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

[SteveH]

Some CX and hatchery quality WLRC [ to be used for a breeding project ] at 5 weeks , 1 day . I have held the CX back , but haven't had the heart to withold feed as much as I probably should . The CX can get airborn for a few inches of flight and use the roost for daytime rest and one even spars with the other breeds . At night they all still huddle together on the ground ; I think the EE and WLRC may stay on the ground at night for the warmth offered by the CX .

 

[al6517]

Steve : I really like the idea of those ground roost, should also help keep them cleaner.

AL

 

[SteveH]

Quote:
Thanks Al , they do stay cleaner . I have found them lacking in some instinctual behaviors ; but for the most part they are just held back from doing some things because they just aren't able to due to their weight , and/or their bred-in ability and proclivity for rapid growth compels them to go to the easiest high calorie food source and little else . When their crop's empty , they will forage [ especially when led by birds that forage instinctively ] and eat more natural , lower calorie , foods . Some of mine have even started to leave the feed trough with feed still in it to go eat the wild lettuce or meat scraps the other breeds are so crazy for .

 

[al6517]

The fact that they are a little messy ( a Cornish thing ) LOL is my only slight drawback, so devising a method that helps them stay cleaner longer is a good thing. As far as their instincts I think your right but when young chicks are raised with them and can learn from them it may help.

I Got several of my Cornish X X's bred and hatched and they look good so far, this experiment is going well and I am excited to see how good they will do, I do plan to use a special feed program on them to get them to laying age for the F-2 second phase of my plan.

AL

 

[SteveH]

Congrats on your success and best wishes for your project chicks Al . I'm getting started way behind some of you and still don't have the conditions I want to use for the CX . I really envy your possion of those quality straight Cornish

.
Could you please share some pics of the F1s ? Thanks , SteveH

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

I agree those ground roosts are a great idea, I will be stealing it tomorrow

 

[SteveH]

Although all but the largest roo seem pretty agile , one of my project CX pullets went down with leg failure today at 9 weeks + 1 day . I cut feed back again today now since they now have a big pen to run and browze in and moved their feed out in the sun . They've been in a shaded tractor up untill last weekend and hate the sun LOL . Even the EE and WLRC only venture out for a few minutes but they'll go out now if the 24 left want to eat .
The bird had some fat but not as much as I feared ; nor was she one one of the largest . She's being rested in the cooler and refrigerater before going to the grill this weekend . I'll be adding 10 purebred Ameraucana to the pen as soon as they get a little bigger ; hoping the CX crossed on EE and Ameraucana will produce some big , meaty , blue eggers .

 

[SteveH]

Here are some of my { I hope } future CX breeders to be crossed on WLRC , EE , and Ameraucanas .
10 and 1/2 week cockeral with some EE and WLRC V

10 and 1/2 week old pullets CX pullets V

same age hatchery versions of WLRC V

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

the feathering on that WLRC is sure pretty, but don't you wish you could get your hands on some breeder stock . . . I wish I could!

 

[SteveH]

Quote:
I've got some closer to the correct pattern and a tad bit better quality , but yes I wish had found the real deal regardless of color pattern . They were pretty wide babies but I doubt they come back to that from the slender bodied birds they are now . [ Although I do recall somebody posting that their hatchery Dark Cornish beefed up late ] I'll go ahead and try to cross them on the CX just to see what comes of it , but see nothing to be gained by crossing them with the EE or Ameraucana as I originally planned .

ETA: I guess I did catch part of the back a little wider WLRC that actually has white lacing on a red feather in the first pic .