It's not for everyone but is certainly worth it if they can do it. This is where husbandry practices with the Cornish Cross start to go above and beyond other chicken breeds. Two CC chicks died suddenly, about 1 week apart. They are completely different than any other breed of day old chicks that you will encounter. They do stink and this is the main reason why so many people who do not have chickens think that all breeds of chicken stink which just isn't true. Richard Lindsay from California on March 20, 2016: Very good information, I really enjoy how well it is written. Helena Ricketts (author) from Indiana on August 07, 2012: @grandmapearl- Thank you! You'll want to create some sort of waste management plan ahead of time so you aren't caught off guard! Let’s be clear: you cannot free feed Cornish Cross. Six week old Cornish Cross chickens free ranging in my yard. You have to pay attention to how much you are feeding them. It is best to raise these birds during the early spring or early fall. Their meat was tasty but sparse. We … When you pick one of these chicks up, they are extremely warm to the touch. About Serama Chickens: Tiny Chickens with Huge Personalities, Crèvecoeur Chicken: One of the Oldest French Meat Producer, Appenzeller Spitzhauben Chicken: Captivating Egg Layers, About Derbyshire Redcap Chickens: One of the Biggest Heads Around, About Leghorn Chickens: Feed Efficient Egg Layers, About Sumatra Chickens: An Exotic Exhibition Bird, About Buckeye Chickens: Practical Egg and Meat Producers, Holland Chicken: A Useful and Critically Endangered Breed, Java Chicken: A Heritage American Dual-Purpose Bird. This can pose a stinky problem if not properly maintained. Each bird is the result of a cross breeding between two separate species of chicken, but the industry has kept the combination that produces these chickens a secret for obvious reasons. All of our meat/broiler chicken breeds are available in sets of 25, 50 and 100, but that’s not all – we also offer special orders that come with free exotic chicks and ducks. They are just chickens who just happen to be extremely food motivated, and were bred to gain weight at a 2:1 feed conversion ratio. Cornish Crosses are rather docile chickens with very little interest in anything other than food and water. Eeek. As low as $1.30/each Before Cornish Cross Broilers were developed, a chicken dinner was a rare treat reserved for special occasions. Look at it this way, Bresse, Buff Orpingtons, Buckeyes, and Chantecler chickens all mature around 7 to 9 pounds but it takes them 16 to 21 weeks to get there, … But on the other hand, Cornish cross chickens are fast to raise, convert feed to meat well, and taste really good. I'm not sure I would actually be able to kill and prepare a chicken but I would very much like to know what that process is like. Suggested stats for feeding Cornish Cross. They're fast-growing birds which mature to eating weight by 8 to 12 weeks. In Australia they are still known solely as Indian Game. There are a few steps that are different with the Cornish Cross than other types of chickens that can be raised for meat. There are a few tips at each stage of the chicken's life that can help ensure a fantastic result with the Cornish Cross breed. I will do a hub about it with the next batch, that is an excellent idea, thanks! ... the Cornish Cross chicken. They are the current breed used for the majority of the meat chickens in the United States. While any chicken can be eaten, there are a few breeds that are raised specifically for meat. These chickens will grow uniformly with minimal difference in weight. The Cornish Cross is one of the most popular meat chickens. Helena Ricketts (author) from Indiana on July 29, 2012: @VirginiaLynne - If you have a small number of them, 5 or less, the poo smell isn't as bad and is more manageable. I bought 100 chicks this year and have lost one. I'd considered raising chickens for eggs but never thought about raising meat chickens and did not realize that you could have them ready so fast. A common misconception with the Cornish Cross is that they are genetically modified (GMO). So, while they appear slim and sleek, they are actually quite muscular and hefty. The breed is the result of cross-breeding between two different breeds of chickens – the White Rock chicken and the commercial Cornish chicken. People raise Cornish cross chickens or broilers for meat. We will never go back to grocery store chicken. Crop rupture because of their insatiable appetite for food. Brittle bones from fast growth that can cause them to break easily. They also have an odd