Raising a cobb500 broiler to breed

[Faraz1]

Is it possible at all, to raise a cobb500 to breeding age and perhaps cross with a leghorn rooster to produce a multipurpose hybrid.

If so how should i start with restricting feed ? Straight away once hatched or after a few days/weeks ?

 

[Molpet]

After a week to 10 days. Feed all they can eat in 20 min, twice a day. Have to also get exercise.

 

[Molpet]

He's no longer on byc but he inspired many of us.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/toad-raising.1152440/

 

[Morrigan]

After a week to 10 days. Feed all they can eat in 20 min, twice a day. Have to also get exercise.

And, look for the liveliest, smallest hens. I've never held over a Cx, although I've heard from other posters, that it can done. Usually, the scenario I've heard about is that the CX hen was kept on a very restrictive diet, lived long enough to be bred and laid a handful of fertile eggs before passing.

I've had some success with holding over slower broilers -- red rangers, etc -- for breeding in a normal flock setting, I still have a 3 year old slow broiler hen who is healthy and productive. Her offspring are not comparable to CX, but they are much bigger and faster growing then what you get out of hatchery non-broiler chicks.

 

[CNJ]

I kept 2 Cornish x hens and bred them to a Breese rooster. I started collecting eggs to hatch as soon as I could, so the eggs I used were on the small size. I read that the chicks hatched from small eggs hatch small, but catch up and grow to full size. This information turned out to be true. Its a good thing I started early because the Cornish X hens eventually blew their guts out. I did not restrict their food until I started processing their brother and sisters. If I were to do it again, I would start restricting their food to once a day at 1 month old. Don't worry they won't die, just don't look at them.

I already bred brother and sister (F2) and I am almost ready to start my Father to daughter F3 project. I am selective breeding for white legs and body weight because my 12lbs Cornish/Breese rooster I am trying to clone has white legs.

To me the yellow leg ones pulled on the Plymouth Rock side and the blue leg ones pulled on the Breese side and the white leg ones are a new breed.

By the way, you don't have to worry about the cross chicks over eating. They live normal lives. However, they get big and eat too much to be kept as egg layers. It would be cheaper to buy eggs. The crosses average about 4 to 5lbs dressed at 3 month old, and their meat are tender and can be fried or roasted at that age.

My year old hens weigh 8 to 9lbs, the older-bigger birds will break down and become fork tender in a slow cooker. I like to layer a deep aluminum foil pan with Hawaiian tea leaves and place my seasoned chicken pieces on top with a cup of water and a dash of liquid smoke.. Then cover it with aluminum foil and slow cook it for 6 to 8 hours. It taste exactly like Kalua pig.

 

[Faraz1]

Thanks all.

Regarding restricting feed, can they free range as normal (on the grass) or is that also not allowed ?

 

[Faraz1]

He's no longer on byc but he inspired many of us.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/toad-raising.1152440/

This seems like an interesting link. I will read into it. By the way, why did he leave byc ?

 

[CNJ]

Thanks all.

Regarding restricting feed, can they free range as normal (on the grass) or is that also not allowed ?

Feed once a day and Free range is okay.

I feed my Breese/Cornish X 12lbs rooster and his 2 hens a 3/4 pint mason jar of egg laying pellets in the morning and at 4pm in the after noon. This amount seem to keep them at the same weight with no free range.

 

[Molpet]

Thanks all.

Regarding restricting feed, can they free range as normal (on the grass) or is that also not allowed ?

Free range is great.

 

[Cubaniton]

Is it possible at all, to raise a cobb500 to breeding age and perhaps cross with a leghorn rooster to produce a multipurpose hybrid.

If so how should i start with restricting feed ? Straight away once hatched or after a few days/weeks ?

I would not recommend crossing a big bird with a small bird, it will create only problems for the off springs, due to internal body cavity differences, bone structure, organs being of different sizes, and many other issues, stick to like sized birds, for example, a Cornish X crossed to a Red Ranger, that way the off springs will be better layers than the Cornish X and they will most likely also grow faster and more efficiently than the Red Ranger.
Cornish X chickens can be raised to adulthood and reproduce, BUT the individual must be very strict when it comes to feeding, because the feed must be severely restricted and controlled to keep the birds lean (not skinny) so that the hens an lay eggs and the roosters can be active with the hens.

In regards to eggs, if you want to collect enough eggs daily, then raise the Leghorns as a separate breed and keep it pure.