Dark Cornish Crosses

[Phunktacular]

I've seen tons of posts about crossing the Dark Cornish with other breeds but, none that actually list out the growth rates and experiences of raising them. I'm interested in what they were crossed with and process of weight gains compared to feed consumption and what the processing weight was and at what age they were processed. I'm finding times for the Dark Cornish as a purebred to be between 20-24 weeks to full roaster size.

I've been raising Cornish cross for the last few years and I've had mostly good luck with them. Would like something that I can hatch my own and raise as many as I want. I've got about an acre or so that I can allow them to free range on plus feed.

Any info and/or references would be great.

Thanks

 

[Molpet]

@Redhead Rae has dark Cornish / Cochin for meat

 

[archeryrob]

I'm following. I have dark cornish right now and just killed two roosters at 24 week and I can't say I find anything special about them over another dual purpose bird yet. But I haven't grille dit yet either.

 

[Redhead Rae]

I'm following. I have dark cornish right now and just killed two roosters at 24 week and I can't say I find anything special about them over another dual purpose bird yet. But I haven't grille dit yet either.

Did you get your darks from a hatchery? There is a big difference between show quality and hatchery quality. Hatcheries don't usually breed them for meat but for egg production. My Darks have MUCH more meat than a DP bird and I'm finding that they are pretty tender through 20 weeks.

I'm thinking about ordering some darks from a hatchery this spring and hatching some of my eggs to see how they look growing side-by-side.

 

[archeryrob]

I got mine from Ideal and the hens are pretty light. Where did you get yours or would you want to sell some eggs?
I got mine banded an weighed in week by week. The one rooster I know if good and is 6 pounds at 24 weeks now. The best 3 hens finally broke 4 pounds. It is all on my Dark cornish project thread.

 

[Redhead Rae]

I got mine from Ideal and the hens are pretty light. Where did you get yours or would you want to sell some eggs?
I got mine banded an weighed in week by week. The one rooster I know if good and is 6 pounds at 24 weeks now. The best 3 hens finally broke 4 pounds. It is all on my Dark cornish project thread.

I bought my breeder trio from a show breeder. The rooster was about 9lbs when I bought him at 6 months old. The hens were 6-7lbs. I may ship eggs next year, I was going to this year, but I had a baby back in June. The only things I hatched this year was guineas to sell. I hatched a lot of chicks from my trio in 2018 but I didn't weigh them as they grew. however, I got several 8+lb carcasses from my 6 month old cockerels.

 

[archeryrob]

Keep me in mind. I can upgrade my flock with your chicks. PM me when you're ready to sell some I can stick in the incubator.

 

[Phunktacular]

I would be, very much, interested in some of your Dark Cornish eggs, as well. Not many, though. 10 maybe, no more than 20.

 

[CindyinSD]

I would also be interested... definitely.

 

[Fairview01]

6.5 month white cornish