Dark Cornish as meat birds?

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

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They do look like raptors. When we are in the chicken house collecting eggs there is a roost at head level above the nest boxes, They always give you that look like "don't touch me"

Steve in NC

 

[the_great_snag]

Yes I agree on their looks. I love their tough guy appearance and their tree trunk legs!

I ordered 25 of them yesterday from Murray McMurray. I also threw in some Black Jersey Giants, Barred Rocks, and Delawares to keep it interesting. I wanted to get a few White Laced Red Cornish, but they were just so expensive. I'm going to do all roosters, as I intend to butcher all of them this fall.

I'm very excited to see how all these breeds develop. Most of my previous experience has been with OEGB's and Cornish X Rocks. I had a predator wipe out the only really mixed flock I ever had, but the Dark Cornish were definitely my faves out of that bunch. I was really angry that I never got to see them fully develop.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

We had a couple of Barred Rocks before and I wasn't really impressed with them, Always wanted to try Giants. There is a local poultry auction and every now and then some would come thru - huge birds, they would make every other chicken on the line look like bantams.

To bad you don't live close, we are getting ready to thin ours down for the summer. Some are already sold, we will freezer some and take the rest to a local flea market.

Steve in NC

 

[the_great_snag]

Yeah I really miss the local bird swaps we used to have in Iowa. I guess the chicken fancy is not nearly as popular here in MN.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

It suprises me around here sometimes the number of people that do have back yard flocks. Even the bigger cities are letting people have 3 or 4 hens only.

Steve

 

[lostsoulhelpmejebus]

I bought some Cobb eggs here on BYC, going to give them a try this year. Had Cornish cross last year and have no desire to go that route again. Will post once they are out and hatched, should be beginning of next month.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Let us know how those cobb eggs work out. we were thinking of getting some last year.

Steve in NC

 

[bigredfeather]

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If you fed them a 23% feed straight thru, what do you think they would dress out at when they were 20 weeks old?

BTW: I emailed you via ebay about getting some hatching eggs when my bator is fixed.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

I have no idea on that one, other than some Cornish X we raised to see how they worked out we don't raise birds just for fast weight gain. - Just a side note on X's, we raised them twice and there won't be a third time. Taste wise they just didn't cut it.

Steve in NC

 

[bigredfeather]

Quote:
At what age do you typically butcher your DC's?