dual purpose meat birds

[oldrooster]

I am considering getting chicks in the future and I know ordering DP chicks straight run instead of pullets and I expect 60% roos because from what I have read on these threads they advertise 90% sexed but if you order their meat specials people on here seem to get 98% to 100% roos (seems strange to me on 90% accuracy). that being said I know it will be a while to be able to sex, but will I be able to get them bigger after they reach maturity using feed for Cornish crosses? or at least with any significant growth?

 

[enel 1]

I can usally tell by the time my DP chicks are 2 or 3 weeks old which are cockerals by the size and redness of their combs. if you restrict the amount of room they have and give them a high protine diet they'll get bigger then if they were running around but its gonna take about 14 weeks till they'll be 3to4 lbs either way.

 

[oldrooster]

SO six one way a half dozen another, the way the debate here sounds you might get a little more meat on Cornish crosses but with the extra care and special food you may be breaking even in the end. I really want to know if that's the case or not, the only reason I was thinking straight run on DP is to get some roos at a decent price to put in the freezer. I am looking at 2-3 hatcheries that many on this forum seem to do good with (I realize they may not be "show" chickens and people will have some issues with any company) but I was wanting 20-30 hens and one gives away 25 (mostly roos) for every 50 chicks ordered so I think I might try them first and get 45-50 roos.

 

[enel 1]

actually the CX birds have a way better food to weight conversion,Its around 2lb feed=1lb of bird,so you'll end up feeding a DP bird for longer and more food in the long run and alot less meat in return,I like to raise a few cx's and throw what ever cockerels in with them as I figure out what chicks are boys and then after 8 weeks or so I harvest the CX and start another batch of cx chicks when there ready to go in the tractor I harvest my cockerels and so on. perpetual chicken

 

[oldrooster]

I see now 2x Cornish crosses to roos in the same time and just a couple of bucks difference in the price of the feed (if you kept them separate and no tractor/ treats)...... it's just what a person wants to deal with if you want fast meat cx with some hassel (messier must be butchered all at once etc. but lower feed cost for same # of birds and more meat) vs. less mess larger butchering window but more feed,