First Run of Cornish Cross Meat Birds and Super Excited!

[JRNash]

The scx make a good foundation to start your mad scientist experiments. Ive got my eye on a couple of the dark cornish over scx that will definitely be going to the next round.

 

[JRNash]

Just weighed one of the scx hens. She weighed 8-1/2 pounds.

 

[Dave C]

Nice hen, what age is she JR ?

 

[Birdinhand]

does anyone have a suggestion on what the best strain of Cornish cross is for a small back yard coop? I've tried two types and the COBB 500 (the ones at the beginning of this thread, if they are from Jenks) is way more "chicken-like", seems much hardier and more active, even able to free-range. I had no idea there were so many different kinds... it's hard to talk about them as one type of bird given how drastically different they can be.

 

[JRNash]

does anyone have a suggestion on what the best strain of Cornish cross is for a small back yard coop?  I've tried two types and the COBB 500 (the ones at the beginning of this thread, if they are from Jenks) is way more "chicken-like", seems much hardier and more active, even able to free-range.  I had no idea there were so many different kinds... it's hard to talk about them as one type of bird given how drastically different they can be.

There was a study done in Ethiopia comparing the the cobb to the ross. The cobb won hands down. They were judged on feed conversion,how many survived to processing weight and a few other factors. The cobb 500 excelled in all parameters.
That having been said,I guess it really depends on what your goals are.

 

[JRNash]

Metzer hatchery has Cx for .99 per 100. If memory serves correctly its the cobb variety

 

[JRNash]

If you are wanting a bird that is fairly trouble free then the Welps Slow Grow Cx makes a good dual purpose breed. IMO

 

[JRNash]

the slow grows at approx 1 yr old.They lay a nice large brown egg nearly every day

 

[Birdinhand]

There was a study done in Ethiopia comparing the the cobb to the ross. The cobb won hands down. They were judged on feed conversion,how many survived to processing weight and a few other factors. The cobb 500 excelled in all parameters.
That having been said,I guess it really depends on what your goals are.

Thanks! my goal is to find a bird that has a decent quality of life, is reasonably enjoyable to keep and has a good conversion rate of food/time/meat. so far, the COBB 500 seems like it's on the money, but I'm only 2 weeks in. having gone from one of the worst strains to this one and seeing such a radical difference, I just had to ask the question. I'd go with freedom rangers, except they do best when pastured from what I can tell, grow slower, and I have a neighbor who seems annoyed by just about any of my ventures, so I'm keeping them in the coop, out of sight at the opposite side of my lot from him (happy neighbor, happy life). I've added multiple layers to the coop so that I have them off the ground with lots of roaming space per bird. they seem quite happy so far. I think a lot of horror stories about CX stem from experience with some of the other commercial varieties that are bread to absolutely maximize the conversion rate without regard to the birds well being. so far, my 500's are plucky, run around and even fly a bit. I'm feeding them an organic mix, 18% protein.

 

[duluthralphie]

I have no idea what strain I get from Hoover. I know they get the eggs from somewhere in Arkansas.

I am interested in your slow grow JR. I might go for them next time around. I am trying to keep my toads going for now, I think they should be close to your slow grows.


I think I have 5 of them now! Bert Jr finally figured out his job. I am limiting their feed now.



Do you limit feed on the slow grows, or are you simply feeding the fermented feed so they puke it all back up because of acid reflux disease?