I understand the business analysis, but man cornish x feel wrong!

[awesomefowl]

My Cornish X's aren't too bad; extremely messy, and somewhat evil, but mine have been on pasture (backyard lawn lol) since three weeks old, and they still are boppin' around like chicks, though a lot fatter!

 

[NYRIR]

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Yep...that's exactly why I don't...but I understand those who do.To each their own

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

I do & have no complaints.

 

[NYRIR]

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I think it was your post I saw with the free-ranging meaties? They looked happy and healthy...I just personally don't want to have to worry that much about feeding,health issues,etc.I'm sure there are ways to do it right and humanely as the pic in your other post shows.I also think though, that not all people will dedicate the time and effort to raise them that way

and that's when you get the stinky,unhealthy looking birds that die off like flies. Guess what I'm trying to say is...I understand they exist and they are the best feed/meat conversion birds around so they are more cost effective.I just personally feel for my family....we want heritage type birds.We chose to go with all heritage breed turkeys as well.Matter of choice...and to those who raise cornish x ,I have nothing against them doing it...just prefer to have a more "natural" chicken myself.

 

[FeedYourself]

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I don't feel icky personally, rather I feel fortunate, lucky, and blessed. I wouldn't trade my family's experience with CornishX...

 

[cassie]

Gee. I love my Cornish X. I don't free range them because I don't have the facilities to do so. I raise mine 25 at a time in a well ventilated 12 x 12 box stall in the barn bedded with shavings. Shavings are added as necessary to keep the stall dry. I do not clean the stall out until after the meaties are gone. I have hanging feeders and waterers. The height of the feeders and waters are adjusted so they must stand to eat and drink. The feed is on one side of the stall and the water is at the other so they have to walk a bit. I add Broiler Booster, a supplement available from Murray McMurray formulated for fast growing meat birds. It seems to help the leg problems. I check the birds carefully each morning and evening and any that are trying to come up lame (not many) or with a purplish comb get processed right then and there. I find them a low labor short term project and fun to raise. I raise them either in the fall after the worst of the heat has passed, or in the spring before it warms up. I wouldn't dream of trying to raise them in the hot summer months.

 

[Pineywoods Peepers]

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We just finished with our first batch of Freedom Rangers, and we're going to be doing it again in the fall. We didn't let ours out to free range, because we were splitting them with other folks, so I was afraid of losses. I think this fall, I may try free ranging them a bit and just accept that there might be a few losses.

Our birds did produce a lot of waste (not sure how the volume compares to CX's) but we had no cases of flip, leg problems, or any other health issues. They weren't nearly as mobile as our layers, but they were more active than I'd imagined. We harvested our birds at 9 weeks. I think we could have done them or the majority of them at 8 weeks old. I was surprised that they grew out that quickly because I was expecting to do them at the 10-12 week mark.

 

[matthewschickens]

You just spoke my thoughts. I agree with you 100%, but it's hard to find another alternative that's as easy and cheap.

 

[chickened]

I just raised 25 Freedom Rangers/red broilers I butchered the roosters 2 weeks ago and they were tough at 12 weeks. I sold the hens to the oriental market. I will never do the red broilers again. The CX's are a modern marvel and they do exactly what they were intended for very well. People get grossed out when they equate them to DP birds but there is no comparison. I respect anyone decision to avoid them I just happen to not be one of them.

 

[Brunty_Farms]

Well now... they aren't that bad. People need to understand they are not a layer, period. It's like apples and bananas.... BUT if raised right and cared for properly they fit the bill perfectly for what they are designed to do, feed people efficiently.

Here is a pic of some 9 week old birds in a "chicken tractor" at their prime... They are spaced out evenly, not hungry just relaxing. The next day after taking this picture they were processed and had over 150 happy families willing to eat good! This tractor was 1out of 4 that was ready.