Cornish X - Pullets or Males?

[bigredfeather]

I am going to buy some Cornish X day old chicks in the near future for butchering. I noticed hatcheries offer pullets, roosters, and straight run chicks. The rooster chicks are more expensive than pullets and straight run. Why would this be the case? Is there any difference as far as meat? I would think roosters would be a bit larger. I read a few things concerning caponizing and male butchering chickens. Is this something that needs to be done on Cornish X roosters? Would it be of any advantage to even get roosters? Please give some input on this gender question. I would like to know what other people out there have done and perhaps the reasoning behind their choices.

Thank you in advance for information.

 

[miss_jayne]

the pullets take LONGER to get to a broiler size. (8-10wks)
cockerels take about 6-8 wks.

what you want to consider is the outcome of your purchase. do you want some fryers (smaller birds) or just big roaster/broilers?


if you do a straight run, you save money on the chick, but if you want all big birds, you will spend more money to get them to size.

i have tried it both ways...all cockerels and mixed. i like the cockerels better in the long run. i can process early if i want a fryer and leave them a little extra for a whopper.

blessings for tasty, healthy birds!

 

[Southerngirl]

We bought straight run Cornish X from McMurray and the males dressed out larger but the hens were very plump also. The straight run is cheaper and we ended up with plenty of meat from both the males and females. Good Luck !

 

[becky3086]

Wow, good question. I never knew there was a difference. Something to consider as I hope to get some next spring.

 

[greyfields]

Straight Run.

You can hardly tell them apart at 8 weeks. They're generally all within a 1/2 pound of eachother at processing, the FCR is the same, there really is not reason to choose one over the other.

In every crop of broilers I've ever done there have been pullets larger than some cockrels. It really doesn't matter unless you're completel picky and want all your birds to be identical.

 

[bigredfeather]

FYI - Meyer Hatchery in Polk, Ohio, has straight run Cornish x chicks (over 50) for $0.68 each today. They must have an overrun. I noticed today was pick-up for them.


Miss_jayne, have you ever done a batch in the winter? Or anybody else that lives where it is cold in the winter months.

 

[carress]

Quote:
Actually:
Buy 11 or more for $0.96 each
Buy 50 or more for $0.86 each
Buy 501 or more for $0.81 each

this is what I see at : http://www.meyerhatchery.com/get_item_dobsr_broilers-st-run.htm

do you see something different?

ETA-I see - when you add the birds to the cart, it changes to 68cents.

I put 500 birds in my cart - they cost 3 hundred bucks, but WHOA - the shipping is $4,467.30!!

 

[willheveland]

If you can get a REALLY good deal on chicks straight run wouldn't be a bad way to go.(the meyers deal sounds cheap)When a company offers(meat birds) the 3 choices St run,pul,cocks most times the males are only $.10-$.20 more.This is because you are going to get more meat out of a male in the end.This is about the only time a rooster is worth more than a hen.

When I raise meat birds I raise 25-50 at a time.I like males because they grow bigger,hands down.(raise a few batches and see for yourself)
I raise meat for my family,I don't raise to sell.So my way of thinking is different from those who sell.
If I could get every chicken I raise to get to be 10 lbs. I would be happy.That is a good size for my crew.I need to get roosters to get even close to that.If someone is selling them they don't need or want 10 lb.birds especially when they charge their customers $3.-$5. a lb. Can you see common working people shucking out $30.-$50. for a chicken for dinner.
So in my opinon unless you are raising larger batches where quanity of birds is more important than quanity of meat,Males are the way to go.I don't feel a need to caponize any chicken for meat.There are too many choices now to work around that.
I'm not trying to start a debate,everything here has been discussed before.I know some say there is no difference between sexes for size.I also know there are some people who will spend $30-$50 on a chicken to eat.There are also some that think that caponizing males is worthwhile.
This is just my honest opinon on what I know from my experiences raising meat for my own use.Hope this helps. Will

 

[bigredfeather]

That looks like a good method of housing, willheveland. Your property looks very similar to mine. Do you ever have anything dig under your pens and kill your chickens?

 

[miss_jayne]

Quote:
not as of yet, but i have some out now and it is pretty darn cold at night. they are in a tractor with the top covered. they stay warm and toasty.