Will Cornish X live normal lives if you don't kill them ever?

[rhoda_bruce]

I wouldn't keep them for anything but meat. I did retain them longer than I should have once and began calling them 'heart attack chickens.' They just walked out in the yard and dropped dead.

 

[jjparke]

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Technically they were bred to live shorter lives. They have been bred to reach a good weight in a very short time so they can be processed quickly. This is their purpose. You wouldn't use a hammer to cut a board or use a screwdriver to pound a nail. Why do you want to raise a cornishx past 8-10 weeks? They are for meat. That's it plain and simple.

 

[Peep_Show]

Do Cornish X's produce normal-sized eggs? The pen I had of them that I let "go long" beyond the recommended butchering date, the eggs -- seriously -- were so small they looked like toy eggs. At that point it was time for the hens to go!

Hens did fare better than roos for aging. As the roos got heavier/heaviest, they tended to breast-set more and were generally more soiled. These birds were not meant to spend a life scrabbling and scratching or preening in the yard. Indeed, they would fall asleep with their heads IN THE FEEDERS.

There are far more personable chickens out there if you want 'em as pets.....

 

[4H-Mom]

I know last year a girl had very large cornish for her Meat pen in 4H & one died at the fair. Our fairs here get so hot the poor things are miserable. We let ours go over the 8 weeks but that was due to getting them to the butcher. I dont know about this year but we wont be keeping them over prolly 12 weeks. After the 2 fairs our birds will be destine for the freezer. Unfortunately we still have alot form last year. They are very sweet birds. (& soft. Yes i can be a softy too.

)

 

[Buster52]

Quote:
You sure you wanna go down that road?

 

[poultrykeeper08]

i have a cornish hen that i got in October of 08 and she is still alive and well . i dont restrict her feed but i allow her to free range . She gets alot of lettuce and tomatoes .

I also have a friend who have a 4 year old broad breasted bronze !!! her legs are a little twisted but she can still walk around and lays every spring !

 

[BirchHatchery]

JJPARKE Can you read? As i stated before i am raising these for breeding purposes yall think it bad to restrict their feed and make them move Well the parents of these birds are no diffrent if let to eat free choice they would die before their sexual mature so is it inhumane to purchase chicks from the parents who are no diffrent then their chicks?

 

[Buster52]

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Actually, the parents are very different. If they weren't, you'd be buying the parents. The effects of heterosis is what makes the offspring do what they do.

But you are right about one thing. The way the parents are kept is another of my long list of reasons for not liking the X bird. It's just another form of factory farming.

BTW, how old are your birds now?

 

[Brunty_Farms]

To Birch and others....

This link is a great read and explains what most of you are talking about in greater detail and with a lot of facts to go with it.

It shows my point and Birch's point that they do in fact get broilers to breeding age. In fact most of the breeders are only allowed to get to 50% of their potential body weight. It basically shows that they are identical to their offspring but fed a very strict diet. Honestly it disgust me and it makes me realize why I do what I do. Some breeder companies do skip a day feedings.... some do every day... and some do 5 days feed and 2 days off.

The birds that are fed a restricted diet in commercial settings seem to be restless and pick at everything. Do keep in mind, that I preach keeping broilers outside. Especially ones that are designed for breeding. Even though the are restricted they are still consuming food... it keeps them content while keeping them healthy. There is a big difference in restricting feed in a commercial setting and one that is on pasture.

http://www.mcspotlight.org/media/reports/fawn.html

 

[Brunty_Farms]

Quote:
Actually, the parents are very different. If they weren't, you'd be buying the parents. The effects of heterosis is what makes the offspring do what they do.

But you are right about one thing. The way the parents are kept is another of my long list of reasons for not liking the X bird. It's just another form of factory farming.

BTW, how old are your birds now?

Not quite Buster... I've tried to explain this to you multiple times. Check the link out I posted. They are not the same, but very... very similar. If raised on full feed.... you would have the same results.... and yes if you would buy the parent by-products you wouldn't even be able to tell the difference. There are three breedings that go into the end result.... the third generation are very similar to the final product.