Standard Cornish vs. Cornish-X

[GoodEnough]

I am thinking about getting meat birds this year (somewhere between 10 - 25). A person we know whose raised chickens (including yearly batches of meat birds) suggested going with standard Cornish - not the hybrid She said that the standards don't have leg problems, don't have as much waterbelly problems and she felt they weren't quite as stinky. Now, the chicken lady at the feed store claims that the quality of the Cornish-X is based on the genetics of the bird (not the actual "breed"). Any opinions on the Cornish vs. Cornish-X issue?

I am just looking for tasty birds that are healthy, finished at a young age and have a good feed conversion. I can find the Cornish-X locally, however the standard Cornish I would have to mail order.

Thanks!

 

[KatieH]

Well, I have cornish roasters, I'm not sure if that's the same as standards? I do think they're hybrids, but they aren't supposed to have the same types of leg troubles the Xs have, so that's why I went with them (this is my first time raising chickens so I wanted to do it as easy as possible while I learn).

They do eat twice as much as my egg birds. But, I bought a 40lb bag of chick starter for all of them and I still have about 1/3 of it left, even with how fast the cornish are growing and how much they're eating.

 

[GoodEnough]

You are right. I just got my Murray McMurray catalog today and read that the Roasters are hybrids too. Now I'm really confused! If anyone has an opinion on anything with Cornish in the title I'm all ears. Thanks!

 

[Buster52]

Standard Dark Cornish is my meat bird. It does take longer to grow out than the CX, but that is something I am willing to live with. Mine are not hybrids. They have great taste, are very tender, and have nice breast meat. And they breed true, which means I don't have to order them every season. Your friend is right... they have none of the reported problems of the Cornish Cross. People here talk about acceptable losses when they raise the hybrids of up to 10-15% morbidity. Knock on wood but I have yet to lose a single standard to disease.

I have yet to raise the Cross, but will soon, along with Freedom Rangers, about 25 of each, just so I can say I did.

 

[Ibicella]

Well, if you want good feed conversion and fast growth, Cornish X is your bird.

Personally, I like richer flavor in my meat and less work, so I'd go with the standard Cornish. I don't mind that they take longer to grow out (which is where the richer flavor comes from) and I use chickens for other things like tending compost piles, scratching out gardening space, and pest control...so they work regularly for their feed till it's time to harvest.

 

[Bossroo]

Yes, the standard Cornish are more forgiving. The Cornish X are selectively bred to pack on meat as fast as possible with the best feed conversion rate as possible of any other chicken out there. To achieve their mission, they need to be raised in the most advantagous way. If one understands and actually follows protocol and practices good husbandry , NO problems. I used to raise RIR, PR, and NHR and there is a learning curve to understand the differences and make the necessary changes for optimum results. Not the other way around which is like trying to put a square peg in a round hole. I haven't lost one Cornish X or had any leg problems for over 3 years of raising them other than dead on arrival. All of mine became happy residents of freezer camp within 8 weeks and I then enjoy the 10 + + weeks of no extra labor.

 

[GoodEnough]

Wow! This is great info. Thank you everyone!

I asked our friend and she raises McMurray's Cornish Roasters. This definitely makes me think that there could be truth to the bloodlines on the Cornish hybrids being good or bad.

How long does the true Dark Cornish take to raise before they are ready for the freezer? Also, if you keep a few for breeding can they be kept with the layers or are they better separated?

Thanks!

 

[Buster52]

Quote:
You could probably butcher as young as 16 weeks, but I tend toward 18 to 20. And yes, the breeding stock can be kept with your layers, as that is what I do. They lay a very distinctive egg, and so their eggs are easy to separate out for incubation.

But I'm also finding they make good brooders.

If you want their chicks to be full Cornish, just make sure the roo you keep with your hens is a Cornish. I'm less concerned about mixed genetics with my layers than I am about my Dark Cornish.

 

[Southerngirl]

I raise both and here is a pic of my standard roo Hercules. They are solid,heavy. Excellent layers and table birds.

 

[jaku]

I butchered a batch of Dark Cornish last summer, and they were quite disappointing for meaties. They don't have any of the Cornish X problems because they are a very different bird- they also don't have NEAR the meat a Cornish X does. I've never really had any problems with my Cornish X's.