Slow growing CX/FR or fast growing heritage meat bird breeds.

[JB8907]

Does anybody have experience pasturing CX/FR on here. I just read in a book that CX broilers don't forage at all really. Was wondering if the FR are the same in that respect? Anybody have the experience or a link to that knowledge?

 

[Redhead Rae]

Does anybody have experience pasturing CX/FR on here. I just read in a book that CX broilers don't forage at all really. Was wondering if the FR are the same in that respect? Anybody have the experience or a link to that knowledge?

Look up Justin Rhodes on YouTube. He raised 3 different batches of Cornish Cross this year on pasture using limited organic feed.

And yes, there are no true "GMO" chickens (meaning the animals themselves have been genetically modified beyond the normal hybridization process) but some people don't consider the meat GMO-free unless the birds and their parents have been fed a non-GMO diet. It bugs me that Chipotle advertises that their food is GMO-free but they use meat and milk products from animals raised on GMO feed.

 

[Dani4Hedgies]

Does anybody have experience pasturing CX/FR on here. I just read in a book that CX broilers don't forage at all really. Was wondering if the FR are the same in that respect? Anybody have the experience or a link to that knowledge?

Chirping you need to check out Ralphs "Toads" He has developed a formula for breeding CX with other birds to produce a self sustaining meat bird that is I believe exactly what you are looking for and you CAN make CX forage its just not something they do if pen contained put in a chicken tractor and feed limited feed they will forage just like other chickens especially if you have other breeds in there with them. Just search Toads in the search bar and you will find all the information.

 

[RUNuts]

Does anybody have experience pasturing CX/FR on here. I just read in a book that CX broilers don't forage at all really. Was wondering if the FR are the same in that respect? Anybody have the experience or a link to that knowledge?

I raised mine on grass and every one of them had grass in their crops when butchered. Also, sunflower leaves, cucumber, squash, marigold and a few other random leaves growing around the garden. They will forage given the opportunity.

One of the CX cockerels caught and ate a frog. I didn't think he'd choke it down, but he did. They acted like chickens to me. I know my layers will eat brown grass snakes and I'm short of lizards in the chicken yard.

They would still mob the feed bowls. Wander off and eat greens.

 

[JB8907]

Chirping you need to check out Ralphs "Toads" He has developed a formula for breeding CX with other birds to produce a self sustaining meat bird that is I believe exactly what you are looking for and you CAN make CX forage its just not something they do if pen contained put in a chicken tractor and feed limited feed they will forage just like other chickens especially if you have other breeds in there with them. Just search Toads in the search bar and you will find all the information.

I've seen reference to the "TOADS" but want sure what it was.

 

[123RedBeard]

IIRC ... the term "Toad's" was started because some people got hot under the collar about calling chickens that were not the "official" Cornish Cross four way split breeding ... Cornish crosses, so Ralph got tired of the baloney ... and called them toads ...

Here is his thread https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/toad-raising.1152440/

 

[JB8907]

IIRC ... the term "Toad's" was started because some people got hot under the collar about calling chickens that were not the "official" Cornish Cross four way split breeding ... Cornish crosses, so Ralph got tired of the baloney ... and called them toads ...

Here is his thread https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/toad-raising.1152440/

I started to read through the thread and they are very interesting indeed. They're not very heat tolerant and it can get pretty hot and humid in Southeast Texas. However he did mention a TOAD 2.0 that was more heat tolerant. Thinking of maybe just doing my own cross for the hot and humid south. I mean he did give the formula for the TOAD.

 

[JB8907]

IIRC ... the term "Toad's" was started because some people got hot under the collar about calling chickens that were not the "official" Cornish Cross four way split breeding ... Cornish crosses, so Ralph got tired of the baloney ... and called them toads ...

Here is his thread https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/toad-raising.1152440/

I started to read through the thread and they are very interesting indeed. They're not very heat tolerant and it can get pretty hot and humid in Southeast Texas. However he did mention a TOAD 2.0 that was more heat tolerant. Thinking of maybe just doing my own cross for the hot and humid south. I mean he did give the formula for the TOAD.

 

[pepe1]

I raised a new dual purpose breed called Dixie Rainbows this year, they grew very fast and when i processed the Cockerels at 12 weeks they weighted 3.8 to 5.2 pounds, i kept the pullets but they are not good layers as advertised and eat a lot, as a meat bird i was very happy with them.

 

[Redhead Rae]

I raised a new dual purpose breed called Dixie Rainbows this year, they grew very fast and when i processed the Cockerels at 12 weeks they weighted 3.8 to 5.2 pounds, i kept the pullets but they are not good layers as advertised and eat a lot, as a meat bird i was very happy with them.

Dixie Rainbows are another name for Freedom Rangers or Red Rangers.