Is there a difference in Cornish X Rocks and Broilers????

[D'Angelo N Va.]

I keep looking at the chicken hatchery catalogs and I want to get some meat chickens..they keep talking about Broilers and Cornish X Rocks..they have them listed seperately and priced differently. they say the broilers take 12 weeks to develop and therefor don't grow as fast and have less leg issues..does anyone know this to be true...also what makes any of them grow so fast?? is it a hormone put in them, if so are we really getting anything different from the store? I need to know..before I order some the 2ndweek in July.

 

[ThreeBoysChicks]

I have raised out Cornish X Rocks and Broilers. And you nailed it. The Cornish X Rocks are ready to be processed at 8 weeks and the broilers are 12 weeks. I actually waited 16 weeks with my broilers and they still were not as big as the cross rocks. The Broilers had no health issues, moved around well where as teh X rocks tended to sit next to the feeder all day.

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

WOW, Thanks so much....so the Cross X's are a larger bird...glad to know it.

 

[turtlebird]

Just processed my cornish Rock today....a few days over 8 weeks. Leg problems, leg problems, leg problems
Last year i raised the slightly slower cornish roasters, with beautiful results.
No more cornish Rock ever ever ever again.

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

Thanks so much...Cornish Roasters it is then.

 

[SteveH]

D'Angelo N Va. :

I keep looking at the chicken hatchery catalogs and I want to get some meat chickens..they keep talking about Broilers and Cornish X Rocks..they have them listed seperately and priced differently. they say the broilers take 12 weeks to develop and therefor don't grow as fast and have less leg issues..does anyone know this to be true...also what makes any of them grow so fast?? is it a hormone put in them, if so are we really getting anything different from the store? I need to know..before I order some the 2ndweek in July.

No hormones or chromozone transplanting , just 50 years or so developing the parent lines to produce a chicken with great meat qualities , growth rate , and feed conversion . The qualities that make it a great meat bird for commercial production also has the potential to create problems associated with rapid growth of heavy bodies , so they need a little management to keep them healthy . For some the slightly slower growing strains of hybrid meaties better meet their wants for a bird to feed for eating ; some , such as the Freedom Rangers , may not provide as large as breast as the CX , but will still be a great , home grown , bird for the table . Good luck with your choice .​

 

[HOUSE OF ROCK A DOODLE]

I am getting 24 cornish X tomorrow morning, I was told that they smell horrible , I free range my chickens so I am thinking that for 2 weeks I will have to rotate the fenced in area for them every other day. any feed back would be appreciated.

 

[mamawolf544]

I have 25 cornish and I kept them for 2 weeks in a raised wire pen, and now they are in a large grow out pen. And next week I will move them to the backyard to free range until I process them. They are fat little rolly pollies right now but they dont smell any worse than any of my other chickens.

 

[Slinkytoys]

The roasters are recommended for higher altitudes. They seem to be less fragile, I've had great success with them here in Colorado.
Slinky

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

All of this feed back is Great! Thanks to everyone. I am looking forward to doing this now....bring on the Broilers!!