I would recommend Cornish Cross as pets over any other breed. With the right diet they will live several years. They are easy to handle (granted they are heavy), very docile and lay lots of jumbo eggs. I get a few broilers every year, and they follow me everywhere even after stuffing themselves at the feeder trough. I can pick them up without chasing them, and they seem to prefer my company, that can't be said for my other birds. Mine are three months now and I keep them with my reds and games. They are very active and doing well, they run the perimeter of the fence just for the sake of running. No breathing or leg problems here. Seems to me if anybody has something bad to say about raising broilers obviously hasn't given them a real try. They are fantastic birds! Keep it! just don't let it over eat.