slower growing cornish? (leg/heart problems related)

[TinyBirds]

I've read cornish can have leg problems and such due to rapid growth. I'd like to raise and sell broilers but hoping to find hatchery with slower growers and less leg\\heart troubles. I found a processor already but they won't process any breeds other than cornish. Originally I wanted to process\\sell roosters from my regular chicken breeds but couldn't find a usda processor for that type of bird. Thanks!

 

[Buster52]

In my state, I don't need a USDA inspected processor as long as I am selling my own birds and sell fewer than 1,000 bird units. In some states it is 20,000, which is the federal limit.

Personally, if I was going to order birds it would be the Freedom Rangers and process them myself.

 

[Thomas423]

I just ordered the Cornish Roasters from McMurray today. They said that they are slower growers (about 12 weeks) than the Cornish X's and don't have the leg problems and such. I guess I'll find out how they work out. I'm trying to figure out how to "manage" their gowth now so that I can have meaty but healthy birds.

 

[Buster52]

Quote:
According to their site, it gets 3 to 4 pounds in 8 to 9 weeks, whereas the Cornish X gets there in 6 to 8 weeks. The roasters are then called "fryers" and the X "broilers" even though they are essentially the same age and same size. If you grow the roasters out to 12 weeks they weight 8 to 9 pounds. I'm guessing the CX would weigh that, as well. Both are hybrids, although they don't tell you what the "roaster" is a hybrid of.

I dunno. Sounds like semantic games about the same bird.

 

[Brunty_Farms]

I dunno. Sounds like semantic games about the same bird.

It is, just marketing I guess....​

 

[jaku]

Quote:
According to their site, it gets 3 to 4 pounds in 8 to 9 weeks, whereas the Cornish X gets there in 6 to 8 weeks. The roasters are then called "fryers" and the X "broilers" even though they are essentially the same age and same size. If you grow the roasters out to 12 weeks they weight 8 to 9 pounds. I'm guessing the CX would weigh that, as well. Both are hybrids, although they don't tell you what the "roaster" is a hybrid of.

I dunno. Sounds like semantic games about the same bird.

I agree. McMurray also sells a "Cornish Game Hen" that is just a Cornish X also.

Don't believe everything you hear about the Cornish X's... in fact, don't believe MOST of what you hear. They aren't hard to raise, and health problems aren't common and are easy to avoid. However, if you're worried, I'd first avoid the "Cornish Roasters," and go with the other slower growing broilers like Rangers/Red Broilers.