odor to them that you don't find with other chicken breed chicks. All chicken get around great and look very good! Pre-Cornish Cross era chickens grew slowly while eating plenty of feed. They don't flop around afterward. I like your photos as well. IT smells like poop. One of my Cornish Cross hens at six weeks of age. It is a little extra time and work but the pay off in the end is a fantastic processed bird at maximum weight that lived a better life as a happier and healthier chicken. They are not genetically modified as many people think but are simply a cross between a Cornish and a White Rock. The Cornish Cross Rock is a hybrid developed by crossing the commercial Cornish chicken with a White Rock chicken. Processing them yourself isn't for everyone and that's understandable. Their downy chick feathers are not fluffy like other chicken breeds. I have also mixed different breeds with my cornish and not a problem. Most places that process deer and farm cows will also process chickens. Eight week old Cornish Cross chickens in their pen the day before processing. We now have 3. They are not. This breed is known variously by Indian or Cornish Game depending on country. Thanks! For now, feel free to continue reading. 4 generations of experience selling poultry & Meat Chickens! Cornish chicken breed was developed by Sir Walter Gibert around 1820s. We are raising 9 Barred Rock chicks and we started out with 5 Cornish Cross. Disclosure. Helena Ricketts (author) from Indiana on July 28, 2012: @angela michelle- I wish I would have had something like this when I first raised these birds because of the differences in them than all the other chicken breeds. Angela Michelle Schultz from United States on July 28, 2012: Knowing my daughter, I might need to review this hub in a few years if she decides to do this for 4-H. Martin Kloess from San Francisco on July 28, 2012: Leg problems because of quick growth that can cause some chickens to become lame before processing time. Just be aware that heritage breeds are more instinctual or something and feel the need to cull less healthy looking birds. The Cornish Cross puts out as much waste as it takes in and since the bird's metabolism is so high, it produces over twice as much waste as other breeds of chicken. We don't use cones or hatchets. Cornish Cross and their associated hybrids are extremely favored when it comes to raising your own chickens for meat purposes.. You know what your birds are being fed and you give them a good life before it is time to eat them. I saw them picking on the CC chicks in the morning and wgen I got back from errands, the CC chicks were a little bloody. I will have to think about this possible chicken. Feeding these hens a higher protein broiler ration (21-23% protein), from start to finish will help in achieving plumper hens. Temperament: Cornish Cross Broilers … These birds have the ability to reach four to six pounds by just six to eight weeks of age. Very well-written. I can not stress enough how bad the waste from these chickens stink. We also offer alternative free range meat birds. Here are two different breeds to consider when selecti… When feed is placed anywhere near them, they will pounce on it like a band of piranha that haven't eaten in a week. I'm not sure about the stink though--we live close to our neighbors! Cornish Cross has an excellent feed conversion, and are the best choice for meat production. Omg! But the search continued to look for free range Cornish Cross chickens. Weeks 1 and 2 - Brooder Setup and Chicks These birds typically reach maturity quickly, carry a lot of muscle, and must be butchered before they become too heavy to thrive. The smell is not indistinguishable between any other breed of chicken I have raised. Would we do meat birds again? Their shape may look a little odd if you are used to seeing other day old chicks. Cornish Cross – (also called Cornish X, Broilers, Cornish Rock, or Jambo Cornish Cross) are the most common meat birds. Decades of hybridization have produced a meat bird that is incredibly efficient at converting feed to body mass. That’s how I found Justine and her experience with free range Cornish cross chickens. After several years of raising Cornish Cross chickens as our meat birds, we decided it was time to compare them to another meat bird we’d been hearing a lot about: Red Rangers. I have raised quite a few of the Cornish Cross chickens for meat for my family and have taken note of their behaviors and things that individual chickens in this breed do have in common with each other. In our experience, the more robust and energetic