I think being covered by either a breeder quality DCornish, or an Ameraucauna... I'm actually thinking of getting something from him instead of wasting a year making my own.

My biggest setback through it all, will be finding a pair, or trio of high quality heritige birds, breed really doesn't matter to me- just so they have quality, and meat. To make my ideal cross work out, I need to use something like this, high quality, from the same line, and do it all from the beginning. I mean, sure which what I have right now, I could mix and match and peice together a breeding plan-- but it's not going to be the same, not going to be ideal. Follow me?

Now, with that said, I did pick up a breeding pair of SQ black Ameraucanas this summer, from the Jean Ribbick lines; and I think they are really good birds. The male, I'm sure will be a monsterous framed bird- as he's close to towering over many of my Cornish pullets, and the female average in size. They were purchased on a whim as my wife loves the blue eggs and I thought of running them with our general egg layers to make more blue eggs- but if push comes to shove I think I could work them into my breeding mix, even though they are not as wide and stout as something else I woud prefer.

The other thing keeping me from jumping in head over heals with this project, is our desire to move within the Feb- April time period. With both our jobs, we will be getting transfered at that point, and as or right now are unsure of where that's to be-- even though it shouldn't be far away. Once we get settled in, then it'll be birds galore and breeding like crazy again. Right now, at this rental place, we don't exactly have tons of space to keep birds of all different stages, breeding options, or ages. Let alone the thought of how much it's going to take to move all our crap.

To your question on using the FR birds-- I think it could be a legit option, although I don't think it would be as good. I've thought of this as well, especially considering how many people don't like the CX birds. The best arguement I can think of is , hypothetically, that the FR birds have a CX bird as a parent, and a DP bird as the other. When you bring this onto the scene, you're lossing two things- A- the consistancy factor of the CX birds- and B- you're injecting more DP into the final product, which should lower feed efficiency and meat quantity.

in terms of keeping the FR birds to breed with- I've heard they are exactly the same as the CX birds, poor do'ers, tons of double yolks, and a short laying span.

I guess in all honesty, to me-- going back to the tree to pick up my apple would be the best option, instead of picking it up downhihll of the apple tree in the ditch.

I've also been reseaching this CX background breeding.... and think I might be getting some leads on finding out where parent and grandparent stock might be located...

 

[Cowgirlgrace]

I live in WA state. So far I have some nice chunky Delaware. I have culled but bought them from breeders and there are some nice ones I've kept as I plan on breeding Delaware. I purchased Dark Cornish, supposedly not hatchery but it was from a breeder on ebay so there no guarantee. They are not as chunky as some I've seen but are nicer than most hatchery. Anyway, I have eggs in the bator from the cross and due on the 29th and the 7th. So I will have that part. Then I'm considering either CornishX or Freedom Rangers and do a few batches processed birds for sale this winter and if I do that I can keep a few hens back. I have a nice Delaware roo I can use on them. I need to do some more research though to see if anyone has done CornishX in fall and early winter in our area and their requirements. It doesn't get too cold on average so the birds should be fine with a few heat lamps but according to a temp license I can process in the open on a pasture which I would do as I don't have a formal facility and we get lots of rain so process time may be delayed depending on the weather. I need to check again as I might be able to use an easy up tent. I may decide not to go through with it. So thats where I'm at.

 

[ram333]

Sorry, I can't remember where I saw this on the internet but I did write it down and got curious to ask about it.

This site said this was the Cornish X formula. I know it's supposed to be a heavily guarded secret but maybe some disgruntled employee leaked it. Who knows! Thought I would share and see what others thought.

Indian Game Cock (Cornish) to Leghorn hen - keep the hens

RIR cock to White Wyandotte hen- keep the cocks

Breed the saved hens to the cocks and save the hens

Breed those hens to a Plymouth rock cock -Wallah! supposed to be THE Cornish Cross

Am curious also, if this is true, which cross adds the fast growth?

hello have anybody try it or can i have the link address

 

[ram333]

hello have anybody try it or can i have the link address

send answers ,links or clues to my mail :[email protected]