Again ... the CornishX as it is the most efficient converter of feed to meat, bar NONE ! University geneticists together with industry companies have spent years in selective breeding as well as millions of dollars to finally come up with a select 4 way cross in what today is known as the CornishX. You will be wasting time and money in an attempt to even come close with a crossbred with the genetics that are out there today.
Crossing a dark Cornish roo over a white rock hen is supposed to have decent results. It won't be like the "real" Cornish crosses in size. But if you're looking for something to produce at home the hatchery CX's are obviously worthless.
There are many threads on here about this very thing, you could spend days reading all the posts on the different crosses people have tried, though it seems the most common line of thought is the dark Cornish crossed with any number of dual purpose breeds. Some like delawares as meat birds and buckeyes as well seem a common one. There was one thread a while back which someone was able to keep a Cornish x hen long enough for her to start laying and hatched some eggs which obviously didn't breed true but did still have very good meat bird characteristics for use in their breeding program. I want to try breeding a good meat bird as well some day but I don't have the setup to mess with it right now, for starters I thought about trying to breed some Indian Rivers then crossing their offspring with the dark Cornish rooster. I know many scoff at the idea of doing this and say the Cornish x is the only way to go for a meat bird as far as feed conversion/cost goes however I would like to do it more as a hobby to see what I can come up with.
im thinking of cross breeding my BR with my NHR , hoping to get a few Delaware looking birds...? I love that coloring & read a lot about this cross, at least they would be good egg layers, & very hearty birds that would be calm & friendly , so im waiting for a broody Wyandott mama for these planned chicks , cant wait to see what can come of this cross...?
