Dark Cornish..

[al6517]

RIR should not be used as a half of any meat bird operation you will be very disapointed, RIR look like those skinny rubber chickens used for jokes when processed, they are bred for egg laying. we cannot be held to the same standard as our fore fathers when it comes to a true all purpose chicken. over the years the breeding has changed so much that they do not resemble the same chicken as they once knew. What will your customers be using the chickens for as far as cooking, several ethnic cultures prefer different breeds and meat qualities. ask a few questions maybe that could help guide you.

AL

 

[redhen]

They say a white rock mixed with a cornish..(i think)

 

[al6517]

That would be a white skinned bird in that combo, and will never breed true.

AL

 

[CityClucks]

Quote:
When you say "white meat bird," do you mean a meat bird that has white feathers? Or a bird with white skin?

 

[Misty Oak Ranch]

White Feathered. The fellow buys birds for people that want a "higher grade" (as in not cornish/rock crosses). So If I can find something that would fit into that bill, then I would be good. I had looked at the French rangers, not a bad looking bird that would work.

 

[CityClucks]

Well...the Orpington was originally bred as a meat bird, and I think those are relatively early maturing - but as you've no doubt discovered, there's nothing like a Cornish Cross for fast growth.

 

[Goose and Fig]

Sussex are supposed to be good meat birds as well. I could never eat mine though- they're way too pretty. And great layers.

 

[jenjscott]

My buckeyes weighed half again as much as my orpingtons at 18 wks. I was thinking about trying a cornish/buckeye cross for a meat bird.

 

[Misty Oak Ranch]

After looking around online, I'm thinking that the Freedom Ranger will be my best bet. It fits into my projected budget, and it dresses out white, so that will be good, but most important is that its colored.

 

[tadkerson]

See if I have it correctly- you want a bird with yellow skin and the bird must have white feathers or white under color. The bird needs to be a slow growing bird with some meat on its bones.

If this is correct, you should buy some white laced red cornish- they will dress out without any black in their skin. I believe you could get a good bird by crossing a delaware male on white laced red cornish females. If the females carry two dominant white genes every one of the offspring will have the white under color. My rhode island silver (similar to delaware) grow much faster and are larger than my RIR. I think it has to do with linkage at the S locus.

You would most likely have to do some more crossing to get the exact bird you want from the delaware/cornish cross.

The yellow ranger may have dominant white in its genetic make up. The other birds may show black spots in the skin. You need a bird that carries dominant white to eliminate the any black spots in the skin.


Tim