When to process Dark Cornish

[Buster52]

Maybe I should have asked before I bought them, but...

For those who have raised standard Cornish breeds (I have the Dark Cornish), when do you process? At how many weeks? I know it is more than the X, but how much more?

 

[nicalandia]

ALL dual purpose breed will do fine after 16 weeks for males

 

[misspennyloise]

Education time please! what exactly is a dark cornish??? I have never heard of them..

 

[nicalandia]

Quote:
why yes...! they are your old time Meat type breed, they pack alot of meat and lots of breast meat too...the down side? the grow slow...so you wont be making lots and lots of money if you raise them for meat, for quick money stay with their ofsprings the CornishX....

hey here is the link, its from the feathersite...
Cornish

 

[misspennyloise]

thank you very much I don't raise for $$ just for our freezer and to bless my friends & family. Thanks again

 

[Buster52]

Thanks for the information. Sixteen weeks isn't that bad.

We wanted a breed that packed on good meat, but that we didn't have to order every year. Plan is to have a parent flock to raise chicks from. Cornish X can't breed naturally and wouldn't live long enough if they did.

Sustainability and self sufficiency is the goal with all our home projects, including meat birds.

And technically the Cornish breeds aren't considered dual purpose because they aren't all that great at egg laying.

Thanks again.

https://secuservices.com/ideal/newideal/Products.aspx?Category=Standard Cornish

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Quote:
Actually they are good layers, the tight close feathers make them good layers in the heat of the summer. When the heat hits mid to upper 90's the "fluffy" breeds Cochins, Buff Orps, Marans tend to slow down but the DC's keep going. You will like the way they dress out. We just had some leg 1/4's last night for dinner. Very good.

Steve in NC

 

[Buster52]

Quote:
Actually they are good layers,

Okay. I was just going by what I read, but if you have raised them and found them that way, I guess what I read in that book was wrong.

Which seems to happen a lot, I'm finding.

 

[nicalandia]

Quote:
they actually do just fine, if you don´t treat them as broilers..!! WHAT?? well what I mean is: NO chick starter feed...NO 24hours or 12 hours of day light, a good options is to have a broody hen take care of them, if you have a farm, let the hen free range with them,..cornishX hens can be good layers....but if you want meat and eggs coming from a more natural way, a good option will be to buy dark cornish roosters(lots of meat and lots of breast meat) and buy Delawares hens(fast growth and good layers) that way you will have alot of meat from cockerels and lots of eggs from the hens...good luck

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Which seems to happen a lot, I'm finding.

Now you are getting it Buster. How did that old saying go? Don't believe 75% of what you read or something like that.

If you can try different types of dual purpose before you settle on one. We have seen some big differences or plus and minus from the ones we raise. Some are leggy, some grow out quicker. Pick the one that does best in your area and gives you what you want.

Steve in NC​