What breed please? They are bantam and roosters

[MayBerg]

You are so lucky. I have been searching for White Cochin Bantams and I finally found what I thought were Lavender Cochin Bantams (they looked exactly like them as chicks) but now that they are more grown, two of them are cockerels that look like poor-quality Cochins and the pullet looks like a poor-quality d'Uccle. Your chickens are so cute and I wish I had them!

Really? You think Popcorn and Cupcake are ok quality? The kids love them to pieces . I got them by mistake which was a good mistake since they are fairly big for bantam. But I am still wishing they were standard size.

 

[MayBerg]

Maybe, maybe not.

For TSC, the assortment is better than ordering single breeds, not just because it is a bit cheaper, but also because many people like to get multiple kinds (like you did) rather than getting that many of just one kind of bantam. Individual customer sometimes order assortments too, because they know they want a variety, but don't want to try to pick each individual breed.

For the hatchery, they have to count their chickens before they hatch and pre-sell them, so they can ship them immediately. But they don't know exactly how many eggs will hatch. So they make a conservative estimate, take orders for a certain number of each kind, and pack the rest as assortments (assorted bantams, assorted brown egg layers, assorted white egg layers, etc.) Overall, I think it works pretty well.

Most of the TSC unsexed turn out to be boys as far I can see.

 

[MayBerg]

my grandma was once sold three "meat birds" that were 100% silkie. I saw someone who was worried about their "white leghorn" (actually a Cornish Cross) getting unusually fat. just because it says it's a meat rooster, that doesn't mean it is.

Yes because my TSC only sell chicken from March to end of April-may'ish. So they are not familiar with the chickens at all.

 

[MayBerg]

I second this. If it is obviously not a Cornish Cross, do not worry about it. Only Cornish Cross have the size-related health issues.

Thank you.
I feel more at ease.
Can I let Popcorn and cupcake have babies?

 

[MayBerg]

Maybe, maybe not.

For TSC, the assortment is better than ordering single breeds, not just because it is a bit cheaper, but also because many people like to get multiple kinds (like you did) rather than getting that many of just one kind of bantam. Individual customer sometimes order assortments too, because they know they want a variety, but don't want to try to pick each individual breed.

For the hatchery, they have to count their chickens before they hatch and pre-sell them, so they can ship them immediately. But they don't know exactly how many eggs will hatch. So they make a conservative estimate, take orders for a certain number of each kind, and pack the rest as assortments (assorted bantams, assorted brown egg layers, assorted white egg layers, etc.) Overall, I think it works pretty well.

NatJ.
Popcorn and Cupcake were $2.50 each because they were already a few weeks old and the person at the store said they are getting rid of them because they will need to be butchered in a couple of months. They were getting rid of all "meatbirds".

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

Thank you.
I feel more at ease.
Can I let Popcorn and cupcake have babies?

Of course! If they do not display any genetic defects/health problems that do not need to be passed down, or temperament issues, then go ahead with breeding them. Nothing will be wrong.

NatJ.
Popcorn and Cupcake were $2.50 each because they were already a few weeks old and the person at the store said they are getting rid of them because they will need to be butchered in a couple of months. They were getting rid of all "meatbirds".

Did they say they were Cornish Cross or just used the broad term "meat birds"? When people say meat birds, they usually mean Cornish Cross, since that is the crossbreed that provides as much meat as possible in the least amount of time. However, the actual meaning of "meat bird" is very broad, and does not only encompass chickens used for meat. There are duck breeds used for meat as well, as with all other domestic species. But, back to chickens. Cochins were originally bred for meat, which is why they are so heavy and large (excluding the bantams). Being originally bred for meat means they are included as meat birds－they are just not the same thing as Cornish Cross, or any other breed/crossbreed/mix used for meat. If the person you bought them from used the term "meat birds" and did not mention anything about Cornish Cross, then they are correct because Cochins can be used for meat.

 

[MayBerg]

Of course! If they do not display any genetic defects/health problems that do not need to be passed down, or temperament issues, then go ahead with breeding them. Nothing will be wrong.


Did they say they were Cornish Cross or just used the broad term "meat birds"? When people say meat birds, they usually mean Cornish Cross, since that is the crossbreed that provides as much meat as possible in the least amount of time. However, the actual meaning of "meat bird" is very broad, and does not only encompass chickens used for meat. There are duck breeds used for meat as well, as with all other domestic species. But, back to chickens. Cochins were originally bred for meat, which is why they are so heavy and large (excluding the bantams). Being originally bred for meat means they are included as meat birds－they are just not the same thing as Cornish Cross, or any other breed/crossbreed/mix used for meat. If the person you bought them from used the term "meat birds" and did not mention anything about Cornish Cross, then they are correct because Cochins can be used for meat.

I see. Yes she just said meat bird and they'll be ready for the frying pan in a few months. I

 

[NatJ]

NatJ.
Popcorn and Cupcake were $2.50 each because they were already a few weeks old and the person at the store said they are getting rid of them because they will need to be butchered in a couple of months. They were getting rid of all "meatbirds".

All chickens can be eaten, so in that sense they could be "meat birds" if anyone wants to eat them. Most breeds of chicken can be pets, so they could just as easily be "pets" if that is what you want.

But I think most likely they just made a mistake. Cornish Cross are the most common kind of "meat" chickens. They are yellow as chicks, and grow white feathers. Probably a person at the feed store was considering all chicks of that color to be meat birds, without realizing that some of them were different breeds.

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

I see. Yes she just said meat bird and they'll be ready for the frying pan in a few months. I

She likely knew they were Cochins if she said "a few months." It takes Cornish Cross only six weeks to be ready for butchering, meanwhile it takes Cochins months of regular growing to reach their butchering time. Unless she gave hints she did not know what she was talking about.