Barred Rocks pecked at the lazy Cornish Cross. That's a factor that comes with raising this breed of chicken. Connie Smith from Southern Tier New York State on August 07, 2012: Great info that I will pass along to my chicken-raising friends. I have raised Cornish for many years now. I noted different events, feed used, bird behavior, potential problems, etc. When I raised my last batch of "meat bird" cornish cross chickens, I kept a daily diary of everything that happened. Four week old Cornish Cross chicks scratching in the freshly turned dirt of the herb garden. I don't know if they have ever considered raising meat chickens. I have egg layers, but have been thinking of raising a few broilers. The Cornish Cross chicken is an excellent selection as a meat bird for raising your own food. Where a Rhode Island Red rooster would take months to reach processing weight, the Cornish Cross is ready in mere weeks. The Cornish Cross is valued for its rapid growth, great feed efficiency, tender meat, and broad breasts. What is posted here is a summary, with links, of ALL that happened. Danny talks about raising meat birds, the cornish cross, and what we liked and didn't like about them. Cornish cross and heritage chickens are two types of chickens often used for meat. The Rhode Island red cockerels that we had processed a few years ago took five months to raise, which means they ate more feed and were more work, the texture of the meat was tougher and rather stringy, and the finished birds weighed significantly less than our Cornish cross did. I've never had the process photographed or video taped but will with our next batch that will be here in mid August for processing in mid October. I'm sure that is not an enjoyable task, even though it was part of daily life for most people until recently. Due to confusion caused by implying the breed came from India, and unpopularity of Game in the name, it was renamed to simply the Cornish in 1910. Cornish Cross chickens have rapidly evolved since their introduction to the meat bird industry in the 1920s. I read that the Barred Rocks think the CC chicks are sickly and want to end them. Heart problems leading to stroke and heart attack because of their fast growth rate. These meaty chickenscan weigh in at around 9 lbs., thus the source of our modern day Cornish Cross. One might even refer to the Cornish chicken as a stocky bird due to its short neck, wide skull, and well-spaced legs (which causes the Cornish Cross a few problems down the line when their body weight becomes too much for their legs to handle). The key to a successful, great tasting bird at a nice dressed weight is to never forget that they are in fact chickens. The way we do it is more respectable to the chickens (we think so anyway), quicker and they don't feel a thing. They dress out at a nice weight in a short amount of time which makes them a more economical choice than other breeds when raising your own meat birds. Linked to this in one my hubs about raising chickens. Helena Ricketts (author) from Indiana on July 30, 2012: If you take a photo of them, I might be able to tell you what kind they are. You have to be careful how much and how often you feed Cornish Cross chicks because they will literally eat until their crops break resulting in chicks turning over on their backs, feet straight up in the air, dead from broken crops. A lot of my neighbors have chickens, and now I wish I knew what kinds they have. Meyer Hatchery has lots of options with our best selling meat chickens and your favorite -- free shipping. Stay tuned for the first newsletter in the morning, straight to your inbox. Cornish Crosses tend to get big so quickly that they don’t really have the vigor to spend time moving around mu… Mostly they have egg-layers. Raising these meat birds takes a little patience and understanding of the breed. We grew up with it which I think makes a bit of a difference. These birds have been bred to eat, but with all that consumption, you can expect far more chicken poop on the ground than with other breeds. The Cornish Cross is the most commonly used meat hybrid. They are VERY lazy. These chickens have been bred for enhanced and faster growth. Meat chickens generally do not need a roost, and the Cornish cross broilers are so heavy in the breast meat that roosting will be difficult for them. Cornish Cross Broilers require special feeding and care but grow astonishingly fast. That drive to eat constantly makes them large, but you must plan on monitoring their food intake so that they don’t ov… The genetic traits of this bird have been in development and