First Run of Cornish Cross Meat Birds and Super Excited!

[duluthralphie]

I just helped one out of the egg. Ive noticed that a few have a really hard time hatching,they appear to be too large for the egg.Is that even possible?? What say you Doctor Ralph

I am not sure, I think I lost my Doctor degree in the last few days. I am having a B of a Time with this hatch!

I tried hatching in the 1202 for the first time..BIG mistake.

If the humidity is too high supposedly you can end up without enough room in the egg for the chick to turn and hatch. I have no idea if that is fact or myth as I heard it on BYC.

 

[Dave C]

Dave that is a great looking rooster. I'm looking forward to seeing these crosses

Thanks Jr, he is from a pure hatch of Ixworth's I did back 3 years ago & gave my mate a trio, as a put breed they lay really well but at 22 weeks the cockerels are mainly frame !!
So I have high hopes that a cross with a broiler will make what I'm looking for.

Do you get Ixworth's in the US ?

 

[Dave C]

Picked up 21 Sasso meat chicks this morning, couldn't get the red type I had last year which was very disappointing, so had to go for a slow growing Salmon type.

 

[duluthralphie]

Thanks Jr, he is from a pure hatch of Ixworth's I did back 3 years ago & gave my mate a trio, as a put breed they lay really well but at 22 weeks the cockerels are mainly frame !!
So I have high hopes that a cross with a broiler will make what I'm looking for.

Do you get Ixworth's in the US ?

No Idea, I have never heard of a Ixworth before.

 

[JRNash]

I've heard of them,but I don't know if we have them. I understand your dilemma with "all frame" I don't for the life of me see how Jersey Giants were EVER considered as a meat bird.

 

[Molpet]

I've heard of them,but I don't know if we have them. I understand your dilemma with "all frame" I don't for the life of me see how Jersey Giants were EVER considered as a meat bird.

lol JG grow slow ..have to wait a few months after they get their frame
".. reach maturity at 8 to 9 months.." http://nationaljerseygiantclub.com/index.cfm/pageid/22

 

[Dave C]

Things are there to be improved on.
If our traditional meat breeds were that good we wouldn't need to cross them or have hybrids and where's the fun in that

Hopefully the large frame of the Ixworth will complement the meat yield of the broiler, will know more in about 4 months.
If it works well I will then have to think about the next addition of pure breed or broiler as I think the 3 way cross will be the base of my project before I start crossing back for type.

 

[duluthralphie]

We have a huge void in meat birds. We have CX's which are amazing birds, but they are not sustainable as a breed. Unless one wants to practice AI and breed every bird by hand they are doomed.

We need a large bird that matures into a HUGE table bird without taking 9 months to get there, in my humble opinion.

Sure, we get lucking now and then and a CX reproduces naturally, but the chances are just slightly less than a meteor hitting JR's pet gator between the eyes. I like what you guys are doing. The JG is an interesting choice, but how tender is the meat when it finally matures?

I want it all and to be able to have it reproduce so I do not have to buy the chicks.... I want to raise my own meat birds here from my own stock..

I am looking at Rainbows back into the mix, but then the age thing kicks in.

 

[JRNash]

From what I've seen so far with my birds,the slow broiler x rocks looks to be the best to date.Im going to try the Saipan over the broilers and see what happens. The saipan are slow maturing but have massive breasts and a wide back

 

[Dave C]

It makes me laugh that we are on different sides of the pond but trying to breed similar projects.
Yes it has to be sustainable for me as well.

Similar to you guys I'm looking to start with slow broilers, they are the chicks I picked up on Saturday, the Sasso that are being crossed with the Ixworth are medium broiler types, they will make an interesting cross back to my slow broilers next year.
I'm then wanting another line which will be medium broiler X DC X rocks.

Are you guys looking to eventually breed true with your projects and uniform color, markings etc ?