Rural King (Hoovers) Meat Birds Any Good?

[ihatedarkroast]

I bought a bunch of Cornish Cross chicks from both Orscheln and Tractor Supply and they were pretty much identical as far as growth and size went. I processed my last birds this morning but I let these last 8 go too long- at 14 weeks, their belly skin was tough and naked so I skinned them instead of plucking. We crockpotted a leg and thigh quarter from one of the bigger roosters on a bed of potatoes and carrots and it was excellent.

The earlier birds were processed at 8, 10 and 12 weeks so we have plenty of skin-on carcasses for me (I love the skin. I'm starting a breeding program to cross a Cornish X chicken with a Shar-Pei dog for the ultimate goal of a chicken that's mostly skin, and that will come when you call it). We have an upright freezer full of store-bought stuff like frozen vegetables and frozen convenience food and a chest freezer that is the size (appropriately) of a coffin. The chest freezer is nearly full of animals now; venison, wild hog, chickens, chicken parts, turkeys, varied sausages, etc. We call the chest freezer "Noah's ark".

This is part of today's work. They're resting in the fridge for a couple days to loosen up.

Must have been a pretty big leg quarter! I have an extra fridge on the front porch but our extra freezer kicked the bucket so I need something like that before deer season for sure.

Thanks everyone for all the ideas and input. It's all really helpful.

 

[rollinrockell]

That is very sad...usually i just pick from the bin when they appear on sale. I havent tried ordering specifically yet so this is good to know

It happens. but it is sad. I've just had better luck with ideal or murray mcmurray. But they all have their issues when it comes to shipping. The one good thing about getting them from the bins is you might not get as much shipping stress and or the really weak ones have already passed.

 

[Coops Dad]

Must have been a pretty big leg quarter! I have an extra fridge on the front porch but our extra freezer kicked the bucket so I need something like that before deer season for sure.

Thanks everyone for all the ideas and input. It's all really helpful.

1.2 lbs. Looked like something from The Flintstones.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

All of my flock, with a single exception, was TSC (Hoovers) during hte start of the Pandemic, so it was buy what they had or go without (noestly, many trips they sold out before I could compelte the 40 minute drive in.

As I said on another thread, they are adequate hatchery-quality birds, but in no way exceptional.

So much so, I've started a project to improve on what I bought.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Picture of the most recent batch of Hoover's descended mutts

no, the one isn't dead, the birds were jumping over one another in excitement. Sorry, in the middle of cleaning out their brooder box, moved them to the bathtub temporarily. Age is 9 days.

 

[Sally PB]

I'm starting a breeding program to cross a Cornish X chicken with a Shar-Pei dog for the ultimate goal of a chicken that's mostly skin, and that will come when you call it.

Thanks for the best laugh I've had all day.

 

[rollinrockell]

Thanks for the best laugh I've had all day.

It would literally eat him out of house and home. Does home owners insurance cover that?
I'm just imaging a mayhem Allstate commercial.

 

[HenriettaPizzaNolan]

This thread has been informative so far. I'm watching it just in case I end up getting my Cornish X from TSC in-store (Hoovers). I have some on order from Meyer Hatchery but if my local TSC gets them in I may just cancel the Meyer's order and grab those.

 

[Ridgerunner]

This thread has been informative so far. I'm watching it just in case I end up getting my Cornish X from TSC in-store (Hoovers). I have some on order from Meyer Hatchery but if my local TSC gets them in I may just cancel the Meyer's order and grab those.

TSC typically has contracts with three different hatcheries to supply the chicks, they don't all get their chicks from Hoovers. I don't know who their contracts are with this year. If you haven't done it already you might ask them where your specific TSC is getting their chicks.

 

[HenriettaPizzaNolan]

TSC typically has contracts with three different hatcheries to supply the chicks, they don't all get their chicks from Hoovers. I don't know who their contracts are with this year. If you haven't done it already you might ask them where your specific TSC is getting their chicks.

Oh good to know! I assumed the in-store chicks were Hoover because when I looked into ordering online from TSC they were Hoover. But I bet you're right and they could be from different places in the store.