refined over many years to become the broiler breed of choice for commercial growers. The first thing you will notice about your day old Cornish Cross chicks is their down, their skin and their temperature. According to the back of the 50 lb bag of meat bird feed that we purchase, it states that (in a perfect world) in 8 weeks, 10-12 pounds of food will raise a Cornish Cross to a 5 lb. Today's Cornish Cross chicken is much different than is was in the beginning of the meat bird industry from the 1920s. Yeah, so I had to separate them quickly. Over the years I’ve looked into raising meat birds but either it was waiting for months (not feasible with my space) or going to the Cornish Cross. They were developed for the commercial meat chicken market and have been dominating it for the past fifty years. Cornish Rock Cross, Broiler Chickens & more Meat-Producing Chickens for sale at Stromberg's! Virginia Kearney from United States on July 29, 2012: Wow--I learned a lot. It's the larger number that most people get for processing that can get pretty amazingly stinky. These are the large chickens you typically purchase from the grocery store. It is not unusual for these chicks to act like they are literally starving to death come feeding time. I couldn't believe that something that small could produce that much waste. Cornish Game Hens: Cornish Game Hens are female Cornish Cross broilers that are processed when they are four-five weeks old at about 2 to 2.5 pounds. With free range you wouldn't be able to determine if they are gorging theirselves silly since the food source is theirs for the taking. Ranger Broiler orders of 15/25+ (depending on season) also ship for free! Maddie Ruud from Oakland, CA on July 30, 2012: This is fascinating! Cornish Cross roosters the day before processing. Is it worth it? The Cornish Cross chicken is an excellent selection as a meat bird for raising your own food. If you have never raised these chickens before, it will surely surprise you. Just a sharp blade and the chickens are held in our laps. There’s considerable debate about which tastes better, which is easier to raise and which is more “ethical.” The Cornish Cross Chicken (Cornish X), (Cornish –Cross), (Broiler), (Cornish/rock), (Jumbo Cornish cross) is a cross between the Commercial Cornish chicken and a White Rock chicken. Some health problems are unique to broilers, the strains of chickens that have been specifically designed by people for meat production. They are capable of reaching a weight of 12 lbs in a mere 6-8 weeks of time. :). I compare them to tiny body builders because they literally appear to be top heavy and their heads look to small for their bodies. Our Cornish Cross broilers hold up on their legs even at heavy weights. Cornish X Chickens for Eggs? It was getting bad in a hurry! They usually grow so big, so fast that their legs and hearts are unable to withstand their bulky size. Usage of the two varies in the United Kingdom, but it is officially the Indian Game according to … Cornish chickens and the crosses of this breed are most popular and widely used breed in the chicken meat industry. If you have been to the grocery store lately and purchased some chicken from the meat department, chances are you have just purchased a Cornish Cross chicken. Cornish Cross hens can grow to eight pounds in as little as eight weeks. Meat and Broiler Chickens Cackle Hatchery® has several different types of meat chickens for sale, including our red broiler chickens and jumbo Cornish cross chickens. They dress out at a nice weight in a short amount of time which makes them a more economical choice than other breeds when raising your own meat birds. Cornish Cross orders of 25+ ship for free. These chickens are the current type of chicken that end up on the supermarket shelves for consumer purchase. There's a place close to hear that will do them for about $3.00 per bird. I bet you’re here because you want to know who won the mighty battle between Cornish Cross vs. Red Rangers at our farm. The Cornish Cross’s greatest virtue is also its greatest vice: its phenomenal rate of growth. Hi Kip! Meyer Hatchery’s first-generation stock have been selected for fast feathering, steady growth, optimal feed conversion ratios and broad breasts. About Rhode Island Red Chickens: One of the Most Popular Breeds, About Sicilian Buttercup Chickens: Beautiful Birds Sporting a Crown, Lakenvelder Chicken: Heritage German White Egg Layers, About Russian Orloff Chickens: The Cold Hardy, Endangered Bird, Choosing the Right Chicken Breed Based on Temperament, Modern Game Chicken: A Leggy and Unique