Red Laced Cornish X and project talk (pics p. 8)

[al6517]

No pic's today ........... sorry but when I went to chore them I just had to collect eggs and rush back in the house, I am on a self imposed super sloth day after 6 wks in this weather. Maybe tomorrow folks.

AL

 

[SteveH]

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If I remember correctly, it's a thread requirement that you post pictures of all potential broodstock and their offspring.

 

[Tracydr]

Just got in from giving fresh water and selling four of my Easter Eggers. I've never seen my OEGBs so hot. Poor things were layer out flat in the shade, panting. You know it's hot when those guys are suffering. They're usually pretty immune to the heat.
Course, the Egyptians, Buttercups and Leghorns are running around like it's springtime!

 

[eatmorechicken]

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[SteveH]

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Ok here is the formal introduction of my meat bird project. The goal for my designer breed is to have vigorous, wild type dual purpose birds. I’m using wheaten game hens and a Cornish Cross cockerel.

I got 2 game hens this past winter from a lady had them show up in her flock. She wanted them gone quick so I picked them up for a song. And a pair of CX for free as chicks, and kept around for the sake of having them.

I like my games because I have never had a problem with egg eating or feather picking, they lay a lot of eggs when they are not broody, game chicks are always vigorous, they are VERY ACTIVE foragers searching far and wide for bugs, they are very meaty for their size, and game hens make the best mothers of all the other breeds I have owned. However I don’t like their aggressive nature. I caught one hen crowing last week, and I know she lays eggs. They are also too small for my liking. American games or utility cornish would be ideal sustainable chickens but I like single combs, large eggs, fast growth, and big birds.

I like the feed conversion and fast growth of broilers as well as their enormous size and carcass shape. They lay jumbo eggs, and are rather docile in nature. However, they are way more maintenance than any other breed of chicken available because they don’t forage if they don’t have to, preferring to sit in front of the feeder for easy meals. They lack the inherited immunity of wild birds. They have difficulty breeding naturally among other things…..

Its pretty difficult to get a picture of my hens standing still

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/1328/dsc00500td.jpg

My blocky little game

http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/4146/dsc00502k.jpg

The Cornish X pair. they are 5 months old. They are not as big as they could be becuase I keep them on a strict diet to keep them small and active.

http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/6048/dsc00510n.jpg

Here's the cockerel giving it a try. he was kinda clumsy the hen was too small for him and gave up quickly. Maybe I'm getting fertile eggs because he figured it out once and not because I tried AI. I don't expect him to keep this up for very long.

http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/8694/dsc00508fl.jpg

I envision a bird that is single combed, 7-10 lbs birds, fast maturing, heavy breasted, naturally breeding, and exhibits wild characteristics. I equate “wild” with low maintenance. I’m making a good sustainable breed for my homestead, and hopefully it’s economical as a meat bird for pasture production.

I haven’t decided on egg color. Games lay white and cream eggs, broiler lay light-medium brown. I figure I have enough on my list to select for to even worry about egg color. They should lay a good amount of eggs regardless of egg color.

Aesthetically, I want them to be tight feathered and built like a brick house. A large flowing tail would be nice, but might look weird on a heavy fowl. I’m not sure where to go with plumage color yet, but I know I want them to be light colored for clean looking carcasses. I believe CX are dominate white to mask black, recessive white and/or silver to mask red. I was thinking of breeding the rec white/silver out, but keeping the dom white to produce a pyle wheaten color.

Thank you emc, an interesting project. May I ask where your "CX" [?] originally came from?

 

[eatmorechicken]

The "CX" cornish cross came from a new backyard chicken owner who had no idea how fast they grew and how much they stank. The feed store lady said they were the most popular, so he got a few. He gave them to me for free. My guess is they either came from meyer, privett, or mcmurray. But I don't know.

 

[al6517]

So do you have any concerns that you think you may run into when trying to breed these two ??. I have found it to be pretty tough sometimes to pass on the good stuff from the CX, it can be hit and miss with hatching and culling a ton of birds. The roo looks like he will stay fit and do well topping hen's. I am intriqued as to you choice of the wheaton hen, size may take several tries but the lazy mentality of the CX may be a tough road to get through with trying to develop that gameness in the offspring.

So when are you going to start hatching so we can get a look, Do you have some other hens your going to try to put with him ??.

AL

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

VERY very interesting eatmorechicken. I will be following you like a hawk!

Please post lots of pictures!

 

[eatmorechicken]

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[eatmorechicken]

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I have a stalker!