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Post by Mari-in-IN on May 15, 2015 22:53:00 GMT
Instead of blowing time on Google-thought I'd ask ya'll... What exactly are these birds? AND-how in the world can they grow SO fast? Just doesn't seem natural-you know?  Have thought of raising them-but I am getting squeamish in regards to sending anyone else off to be butchered... And Wendy, if you read this, accolades to you for all that you do! I always read your posts with great interest...Like I said in another thread-I wish we lived closer because you would indeed have yet a new customer! ~Mari |
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Post by Wendy on May 16, 2015 0:01:04 GMT
Well Mari, I will be butchering in about 2 weeks if all goes well. Feel free to come over & help!  How far are you from Indy? Cornish Rock are a cross between a Cornish Rooster that is bred to a White Rock hen. Not exactly sure why that makes them grow so well, but mine are really starting to put on the weight now. I want to order some White Rock chickens so I can raise them for the Mexicans that like to come here. I swear, they have been calling me almost every week & I just don't have any chickens to sell them right now. Thus the reason I got so many layers this year. I want to try to keep enough on hand so I have them available all the time. I make pretty good money on them. I plan on ordering some Black Australorps this fall & keep some growing out at all times if possible. |
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Post by Mari-in-IN on May 16, 2015 0:28:21 GMT
I think we are roughly 2-1/2 hours from Indy...How much further from Indy are you? You are south-right? I'm serious-if it could work it out somehow-I'd love to come visit you! We shall see...
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Post by allenw on May 16, 2015 0:34:41 GMT
Today's Cornish Rock are the results of years of research and breeding. The chicks we buy are a three way cross of specifically developed proprietary lines.
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Post by Otter on May 16, 2015 1:37:49 GMT
What AllenW said.  But if you want a little more info; It took about 7 years of careful breeding in the 1950's to develop today's cornish rock cross. It is what is called a "terminal cross" (this is also done in cows, pigs and sheep) and is done to maximize growth - a terminal cross of any breed is generally of no use at all for future breeding. Parent lines A and B are crossed to create crossbred AB. Crossbred AB is then crossed with Parent line C, and the offspring of those are your Cornish Cross meat birds. So there's nothing unnatural about them. The 3 lines of breeding stock are just not offered for sale. They're not impossible to get a hold of, just hard to find, and good luck buying less than several hundred. You could actually recreate this (or develop something similar) in your own back yard, with time and knowledge. It might not even take 7 years. I remember a story about an Australian teenager who, in 3 years, developed a line of massive, 15lb chickens who laid equally massive eggs. But, like the CX, they didn't breed true |
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Post by Wendy on May 16, 2015 1:56:28 GMT
Mari, I am about 1.5 hours se of Indy. 2 miles off of I-74 & really easy to find.  |
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How far are you from Indy?
But if you want a little more info;