Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[oletymer]

Quote:
im new to meat bird and have a dumb question....if a meat bird get to big for its bones how do you even get eggs to keep the cycle going..

 

[Kinmera]

im new to meat bird and have a dumb question....if a meat bird get to big for its bones how do you even get eggs to keep the cycle going..

The Cornish crosses actually don't live long enough to breed. If it's too big for its bones then the bones break

 

[fisherlady]

No one wants to discuss meat bird eggs for my broody girl?

I searched once for both cornish and cornish cross eggs for broodies once.... found basically they weren't for sale at all from any private breeders and the hatcheries would only sell eggs for their hatchery level cornish, which weren't the quality of birds I was looking for. I wanted a high quality bird who could provide genetics for future generations.

I haven't given up my hope for my own cornish stock, but it is on hold for the time being. I have opted to focus on some large breed birds who would make good mixes for my broodies to raise with meaty males and females who would be decent layers to sell. I opted for Light Sussex and white rock and silver pencil rocks. We have been satisfied with the carcass quality at 18-20 weeks and since they are raised by broodies it is more of a win-win.... we get to watch the peeps with their broody mamas and enjoy them and we don't have to worry about dealing with the young roos being too small to be worth processing.

My suggestion would be to find a couple of large fowl breeds with decent growing rates and personality traits you like and raise a few of them to provide you future broody hatching eggs. Source your eggs from good stock and pay close attention to the Standard Of Perfection when you choose which to keep vs which to sell or butcher so your stock stays in good shape. We have really enjoyed the birds we went with, and a bit of research into breed traits will have you set in good shape for choices in short order....

 

[LadyBehir]

Hmmmm. so rangers are not available in small quantities? I really don't know what I would be looking for to do any sustainable breeding. I think I will try to break her. I keep tossing her out and she'll go get a drink and walk around and then right back to the box. I do not need any more layers.

 

[emorems0]

Quote:

Quote: Glad to hear there are no blockages! My dad just had a heart attack and it was a huge shock to everyone because he is in such good physical shape. I'm sure it was the smoking and daily tastycakes that finally caught up to him. He's since quit smoking but I'm not sure how much he's changed his diet... people (and many doctors) don't pay as much attention to inflammatory foods like sugar and grains and processed stuff as is really warranted. I love this video on the subject... I thought you and your husband might find it helpful (I'm hoping next time I'm home I can get my dad to watch it!).

Quote: I'm about an hour south of you near Beaver, PA. We have RIR, black australorps, delaware, dark cornish, bourbon red turkeys, and some cornish roasters that are due for processing next weekend (if hubs ever coordinates with his friend about the plucker!).
Delaware are supposed to be a good meat bird (that you could get eggs for)... I guess they were 'the' meat bird for a while before the cornish cross was developed. We have some that we want to eventually breed with the dark cornish for long term selective breeding, but they are supposed to be pretty good just as they are (no experience as mine are only ~8 weeks).

 

[BassetHound]

I have red broilers goin now, did cx last year. We didn't have any leg issues or sudden deaths. I think limiting feed and ranginging them is where we found success. We left one live. Started laying everyday like a normal bird. We finally killed her(12 pounds) because my roo was ripping her up. She couldn't get away from him.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

I have no idea how it happened...but somewhere along the line, I got old. Tonight my grandson says, "Are ya picking up what I'm putting down?"....uhhhhh what? He says, "it means, do you understand what I'm saying." I can't believe I have a seven year old explaining slang to me. Oh, and a goat. These girls are both due mid. June....can't wait!

Lol, that's funny. That was quick for your goats! Do you have a male permanently, or was that male just a stud? Love that you have may apples.... Awesome natural woodland plant!

Quote:

Quote: Glad to hear there are no blockages! My dad just had a heart attack and it was a huge shock to everyone because he is in such good physical shape. I'm sure it was the smoking and daily tastycakes that finally caught up to him. He's since quit smoking but I'm not sure how much he's changed his diet... people (and many doctors) don't pay as much attention to inflammatory foods like sugar and grains and processed stuff as is really warranted. I love this video on the subject... I thought you and your husband might find it helpful (I'm hoping next time I'm home I can get my dad to watch it!).