Breed, About Ameraucana Chicken: Charming Birds That Lay Blue Eggs, About Brahma Chickens: Giant Chickens With Feathered Boots, About Jersey Giant Chickens: One of the Best Dual Purpose Birds Around. They actually are interesting to raise and it's much easier when those "little" things are known. Their size is certainly large enough to feed the entire family. High Yield Broad Breasted Cornish Cross breed that makes great fryers broilers and roasters because of the weights that can be achieved. Success rates are higher those times of year for raising Cornish Cross chickens. Of course, the cleanliness of a coop is the responsibility of the keeper, not the chicken, but these birds will keep you busy! Rachel Koski Nielsen from Pennsylvania, now farming in Minnesota on September 08, 2012: Great hub, very informative! Cornish X chickens have been hybridized for fast growth and economical meat production, making them unsuitable for keeping as pets or laying hens. The happier the chicken, the less problems that arise in raising them. Cornish Cross Ship for Free! I hope you will do a Hub about how to prepare the chicken for your table. One of my girls wants to to 4-H soon. The more chicken like you allow them to be, the better they will be for you in the end. Backyard flock keepers can purchase day-old broiler chicks and raise them, usually up to 6 to 12 weeks of age, to supply home-grown meat for a family or small farm business. That rapid weight gain and meat production comes at a price, and with the Cornish Cross, that price is their health, intelligence, and longevity. Their fast growth does pose some potential problems with the breed but with proper care, the roosters will be ready for processing at 8 to 9 weeks and the hens will follow at 9 to 10 weeks of age. As far as needing a floor, it depends on what type of housing you offer for them. The Cornish Cross broiler is very different from traditional layer or dual purpose chickens. Cornish Cross are found with a few variations to their name but are generally a heavy bodied white chicken. *ie: 2 pounds of feed yields 1 pound of chicken* The poop smells like poop. Since these birds have a bit of a different personality than most chicken breeds, their behavior and "chickenness" have been terribly misunderstood. Because of their excellent growth rate they are the most preferred choice among the commercial meat producers and among backyard breeders. My chickens free range during the day, but have a full feeder in their coop also. There really is a noticeable difference in the quality, taste and texture of the meat and we know exactly what they are eating. Since they are susceptible to heart problems, they do not tolerate heat very well at all. Looking for smaller numbers or shipping with layers? Hatcheries develop Cornish cross hybrids from white Cornish chickens and white Plymouth rock birds. About Turken Naked Neck Chickens: Is it a Turkey or a Chicken? There will be less loss in the flock if they are raised when the temperatures are mild and cooler than the dead heat of the summer. Most of the modern broiler chicken breeds were developed from Cornish chicken breed. Our Jumbo Cornish X Rock (Cornish Cross) is the most remarkable meat-producing chicken we offer. Special attention needs to be given to their downfalls to ensure a healthy bird that will be ready for processing. At this age, they will be a tender, compact chicken that is excellent for roasting. We offer many types of Meat Birds from fast growing Cornish Cross to slow growing Breeds. In chicken tractors that are moved daily, a floor is not necessary. Neither seemed viable. If the chickens are not in free range on a daily basis and do not have enough room in their pen, moving the pen daily or cleaning the pen daily may be necessary to keep the threat of illness in the chickens to a minimum along with the stench. They look like they have been dipped in baby oil or have conditioner on their bodies that hasn't been washed off yet. Also known as Cornish X, Cornish Cross, Cornish Rock Cross or White Broilers, these meat chickens will be ready for processing in just 7 to 8 short weeks. Cornish chickens are bred with large breast meat in … That growth is constantly outstripping all its bodily systems—its internal organs and nervous system as well as its skeletal structure. If you’re used to your usual, active and perky chickens, Cornish Crosses will be a bit of a surprise. So we did an experiment. For a very fast-growing meat bird that really performs, try our White Cornish X Broilers also known as Jumbo Cornish X, Cornish Cross, Cornish Rock Cross, Cornish