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- #11
summerb123
Free Ranging


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Agree with Ravyn. Dark Cornish are one of the parent breeds of the modern Cornish Cross, but they're worlds apart.
Your DC hen won't have any other health issues than any of your dual purpose birds.
They may not be as fantastic of a layer as the more production bred birds like Rocks, Reds, or sex links, but they're decent enough layers. They're also great broody mommas if you're interested in hatching your own chicks next spring. And, if you're able to free range, they're great foragers and usually pretty predator savvy.
My DC hens were great about sneaking off to brood chicks, and raised them to maturity in the flock easily. Now, their female offspring with an Ameraucana rooster are my go-to broody hens, one is raising 7 chicks for me as I type.
There is a HUGE difference between Dark Cornish and CornishX...
CornishX are the extreme meat birds that should be processed while young due to growth rate...
Dark Cornish are also called Indian Game birds and are very similar to many game birds we are familiar with... great broody hens, great foragers and can be decent egg producers... they just aren't as prolific a layer as layer breeds and usually make a better table bird... but they will lay eggs and live just as long as any other chicken...