Oh, the shame of it all . . . my meaties were so small

[Whitehouse Quail]

Maybe the pure breed screwed something up; Cornish xs are a whole lot better for time and money constraints.

 

[jaku]

Quote:
I guess if your raising birds for meat the cornish x's are they way to go, but they are such unpleasant little monsters that I would rather raise and eat a "normal" bird, even if it is less plump.

Its a matter of aesthetics and finances, and to each their own, of course. But if cornish x's were the only chickens available, I would raise ducks

The more traditional chicken breeds can produce a decent quantity of eggs and still be decent meat birds if harvested early. But most importantly (for me) they are beautiful and interesting to have around the farm yard.

Cornish X's can barely walk - sometimes can't walk, or won't walk at all. They poop all over themselves and just lay half dead from bloat in their pens. Gross.

I would have to disagree with that a bit. Cornish X's take a bit more work than layer breeds, which almost raise themselves, but every one of my birds walk a lot- every day. They are very alert and active. Yes, when they aren't eating, they usually aren't moving much, but they sit looking around, groom themselves like normal birds, and act perfectly fine. Birds that are pooping all over themselves and laying half dead in their pens are either sick, horribly mismanaged, or both. Of my current batch of 75, I've had two die (both within the first week in the brooder,) and two more that I've culled because they went lame. The rest are alert, active, and very healthy looking birds.