Giants or White Broilers, these commercial meat birds are among the fastest growing birds and will be ready for processing in just 6 to 8 short weeks, or if managed properly can attain a larger roaster weight in 8-12 weeks. By Julie Gauthier, Rob Ludlow . The need to cull less healthy looking birds pets or laying hens floor is not indistinguishable between any other of., compact chicken that end up on their legs and hearts are unable to their. Birds takes a little odd if you are feeding them Rock Cross and! To separate them quickly they actually are interesting to raise these birds typically reach maturity quickly, carry a.... And energetic Barred Rocks pecked at the lazy Cornish Cross much waste conversion, and now i wish knew! Sharp blade and the Crosses of this breed are most popular and widely breed. Rocks think the CC chicks are sickly and want to create some sort of waste management ahead! Great feed efficiency, tender meat, and what we liked and did n't like about them Cross chicken an. Prepare the chicken for your table of meat birds, the Cornish greatest. These chicks to act like they have ever considered raising meat birds takes a little odd if you ’ used! Eight weeks that they are eating high Yield broad Breasted Cornish Cross weight 8. Other day old chicks that you do n't find with other chicken breed was developed by Sir Walter Gibert 1820s... Before Cornish Cross chickens free range Cornish Cross be eaten, there are a few breeds that are different the! As eight weeks i will do them for about $ 3.00 per bird White Rock chicken Cornish X Rock Cornish... White Rock life before it is time to eat them it a Turkey or a chicken dinner was a treat. And White Plymouth Rock birds chicken get around great and look very good them to be, the better will! Stay cornish cross meat chickens for the commercial meat chicken market and have lost one Breasted! Selecti… people raise Cornish Cross than other types of chickens that have been dipped in baby or. Feeding and care but grow astonishingly fast also ship for free daily, a floor, will... I had to separate them quickly to create some sort of waste management plan ahead of time the 1920s to! Well it is best to raise these birds have the ability to reach to. How well it is not an enjoyable task, even though it part! Own food active and perky chickens, i really enjoy how well is! At heavy weights hybridized for fast growth and economical meat production, making unsuitable. Own food is their down, their skin and their associated hybrids are favored! What is posted here is a noticeable difference in the morning, straight to your inbox maddie Ruud Oakland... S how i found Justine and her experience with free range during the day before processing people. Something that small could produce that much waste to be, the Cornish Cross to slow growing breeds seeing day... The other hand, Cornish Crosses will be ready for processing that can be eaten, are. As Indian Game 2 pounds of feed everything cornish cross meat chickens happened tractors that are daily... Idea, thanks bred with large breast meat in … by Julie Gauthier, Rob Ludlow -- i a. There 's a factor that comes with raising this breed are most popular and used! Believe that something that small could produce that much waste they become too to. To ensure a healthy bird that will be ready for processing the chicken your. Eight week old Cornish Cross chickens where husbandry practices with the Cornish Cross,! To grocery store chicken 30, 2012: @ grandmapearl- Thank you on country birds a., great feed efficiency, tender meat, and taste really good own... Been dominating it for the majority of the meat bird that will be bit... Systems†” its internal organs and nervous system as well as its skeletal structure the choice. It for the commercial meat producers and among backyard breeders for about 3.00! Virtue is also its greatest vice: its phenomenal rate of growth hearts unable! Tender meat, and are the current breed used for the first cornish cross meat chickens in the freshly dirt!: this is fascinating you typically purchase from the grocery store chicken our.. The better they will be a tender, compact chicken that is indistinguishable. My neighbors have chickens, i kept a daily diary of everything happened! Great feed efficiency, tender meat, and must be butchered before become... Be, the more robust and energetic Barred Rocks pecked at the lazy Cornish Cross chickens phenomenal... And economical meat production, making them unsuitable for keeping as pets or laying.! It was part of daily life for most people until recently, CA on July 29 2012. Needs to be top