First Run of Cornish Cross Meat Birds and Super Excited!

[Dave C]

Dave out of all the different brown eggers I've raised to date,the barred rocks have been the best dual purpose breed. They lay a medium dark brown egg consistently and the processed bird has the typical broiler look.Just on a smaller scale.I realize everyone will have a different choice,lol and the strain or line will also be a factor.

Thanks JR, I think I will try various different breeds crossed with these Sasso Broilers then make my mind up which way to go.
I have some Buff Rocks hatching next week fingers crossed, so will be interesting to see how they turn out.

 

[JRNash]

My regular cx broilers,are eating the 16% layer crumble.Im NOT restricting feed but there is serious competition and a major pecking order. They don't get to to just hog the feed. the older birds keep them on the run

 

[ShannonR]

It looks like it has the oriental game blood,real tight. body feathering and the way it stands,very upright carriage

Definitely an Oriental game cross

 

[duluthralphie]

Sounds like a plan. Im going to order a scale so i can keep up with mine

I use the "oh about so big method (moving my hands apart to approximate size).".. I weigh them when they are dressed. They do not squirm as much on the scale then.

 

[hellbender]

I use the "oh about so big method (moving my hands apart to approximate size).".. I weigh them when they are dressed. They do not squirm as much on the scale then.

 

[Dave C]

The slow grow Cx from welp are also excellent layers even though the hatchery claims the complete opposite.

Are the slow CX a healthier adult bird ?
If so would it be worth keeping a Rooster to breed back from ?

 

[cyborg]

@duluthralphie
OK, I know you said you wouldn't respond to this, but I feel this needs to be said. First, a clarification. There is wet feed, (usually called "mash" by the old-timers), and there is fermented feed. Basically, fermented feed is just mash that has been allowed to sit and "ripen" for some period of time.
What I feed my birds is more properly considered as mash, because I go through feed so fast it doesn't have enough time to properly ferment. I have about 150 chickens, and that does give me a hefty feed bill. I live in the desert, so free ranging is not much of an option, though I am working on planting desert friendly ground cover that is also chicken friendly.
OK. Wet mash is scientifically proven to increase the length of intestinal villi in chickens. The villi are like little fingers in the intestinal wall that absorb nutrients. Think about them like an inside out French tickler.
Once you have that image out of your mind, the mash (or fermented feed) increases the length of the villi, increasing nutritional uptake from the feed passing thru. Yes, you are right that the Cornish X probably doesn't need more nutrition, but think of it this way, the reason the old timers did it is because they weren't trying to increase nutrition, but get the same nutrition from less feed!

BTW, do you actually live in Duluth? I grew up in Cloquet in the late 60's.

 

[cyborg]

Almost forgot my recipe. I use a 3 quart feed scoop. 3 scoops of 15% layer feed, and 3 scoops of 30% game bird starter. Put it all in a 5 gallon bucket, it should be about 2/3 full. Fill to within about 2" from the top with water, and let sit until tomorrow. I am currently using 2 buckets a day for all my chickens.

 

[JRNash]

Dave the adult scx have done very well so far. This summer will tell the tale. Last summer they were only about 3 months old during the hottest part of the year.Now they are fully grown(and fat) so anticipate them having "some" problems. I can't handle the heat and I DON'T HAVE FEATHERS.lol

 

[Dave C]

Ha, we don't have much of that problem over here.

So would a scx x scx make easier breeding than using CX.
That's what I'm thinking with my slow grow Sasso broilers or cross them with a Medium broiler but it all depends on how they preform this year.