Difference in taste/texture for MMM Jumbo Cornish X & Cornish Roaster?

[WalkingOnSunshine]

I just ordered some Cornish Roasters from MMM for some customers of mine, but now I'm rethinking/overthinking the purchase. We raised some Cornish X last year for ourselves to try (YUM) and offered to custom raise birds for customers this year. I ordered Cornish Roasters instead of the Jumbo Cornish X since MMM stated the Cornish Roaster would forage better, even though it takes a bit longer to come to butchering size. That's all well and good, but will the birds be tougher or taste different than the Cornish X I slaughtered at 8 wks last year? These customers have never purchased pasture raised birds before and I don't want to scare them off. It would be best to have a more tender bird.

Anyone have experience with both or just the Cornish Roaster? Any insight would be appreciated--it might not be too late to change my order.

Thanks,

Erika

 

[scooterward]

Looking for an answer to this too as I also ordered the Roasters because of the slower growth (but not by much!).

 

[Slinkytoys]

I've raised the Roasters several times (because of my 7,300 altitude) and have been very pleased with them. Lost only one to "flip", went to 11+ weeks and got @7 lbs average, dressed with mostly hens. Very moist and tender. I don't think you'll be disappointed with them.
Slinky

 

[jaku]

I'm somewhat skeptical that it's even a different bird. McMurray is famous for questionable promotions of their birds, for example, the "frypan special," which is really just the roosters that no one wants, and the "Cornish Game Hens," which are just Cornish X's, butchered earlier. If I recall, the "roasters" are supposed to be butchered at 12 weeks, which shouldn't give you a tough bird either way. Cassie lets her birds get that old on a regular basis, and I don't think she has any problems with texture.

 

[aclee]

I ordered some of each for my first attempt at meaties, and I can sort of tell who is who. The Cornish X are much bigger, and feathered in slower. My cornish are all males and my roasters are straight run.

There are certainly 12 chickens in there, a mix of male and female that feathered in much faster and nicer than others, and that are smaller than all the rest...they are also the most patient about being fed, and don't ever seem to have the grossly over full crop like all the cornish X do.

So that's what I've noticed about them so far...I have no idea on taste and I doubt I'll take the time when they are butchered to have them marked in some way, but maybe I'll be able to tell by weight since I'm doing them all at once...not sure.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

That's some great info, aclee. Thanks. What you describe sounds great, as long as they taste good.

Erika