Here is another update to my ongoing saga of breeding 'Cornish Crosses' from my own flock. In the past, I had crossed my Dark Cornish on Barred Rocks and Speckled Sussex. I like the taste, they grew faster than any purebred, but they were still 'skinny' compared with a custom bred broiler. The keel sticks out and they aren't as plump and body conformation isn't perfect. So for now, I raise these only for myself and sell the Freedom Rangers to customers (by the way, I'm using the Red Bro's now and they are hungry little buggers aren't they?).
So this last round, I crossed my Dark Cornish rooster onto Black Sex Links and Freedom Rangers (black). They've been living with my last crop of 50 Golden Freedom Rangers, so they have been managed identically. They were just 1 week older is all.
So, yesterday, at 9.5 weeks of age I took in my Gold Rangers for processing along with my home crosses, which were 10.5 weeks old.
Let bands are visible in the photo, which we recorded, and the processor is going to leave the legs on them. We will then have a blind tasting amongst our friends here on the island amongst:
a) Golden Ranger
b) MM Jumbo Cornish Cross
c) Cornish X Black Sex Link
d) Cornish X Freed Ranger
Here are some photos:
Dark Cornish X Black Sex Link
Gold Freedom Ranger
Probably a Cornish X Freedom Ranger (gourmet black)
Cornish X Freedom Ranger
This picture demonstrates that my home Cornish Crosses have a LOT of Cornish in them. They are very erect and tall compared with other broilers. The two on the left at the netting are the Cornish X BSL and they stand much higher:
Looking at the photos from the Hubbard catalog, I made the realization that the 'Cornish' and 'Rock' in a Cornish Cross look very little like their respective breeds. So it makes me wonder if I ought be using hybrid sires and dames as well??
So, next steps and summary:
1) You can breed your own broilers. They just won't be as explosive in growth as your custom bred hybrid broiler. BUT, they will grow faster than any purebred out there.
2) I will report on how the carcasses look when we get our birds back on Wednesday.
3) I can tell you right now, of all the backyard crosses I have done, the Cornish X Freedom Ranger was heavier by at least a pound than anything else I ever made. So that will be a route to go forward with as I'm holding back some Golden Rangers for breeding.
4) At this time, my crosses don't have the correct body conformation to sell to customers, but I certainly enjoy making them myself. Hey, why ship them half way cross the country if you can just make your own, hatch them and eat them?
I'm not sure when the blind tasting will be, but it should be interesting which is the most popular.
So this last round, I crossed my Dark Cornish rooster onto Black Sex Links and Freedom Rangers (black). They've been living with my last crop of 50 Golden Freedom Rangers, so they have been managed identically. They were just 1 week older is all.
So, yesterday, at 9.5 weeks of age I took in my Gold Rangers for processing along with my home crosses, which were 10.5 weeks old.
Let bands are visible in the photo, which we recorded, and the processor is going to leave the legs on them. We will then have a blind tasting amongst our friends here on the island amongst:
a) Golden Ranger
b) MM Jumbo Cornish Cross
c) Cornish X Black Sex Link
d) Cornish X Freed Ranger
Here are some photos:
Dark Cornish X Black Sex Link
Gold Freedom Ranger
Probably a Cornish X Freedom Ranger (gourmet black)
Cornish X Freedom Ranger
This picture demonstrates that my home Cornish Crosses have a LOT of Cornish in them. They are very erect and tall compared with other broilers. The two on the left at the netting are the Cornish X BSL and they stand much higher:
Looking at the photos from the Hubbard catalog, I made the realization that the 'Cornish' and 'Rock' in a Cornish Cross look very little like their respective breeds. So it makes me wonder if I ought be using hybrid sires and dames as well??
So, next steps and summary:
1) You can breed your own broilers. They just won't be as explosive in growth as your custom bred hybrid broiler. BUT, they will grow faster than any purebred out there.
2) I will report on how the carcasses look when we get our birds back on Wednesday.
3) I can tell you right now, of all the backyard crosses I have done, the Cornish X Freedom Ranger was heavier by at least a pound than anything else I ever made. So that will be a route to go forward with as I'm holding back some Golden Rangers for breeding.
4) At this time, my crosses don't have the correct body conformation to sell to customers, but I certainly enjoy making them myself. Hey, why ship them half way cross the country if you can just make your own, hatch them and eat them?
I'm not sure when the blind tasting will be, but it should be interesting which is the most popular.