How many of you FULLY Free Range your Cornish X Meaties? Tractors do not count.

[Whoopsie daisy]

Aoxa, your Barred Rock boy is a beauty! I just got my first trio of Barred Rocks and hoping to cross the Rooster with some of the current Cornish X pullets I have. I got the trio because I saw the result of your BR over CX and really liking it, so I will try the same thing. How are those chicks doing now?

Here are two pics of my Roo. He always turns away when I try to take a pic, so I think he's camera shy. But I do note his tail is up high, unlike yours. I live in South Africa and got them from
a breeder who breeds for show, so our standard may be different too? He's still very young - not even crowing yet...

 

[aoxa]

Aoxa, your Barred Rock boy is a beauty! I just got my first trio of Barred Rocks and hoping to cross the Rooster with some of the current Cornish X pullets I have. I got the trio because I saw the result of your BR over CX and really liking it, so I will try the same thing. How are those chicks doing now?

Here are two pics of my Roo. He always turns away when I try to take a pic, so I think he's camera shy. But I do note his tail is up high, unlike yours. I live in South Africa and got them from
a breeder who breeds for show, so our standard may be different too? He's still very young - not even crowing yet...

The chicks are doing wonderful. I must say they are very tame. They walk right up to me and look me in the face, like "Where is ma treats woman!?"

I must get new pictures. They are the size of a full grown chicken now. Both are beautiful girls. I look forward to continuing the line.

They will be 13 weeks tomorrow.

 

[Whoopsie daisy]

Quote:
Will be great to see some pictures of them

 

[aoxa]

I meant to post this when I last was on here, but time got away from me. Here is one of the two girls the day before her 13th week birthday

I can't believe that means they are 17 weeks now! WOW. They are squatting too. Very friendly girls.

 

[southernmomma]

I meant to post this when I last was on here, but time got away from me. Here is one of the two girls the day before her 13th week birthday

I can't believe that means they are 17 weeks now! WOW. They are squatting too. Very friendly girls.

So, with this pullet~ do you plan to breed her back to Jagger? That makes sense to me.

I find her attractive. Her back looks remarkably flat and she's wide without being grossly so.

I had no idea CC could be free ranged; this was such a great thread to find. How much feed/day did you give them? Did you start them out as conventional CC with free feeding before they were old enough to free range? Was the feed fermented or soaked? Several questions I know, but it's such a nice way to raise them my curiosity is piqued.

M

 

[aoxa]

So, with this pullet~ do you plan to breed her back to Jagger? That makes sense to me.

I find her attractive. Her back looks remarkably flat and she's wide without being grossly so.

I had no idea CC could be free ranged; this was such a great thread to find. How much feed/day did you give them? Did you start them out as conventional CC with free feeding before they were old enough to free range? Was the feed fermented or soaked? Several questions I know, but it's such a nice way to raise them my curiosity is piqued.

M

I started out with soaked feed. The bugs are too hot to let it sit long enough to ferment here in the summer.. I realize it wouldn't be a huge deal - but bugs in the feed grosses me out. So we started soaking it instead. We fed all waking hours (dawn until dark) for the first 2 weeks. Then they were free ranged. Started with 3 times a day, for 30 minutes at a time. At 4 weeks we were down to twice a day (same amount of time).

I am going to breed them to either their father, or a Buckeye. I find the Buckeyes grow faster, and mature to POL faster. If it doesn't work out, I will try taking the original pullets back to Jagger.

She has a Rock figure

 

[southernmomma]

@aoxa She does have a Rock body!! You could sell her eggs as Speckled Rocks (kidding!).

I hope you are able to incorporate her genes into a breeding program.....and I hope you continue to post about the success or failure of your efforts. So often I run across threads that are brimming with enthusiasm but peter out after just a few posts and that person never updates their efforts. For what it's worth, there is another forum I read that has a couple of posters stating that with strict management they keep CC alive for up to three years. Three years! I have no way of verifying that but the claim wasn't for any reason other than as contribution to a conversation.

I find it interesting that people like yourself are raising and keeping this breed in direct opposition to what the hatcheries say is possible; that the care instructions and feeding regimen given as specific to this breed create a scenario that inhibits longevity, egg laying or breeding and therefor perpetuates a system of profit.

Way to buck the system

M

 

[aoxa]

@aoxa She does have a Rock body!! You could sell her eggs as Speckled Rocks (kidding!).

I hope you are able to incorporate her genes into a breeding program.....and I hope you continue to post about the success or failure of your efforts. So often I run across threads that are brimming with enthusiasm but peter out after just a few posts and that person never updates their efforts. For what it's worth, there is another forum I read that has a couple of posters stating that with strict management they keep CC alive for up to three years. Three years! I have no way of verifying that but the claim wasn't for any reason other than as contribution to a conversation.

I find it interesting that people like yourself are raising and keeping this breed in direct opposition to what the hatcheries say is possible; that the care instructions and feeding regimen given as specific to this breed create a scenario that inhibits longevity, egg laying or breeding and therefor perpetuates a system of profit.

Way to buck the system

M

Thanks

We are on our second year raising them. Bought all pullets this time, and only 25. Processing is a lot of work, and we wouldn't eat more than that in one given year.

Hoping next year we won't have to purchase any. Probably will. I'm giving it a few years to make something we can process between 12-14 weeks. That is my goal. It does not need to be huge, but something averaging 3-4 pounds packaged would be awesome, with nice ample breast meat. The breast is what the heritage dual purpose breeds lack until they are mature, and at which point they can't go in the rotisserie because they'd be too tough. We rotisserie all our chicken pretty much. Or BBQ. We get rid of our DP males rather than use them for meat.. We sell them as soon as they are Silkie size to the zoo for $2.50 each. I can't be bothered doing all that work for DP boys.

 

[BayWest Farm]

This has been an excellant thread and a total inspiration to get a small quantity of cornish x and free range them here on my property....

Aoxa, Please keep us updated on your two little pullets... John

 

[LindaB220]

This has been an excellant thread and a total inspiration to get a small quantity of cornish x and free range them here on my property....

Aoxa, Please keep us updated on your two little pullets... John

If things work out I'm getting 25 in Sept. Really not sure what the difference in COBB 500 and CX. But that's what I'm getting.