Quote: I'm about an hour south of you near Beaver, PA. We have RIR, black australorps, delaware, dark cornish, bourbon red turkeys, and some cornish roasters that are due for processing next weekend (if hubs ever coordinates with his friend about the plucker!).
Delaware are supposed to be a good meat bird (that you could get eggs for)... I guess they were 'the' meat bird for a while before the cornish cross was developed. We have some that we want to eventually breed with the dark cornish for long term selective breeding, but they are supposed to be pretty good just as they are (no experience as mine are only ~8 weeks).

Thanks for that video, I'm currently (and hopefully permanently) on a high fat, low carb diet and this video is very helpful.

 

[dheltzel]

Delaware are supposed to be a good meat bird (that you could get eggs for)... I guess they were 'the' meat bird for a while before the cornish cross was developed. We have some that we want to eventually breed with the dark cornish for long term selective breeding, but they are supposed to be pretty good just as they are (no experience as mine are only ~8 weeks).

Right, the broiler industry was concentrated in the DelMarVa peninsula then and the Delaware was a key breed. It has since become fairly scarce. The other part of the old fashioned broiler hybrids was the New Hampshire, an enlarged version of the Rhode Island Red. My understanding is that a hybrid of those 2 was the "go to" bird for broiler houses before they were replaced by the Cornish / White Rock cross we have now.

The hatchery quality birds of both of these are just colored layers. It makes sense if you think about it, a hatchery must optimize for lots of normal sized eggs to produce their raw materials (hatching eggs). The current broilers are Cornish (not especially good layers) crossed to White Rocks (excellent layers) so they can produce eggs cheaply, but get the paternal genes for large breasts.

I have heritage New Hampshires that I am not going to continue breeding past this year and am looking for people to carry on with them, or just benefit from the genetics. I think this strain is inbred and become too weak for my taste, but the roos would be awesome sires over some Delaware or Rock hens. They are pretty boys too. I'll give away eggs if anyone wants to come get them.

 

[winc564]

im new to meat bird and have a dumb question....if a meat bird get to big for its bones how do you even get eggs to keep the cycle going..

Not a dumb question, I was curious about it too. To get a Cornish X, a white Cornish rooster is bred to White Rock hens. It sounds simply, but it isn't. The hatcheries have breeding programs where they have very specific genetics for the birds that are chosen and the result is the Cornish X that grow very quickly. If a Cornish X would live to breeding age, the babies would not be Cornish X chicks. (From my very basic understanding.) Hope that helps!

 

[SilkieSensation]

Delaware are supposed to be a good meat bird (that you could get eggs for)... I guess they were 'the' meat bird for a while before the cornish cross was developed. We have some that we want to eventually breed with the dark cornish for long term selective breeding, but they are supposed to be pretty good just as they are (no experience as mine are only ~8 weeks).

Right, the broiler industry was concentrated in the DelMarVa peninsula then and the Delaware was a key breed. It has since become fairly scarce. The other part of the old fashioned broiler hybrids was the New Hampshire, an enlarged version of the Rhode Island Red. My understanding is that a hybrid of those 2 was the "go to" bird for broiler houses before they were replaced by the Cornish / White Rock cross we have now.

The hatchery quality birds of both of these are just colored layers. It makes sense if you think about it, a hatchery must optimize for lots of normal sized eggs to produce their raw materials (hatching eggs). The current broilers are Cornish (not especially good layers) crossed to White Rocks (excellent layers) so they can produce eggs cheaply, but get the paternal genes for large breasts.

I have heritage New Hampshires that I am not going to continue breeding past this year and am looking for people to carry on with them, or just benefit from the genetics. I think this strain is inbred and become too weak for my taste, but the roos would be awesome sires over some Delaware or Rock hens. They are pretty boys too. I'll give away eggs if anyone wants to come get them.

If you can ship I would love to have some, unless you are close to the Ohio border. Then I might be able to pick up.