Injured Cornish X

[humblehillsfarm]

A funny side effect of this whole thing that I've noticed is, she's actually quite friendly now, which I feel a little bad about
She comes right up to people, closer than the others, even though they chase me anytime they spot me, she'll try to fly up to land on me, though she can't quite get all the way to my shoulder yet. Spunky little pullet, I really doubted she would pull through.

Didn’t your mama ever tell you not to okay with your food?

Seriously though I’d struggle putting it down for food after spending time with it. What did you say you were going to do with them again? Try breeding?

 

[Josh L.]

Didn’t your mama ever tell you not to okay with your food?

Seriously though I’d struggle putting it down for food after spending time with it. What did you say you were going to do with them again? Try breeding?

Yeah, it's a bit of a long story to explain what its evolved into, but ill be keeping some for a little breeding project. Depending on if she heals to 100%, I may keep her, though I'll be concerned about her leg's integrity even though it was only a strain. The whole plan is to breed for a second generation, pick the healthiest and strongest of gen 2, then cross those with a prolific layer breed for my home flock of quality, fast growing dual purpose birds. Its more of an experiment than anything tbh, because I'd ideally like a dual purpose that matures a little faster than usual dual purpose breeds, so I'll be trying a number of different crosses. Not a fan of barred rocks, which are my original hens, and I will not be getting more, but my Barred rock/EE rooster is a fantastic bird, so I may get some EE hens for him for a colorful egg basket, but I'd still like a good, but fast-maturing dual purpose.
I guess the goal is to find the best cross for my personal use and also for my relatives. I personally don't eat meat, and am raising a few of the Cornish for my mother, and a few to keep for my breeding experiment. Cornish x's weren't my original choice, I planned to get rangers to do this with, but I figure its worth a shot.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Yeah, it's a bit of a long story to explain what its evolved into, but ill be keeping some for a little breeding project. Depending on if she heals to 100%, I may keep her, though I'll be concerned about her leg's integrity even though it was only a strain. The whole plan is to breed for a second generation, pick the healthiest and strongest of gen 2, then cross those with a prolific layer breed for my home flock of quality, fast growing dual purpose birds. Its more of an experiment than anything tbh, because I'd ideally like a dual purpose that matures a little faster than usual dual purpose breeds, so I'll be trying a number of different crosses. Not a fan of barred rocks, which are my original hens, and I will not be getting more, but my Barred rock/EE rooster is a fantastic bird, so I may get some EE hens for him for a colorful egg basket, but I'd still like a good, but fast-maturing dual purpose.
I guess the goal is to find the best cross for my personal use and also for my relatives. I personally don't eat meat, and am raising a few of the Cornish for my mother, and a few to keep for my breeding experiment. Cornish x's weren't my original choice, I planned to get rangers to do this with, but I figure its worth a shot.

So who would be processing them if you don’t eat meat? Or would you still do that yourself? I really commend you if you’re the processor!

I hope you achieve what you’re looking for. I had a Dominique/mix cockerel that matured at lighting speed compared to any non-Cornish X, but it didn’t seem that he passed on his genes to his offspring. I bred him to EEs and a brahma. They did all seem to physically grow a little faster, but it’s week 20 now and none of laid. I processed his only male offspring at 19 weeks. He was only 3 lbs 4 oz dressed out compared to the avg 6-7lbs I got from CX at 9 weeks.

Id love to cross him with my barred rock because she was my first to lay and after molting in September she started cranking out monster eggs in December. She’s an incredible layer. If he can pass on some of his early maturing genes I should get a barred-rock lookalike. It would be fantastic if the hens started laying early.

 

[Josh L.]

So who would be processing them if you don’t eat meat? Or would you still do that yourself? I really commend you if you’re the processor!

I hope you achieve what you’re looking for. I had a Dominique/mix cockerel that matured at lighting speed compared to any non-Cornish X, but it didn’t seem that he passed on his genes to his offspring. I bred him to EEs and a brahma. They did all seem to physically grow a little faster, but it’s week 20 now and none of laid. I processed his only male offspring at 19 weeks. He was only 3 lbs 4 oz dressed out compared to the avg 6-7lbs I got from CX at 9 weeks.

Id love to cross him with my barred rock because she was my first to lay and after molting in September she started cranking out monster eggs in December. She’s an incredible layer. If he can pass on some of his early maturing genes I should get a barred-rock lookalike. It would be fantastic if the hens started laying early.

I'll be processing myself, because to me its about making sure I can cut down the demand for store bought, cruelly raised animals. Its not something I enjoy in the slightest, but if I can keep even one animal from going through factory farming, I'll do it. Ultimately, it doesn't make a huge difference, and it may only be one or two animals in the long run, but its better than not trying at all. Farming needs serious reform, and if everyone raised their own chickens and other animals, the demand would drop considerably and animal husbandry and housing conditions would be significantly better.

I love barred crosses, but "pure" barred rocks, in my experience, have been a nightmare. Fantastic layers, but they really do pick on everyone, and if it weren't for their laying ability, they'd be in a stock pot for family, or rehomed, by now.

I'm hoping my 2nd gen layer flock has a few olive eggers in it, since Mister GG's sisters have all been blue and light green layers. I got him from a local lady, because I was looking for a nice, friendly roo and he was being picked on by his dad. All the other roos I had looked at were awful and brutal to hens, but he was a complete gentleman, so he came home with me. hard to catch, but very calm once caught, and he's never gone after people before, except occasionally squaring up, but never anything past that.