Processed a Red Broiler at 8 wks (carcass pic w/ inards)NEW ckn pics

[Kim_NC]

Really nice job you did on the processing.

3 - 4 lbs (finished) is a favorite size for a lot of our customers. We deliberately process about 1/3 of our cornish x in that size. And 'cornish hens' in the 2 - 2 1/2 lb range also sell well for us.

Thanks for posting this. We're wanting to try another meat breed this year. We don't mind the cornish and will probably always growthem. But we really want to try something like these red broilers, freedom rangers, etc - have to make a choice.

I'll be back to hear the rest of your results in 3 weeks. Be sure to let us know how the texture and flavor turn out on this one!

 

[kooltex]

Quote:
Thanks! I'll post again in three weeks with all the weights.

 

[kooltex]

Okay, couldn't wait till another day, had to have some chicken! I soaked the cut up pieces in brine overnight, then in buttermilk for a couple of hours, then battered and fried that bird. It was soooooooooo good!! Very tender, and the texture was perfect! Not a bit mushy, but not at all tough and chewy. Just DELICIOUS! My daughter ate two peices! A leg and a wing, and this kid will NOT eat store bought bird, she says "Blaaaa and spits it out.

 

[bigredfeather]

Quote:
That's sounds logical, but I'm not sure if it is as true as you might think. It takes more energy to go out and find food in a large area as opposed to standing in front of a feeder in a confined coop. I'm not saying free ranging wouldn't make a difference, I'm saying that you can't trade a pound of feed from a feeder to a pound of feed that is free ranged and expect the same results. I think it would depend on the amount of free range food that is available.

 

[kooltex]

Ok , had to have another, sooooooooo yummy.

.

 

[usschicago1]

Quote:

 

[matte]

Thanks for sharing Kooltex. I, too, am very interested to see what you've got at 12 weeks or so. We raise all of our own chicken meat, primarily through Cornish x Rocks. Following the strict guidelines of food removal times, we have only lost 2 birds out of the last 4 flocks. They came from Welp Hatchery.

However, as you all know they are hogs! They just seem downright nasty and unnatural. Like an above comment mentions, I cannot get my Cornish X Rocks to make the 4 foot journey outside to lush grass. It's only when I'm enjoying them at the dinner table that I decide to give them another go.

IF these reds can give the same or very similar size in 12 weeks (as Cornish x in 8 wks), and be of equal or better texture, I would be glad to pay a little more in feed if need be. We raise only for our own family so profit margins are not as big of a consideration. Plus, if I can get them on pasture even a little, they are bound to be healthier to eat. (chicken tractor is not feasible here due to predators)

Please, post your results...and if anyone else has raised both, please share your comparison.

It's obvious what goes into making a Cornish X Rock, but does anyone have a definitive answer on what breeds make up these reds that Ideal offers??Thanks!

 

[PaulaJoAnne]

Quote:
I wnated to mention, that we pasture ours, by using a tractor in the yard.
Lat years was way to big, so we had trouble moving it. this "forces" them to get on grass and bugs, and it only takes a day or two, and they will go crazy about it.
Once ours were half grown, they got to free range all day long as well.

 

[anthonyjames]

Wondering if it is or was processing time and what they weighed out at for 12 weeks.

I am placing an order for 40 Cornish X and considering 40 of these as well. Would like to know how they did and are they consuming the same amount of feed as the Cornish but at a 12 week pace or slightly more feed?

 

[kooltex]

I processed four on Friday, but they still have quite a few pin feathers so I'm going to give them another week to grow the feathers out. The four I processed were nice and meaty, actually had one for dinner tonight. Their weights were 4.5, 4.2, 4.2, and 3.6. So they were good frying size, they are 11 weeks. I'd say they don't eat as much as the cornish, but they are allowed to free range now, and do not sit in front of the feeder all day.