Thanks galanie, until yesterday I had not read much in the meat bird section, so did not realize how many others across the country had discovered that CX can be raised slowly on a different diet. I really thought a friend of mine and I were on to something brand new.
I've had chickens that came from hatcheries [or farmers that bred from hatchery stock] off and on for many years, but was only introduced to what I now refer to as purebreds a few years back. The difference is night and day to me, especially in the size of what we used to call dual purpose breeds, and even more so on those sold as Cornish.
Until I got on the net, finding breeders was difficult to say the least, but I really became obsessed with a desire to own a true dual purpose flock that would actually produce a decent chicken suitable for stocking the freezer with meat along with some eggs, I decided I needed some purebred birds to breed. True Cornish were the most difficult to find and expensive to buy, but in my opinion no other breed compares to them as a table bird. and I do not think I can make a cross to anything except a commercial Cornish Rock or purebred Cornish that will add the meat to the crosses like they do. Now that I have some purebred Cornish, I intend to keep and breed them, doubt that it will be profitable financially, but keeping this breed in existence is not a bad idea in my opinion, and the culls should serve me well to eat. I hate to think about what I have invested in my little group of Cornish, but those wanting quality Cornish do seem willing to pay a good price for stock, so there is the chance my birds will pay me a return someday. Of course the price of true Cornish attracts those with a desire to turn a quick profit, and have to be really careful of who I buy from, because I have found several people selling very poor quality birds as Cornish, and of course in the past bought hatchery chicks [based on the pictures they showed] and not one chick ever came even close to looking like what I was hoping for.
