Crossing Cornish with others....

[pepper48_98]

That sounds great. I have had good luck with mine as well.

What are you thinking of crossing the cornish to get your meat birds? I am thinking of using welsummers . Do you know anyone that has tried this cross before?

 

[dancingbear]

I'm trying several different combos, to see what works the best. So far, the plans include Dorking, Delaware, Brahma, and whatever else I get a hold of. I was trying to get some Buckeyes and Faverolles, but that may have to wait awhile. I'd like to try Marans, Dominiques, and some others, too. Of course, I still need some Cornish!

I have to build more coop/pen space before I get too many more birds. I think my coop is about outgrown, now.

I haven't heard of anybody trying Welsummers, but sure, why not. Beautiful birds.

 

[maf2008]

This is the same thing that I am going to try... a cross of a broiler from a hatchery to a dark cornish... and see what happens. What are you expecting about 7/8 lbs in 12 weeks? this is what I am hoping for too.... how is it going so for?

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[dancingbear]

I'm not going to cross broilers with anything. I'm planning tp cross standard Cornish, not Cornish X's, with various other breeds.

Good luck with breeding broilers. I hear it can be done if you restrict the feed, so they don't die before they can breed.

 

[Agape Builder]

Jenny,

Let me know what sort of results you get if you get yours done before me. I was supposed to get 4 dozen fertile BR eggs this past week, but my order got delayed because the lady's hens cut production radically all of the sudden and she was having a hard time supplying her regular egg customers. She says she will give me whatever she has this coming Wednesday or so.

So, after I get the eggs, I have three weeks until hatch, and then another six months or so before they start laying eggs or so. That does not account for the fact that I don't have any pure cornish either. I have one little 3 month old roo that is dominant but is little. He looks like he is mostly dark brahma with possibly some dark cornish, but I am not relying on his stock. I want the pure dark cornish. So, I have to wait for that as well. If I go from eggs, well, I obviously am in for quite a wait.

On another line of thought, I got the upright freezer for my incubator project. I have a 12" W x 48" H argon filled and low-E coated insulated dual pane window to put in the front door, and I have a large heater for it as well. My biggest expenditures will be for egg turners, which I hope to start collecting this week when I buy one for my borrowed Hovabator for the BR eggs.

 

[country freedom]

Any color of Cornish if you don't mind a multi-colored flock, crossed with Partridge Rocks.
Partridge Rocks are excellent broodies , since the broody trait was never bred out like most other breeds.

 

[country freedom]

edited to add: Cornish also go broody.

 

[Agape Builder]

I prefer to use either Dark or White Cornish roosters and White or Barred hens. Here is the reason... Other varieties of Cornish such as the White-Laced Red Cornish are smaller and have slower growth rates. They are best for show, but not as good as the White or Dark Cornish for meat production roos. The same is true for the Plymouth Rocks. Partridge Rocks are pretty, but they grow much slower than either the Barred or White Rocks. They also mature at a smaller size and rate overall.

The common Cornish X broilers people buy are a cross of White Cornish roo with a White Rock hen, both known for their good rates of growth and size and meat qualities. I am not looking for particular coloration, but I would like to stay away from pure white because of predators and I would like to worry more about the production qualities. These factors drive my choice of breeds and the reason for being picky about the specific varieties of Cornish and Rocks used.

 

[estpr13]

Jenny and anyone else around central Kentucky.

I have some extra 10 weeks old, dark cornish roos that I need to get rid of anytime now. They do have the faults of having long legs and long tails but otherwise look cornish. I don't know if you would be interested.

I will try to get a picture of my Dark Cornish roo X Delaware hen's Rooster compared to a New Hampshire roo. He is bigger but younger. The hens of this cross are mostly small and lay small eggs but the three roos are big.

 

[dancingbear]

Rick, sent you a PM!