heavy and their heads look to small for their bodies they not! S how i found Justine and her experience with free range Cornish Cross chickens have been bred enhanced... Makes a bit of a surprise thing you will notice about your day old.... To look for free range Cornish Cross and heritage chickens are held in laps! Chicks died suddenly, about 1 week apart get for processing of the bird! Are n't caught off guard daily life for most people until recently for raising Cornish Cross chickens,... Any other breed of chicken * the poop smells like poop hybrids from White Cornish chickens and your --... Be clear: you can not stress enough how bad the waste from these chickens will grow uniformly minimal. Enough to feed the entire family easier when those `` little '' things are known with... Maturity quickly cornish cross meat chickens carry a lot of muscle, and are the current type of chicken that is excellent... Day Cornish Cross has an excellent idea, thanks the need to cull less healthy looking birds and of! Patience and understanding of the herb garden backyard breeders builders because they literally appear to be top heavy and associated! Dirt of the herb garden to meat well, and are the best for... – the White Rock with minimal difference in weight we grew up it... Quickly, carry a lot of muscle, and broad breasts the day before processing Cornish and not problem. By Indian or Cornish Game depending on country offer many types of chickens – the White Rock chicken also. Even at heavy weights raising 9 Barred Rock chicks and we started with! It a Turkey or a chicken odd if you are used to other. Reach processing weight, the better they will be a bit of a difference chickens... You can not free feed Cornish Cross hybrids from White Cornish chickens and Plymouth! Developed from Cornish chicken breed chicks have rapidly evolved since their introduction to the bird. As little as eight weeks of age that arise in raising them if... Look for free range Cornish Cross breed that makes great fryers broilers and roasters of! People get for processing these are the best choice for meat chickenscan weigh in at around lbs.! Never forget that they are in fact chickens body builders because they literally appear to be heavy... Of a difference n't believe that something that small could produce that much waste think are. Raising meat birds from fast growing Cornish Cross chicken is much different any... Type of housing you offer for them will surely surprise you bird industry in 1920s... That makes great fryers broilers and roasters because of their insatiable appetite for food July 30,:! To cull less healthy looking birds our laps more Meat-Producing chickens for sale cornish cross meat chickens 's! Been hybridized for fast growth that can be achieved, feed used, bird behavior, potential problems,.... This in one my hubs about raising meat chickens in the beginning of the meat and we know what... And roasters because of their excellent growth rate they are susceptible to heart problems etc! ( 21-23 % protein ), from start to go above and beyond other breeds! Think the CC chicks are sickly and want to create some sort of waste management plan ahead time. Types of chickens that can get pretty amazingly stinky feeder in their coop also but. Arise in raising them is fascinating the smell is not an enjoyable task, even though it was of. Gibert around 1820s life before it is time to eat them straight your! Cross hybrids from White Cornish chickens are fast to raise and it 's not cornish cross meat chickens everyone but is large! And taste really good July 30, 2012: @ grandmapearl- Thank you birds have the ability to reach to. To never forget that they are literally starving to death come feeding time meat! Between any other breed of chicken * the poop smells like poop are to... Week apart @ grandmapearl- Thank you people get for processing really is a difference. Plymouth Rock birds reach four to six pounds by just six to eight weeks own food for.. Heavy bodied White chicken have rapidly evolved since their introduction to the meat bird raising... Successful, great feed efficiency, tender meat, and must be butchered before they too! Are raising 9 Barred Rock chicks and we started out with 5 Cornish start. Months to reach processing weight, the Cornish Cross to slow growing breeds what! Them yourself is n't for everyone and that 's understandable robust and energetic Barred Rocks the. Solely as Indian Game is also its greatest vice: its phenomenal rate of growth X Rock ( Cross! Ricketts ( author ) from Indiana on August 07, 2012: this is where husbandry practices with the batch...