Questions about Cornish X

[beebiz]

Thanks for the clarification and input. Based on the knowledge that my wife and I will consume around 100 to 125 whole chickens per year, we want eggs to eat and some to sell (to help out on the cost of feed), here is a brief description of what I have in mind to do.

At the beginning of next year I will order 50 of the Dark Cornish roosters from Cackle Hatchery. As they are growing, I will hatch out enough Buffs (through multiple hatches) to collect a total of 50 new Buff pullets. I'd like to always keep at least 50 Buff hens to raise replacement pullets from and have eggs to eat and sell from.

By the time I get the pullets I want, I should have several Buff roosters that I can put in the freezer along with the majority of the Dark Cornish roosters. I will make sure to keep a couple more Buff and Dark Cornish roos than I really nead. That way if I have any electric fence, dog, or other problems I should still have the hens well covered.

By the time the Dark Cornish roos get big enough to do their duty, I should have new pullets that are laying pretty well. Then, I can put as many of the original 13 Buff hens as I want to in with the Dark Cornish roos. If it's not too late in the year, I might hatch out a few of the crosses. If it is too late, I'll just hatch them out the next year (2009).

And after that, I can rotate the older Buff hens out of the pen with the Dark Cornish and replace them with the younger hens. Since I'll have a breeding pen for the crosses and a pen for the purebred Buffs, I should be able to raise my own Cornish Cross meat birds, my own eggs, and my own Buff replacement pullets.

Well, those are my thoughts and what I have in mind. What do you think.... solid plan.... or..... wishful thinking??? I look forward to seeing what you think.!!!!

Oh.... I almost forgot..... Have you got any pictures of your breeding pens?? I think I've got a pretty good idea as to what they look like, but a picture is worth a thousand words!!

Robert

 

[BirdBrain]

You might have a look at Ideal. They currently have Dark Cornish available, according to their website. They deliver quickly all over the USA and shipping is included in their price.

https://secuservices.com/ideal/newideal/selectproduct.aspx?qty=1&Product=1092

The only thing about their price is that they only sell males if the females are sold (I guess ordered ahead). If you are interested in getting some now and raising them through the winter to have ready for the spring you might check in to it. Even if you got straight run you would still have some roos come spring. It doesn't hurt to call and ask them if they will have any roos available if you are interested. They are out of Buff Orpingtons right now, but you could always get then in October when they become available or wait for them until the spring as you originally planned.

 

[beebiz]

Thanks for the suggestion. I called Ideal to get some clarification and to make sure that I understood everything correctly. The sale of the males is contingent on the sale of the females. For example, this week they have only 19 females sold, and therefore can only sell 19 males. They can still sell as many of the straight run as you want, but they are s$.62 per bird higher (a bit over 40% more) than the males.

Additionally, I found out that if I lived in TX (as you do) the shipping would be included in the listed price for the birds. But since I live in Tennessee, there is a required $.12 per chick additional charge for Priority Mail. And if ordering less than a full box (100) of chicks, there is a $7.00 "small order" charge that is tacked on.

These additional charges make the chicks from Ideal slightly higher, but only slightly. The difference would be so insignificant that I would be willing to go ahead a place the order with Ideal. But, the availability issue is a problem. I'm just simply not willing to pay the extra 40% per chick for straight run just so I can get them right now. If given that as my only option, I'll wait for srping and order from Cackle.

But, I'll keep checking with them and see what happens with the male availability. If I do order this year, I dont' want to wait too much later. If I do, the guys will be so little that it will be tough on them having to battle the cold of this winter. We'll just have to see what happens.

But, thanks again for the suggestions that you have made. And remember, any future suggestions or reccomendations will be welcomed with open ears!!

Robert

 

[greyfields]

I will try to get some photos. I'm super busy seeding right now, so it may be next week. I have a day job, too, on top of this farming madness. My world right now is revolving around field peas, oats, winter wheat, winter rye and perennial rye.

I wanted to point out that the dark cornish roosters won't make the best meat birds. ANY purebreed will be disappointing compared with the meat chickens we are all used to eating. I'd suggest if you go that route to grow them to 3 lbs live weight and eat them as "Cornish Game Hens". It's nothing against Cornish; it's just that any purebred strain of bird will nowhere approach the thick breasted birds we are used to consuming.

 

[beebiz]

It's no problem about the pics. I am from the country and know how it is. A field that needs to be planted waits for no man... not if he wants to get paid!!!!! And with a day job too, I'm surprised that you have time to read any posts.... much less make any yourself!! Knowing how busy you are makes me appreciate even more what you have taken the time to say.

As for the Dark Cornish, I know they won't come anywhere near the commercial birds that are in the supermarket. But then again, neither do my Buffs. I still like them better than the market birds though. I know what mine have been eating and where they've been.

Even though neither of those breeds will come up to the size of the commercial birds, they are much, much bigger and better than the Leghorns and Black Sex Links that I grew up on.

If I can catch them with 25, I'll probably go ahead and order them this fall. Heck.... if I have to, I might even be better off to go ahead and order a whatever is available (even if it is less than 25, and if they will sell them that way) and pay the extra $1 boxing charge for less than 1/4 box just so I can have breeding sized roosters next spring. It's something I'll definately consider.

Thanks again for taking the time to share your input. Don't work too hard!!

Robert