Show Me Your McMurray Birds

[mountainpridefarm]

I checked the rules and this seems to be OK with them...

I am contemplating pretty much every DP breed in the catalog, but these are the ones I am really interested in NH Reds, Rhode Island Reds, All Rocks, Dark Cornish, Orpingtons, and White Wyandottes. I will be foremost and upfront I am looking for a nice heritage breed that will dress out in a timely manner so please post age with the pictures. I would REALLY appreciate this as it has been mind boggling.

 

[greathorse]

Quote:
If you are looking for layers that also do well as meat birds you might want to think about another strategy. Many of the MCMurray and other hatchery birds are great layers and fall within the general parmaters of heritage and dual purpose, but in my experience the laying part is very well developed and the meat part not so much. If meat is important you might want to look at Buckeye's Maybe Cornish, and you might want to consider checking here for small breeders that focus on the Dual purpose breed in a more profound way.

 

[ChickBond 007]

I ordered the "meat-n-egg" combo package from McMurray last year. It included 15 cornish x's for meat, and 10 layers of many varieties. It was a good deal price-wise.

 

[mountainpridefarm]

I did forget to mention, no flame sparking intended - but I do not wish to raise super fast growing meat birds for various reasons.

Meat is important and I would like a 4lb bird (dressed) at 18-20 weeks, oppose to a mere 8 weeks.

 

[ChickBond 007]

Quote:
then the Cornish X is your bird. It does nothing but eat/poop/eat/poop and by 10 weeks, eat/poop/eat/fight/eat/poop. It is a bigger bird at 10 weeks, likely 4-5 lb dressed. I encourage you to find a way to keep them outside, non-indoor-brooder, as they have odor unmatched.

 

[mountainpridefarm]

Quote:
then the Cornish X is your bird. It does nothing but eat/poop/eat/poop and by 10 weeks, eat/poop/eat/fight/eat/poop. It is a bigger bird at 10 weeks, likely 4-5 lb dressed. I encourage you to find a way to keep them outside, non-indoor-brooder, as they have odor unmatched.

Did you mean *not* my bird?

I find their genetics to be impure and the results of it not humane...

 

[ChickBond 007]

Quote:
then the Cornish X is your bird. It does nothing but eat/poop/eat/poop and by 10 weeks, eat/poop/eat/fight/eat/poop. It is a bigger bird at 10 weeks, likely 4-5 lb dressed. I encourage you to find a way to keep them outside, non-indoor-brooder, as they have odor unmatched.

Did you mean *not* my bird?

I find their genetics to be impure and the results of it not humane...

You're correct... they are genetically engineered to eat, eat, eat, grow, grow, grow. Their sole purpose is a meat bird.
There are lots of dual-purpose birds in the McMurray catalog, but not likely the size you seek in a short time period.
I'm not suggesting that you choose something you don't agree with ethically. I just thought you wanted a fast growing meat bird.

Edited to add: I just re-read your post. You said you "didn't" want fast growing meat birds. My error. Reading too fast.

 

[mountainpridefarm]

Quote:
Did you mean *not* my bird?

I find their genetics to be impure and the results of it not humane...

You're correct... they are genetically engineered to eat, eat, eat, grow, grow, grow. Their sole purpose is a meat bird.
There are lots of dual-purpose birds in the McMurray catalog, but not likely the size you seek in a short time period.
I'm not suggesting that you choose something you don't agree with ethically. I just thought you wanted a fast growing meat bird.

Edited to add: I just re-read your post. You said you "didn't" want fast growing meat birds. My error. Reading too fast.

LOL, I figured you misread, but just incase you were serious. I have heard the CornishX are nice size at 8 weeks, not sure I would like that.

 

[Nava]

this r my orps that i got in 6/29/09 24 hens and two roosters and also the fist egg i got on 1/1/10

six months and 1 week old

 

[mountainpridefarm]

Quote:
Very nice birds! McMurray Orps right?