The Ultimate Guide to Raising Cornish Cross Chickens
Learn everything you need to know about raising Cornish Cross chickens successfully – tips and tricks included.
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What is a Cornish Cross Chicken?
The Cornish Cross breed was developed in the 1950s by crossing two different breeds of chickens: the Cornish breed, which is known for its large size and meaty body, and the White Plymouth Rock breed, which is known for its fast growth rate. The result was a hybrid bird that grows at an incredible rate and produces a high amount of meat compared to other breeds.
Cornish Cross chickens, also known as Cornish Rock chickens, are a popular breed of meat chickens. These birds are bred to grow quickly and efficiently, making them an ideal choice for commercial chicken farming operations. One of the main characteristics that sets Cornish Cross chickens apart from other breeds is their rapid growth rate. These birds can reach market weight in just six to eight weeks, which makes them highly profitable for farmers.
In addition to their fast growth rate, Cornish Cross chickens are also known for their large size. They can weigh up to 10 pounds or more at maturity, which makes them one of the biggest chicken breeds available.
Cornish Rock vs Cornish Cross
Cornish rock and Cornish cross are two different types of chickens that are commonly raised for meat. While both breeds have their own unique characteristics, they have distinct differences that set them apart.
Cornish rock is a hybrid breed of chicken that has been specifically bred for its large size and fast growth rate. These birds can reach market weight in as little as six weeks, making them a popular choice among commercial poultry farmers. Cornish rocks have white feathers, yellow skin, and a broad breast.
On the other hand, Cornish cross chickens are also hybrids but with more diverse genetics than Cornish rocks. They were originally bred from crossing the Cornish breed with Plymouth Rock or White Plymouth Rock breeds. It created a bird with good meat production traits but better health characteristics than purebred Cornishes. This resulted in a slightly slower growth rate compared to the Cornish rock, taking around eight weeks to reach market weight. However, this breed tends to be more active and healthy overall.
Where to buy Cornish Cross chickens?
Cornish cross chickens are a popular breed among backyard chicken keepers and homesteaders due to their fast growth rate. If you’re interested in raising Cornish Cross chickens for meat production, below are the best places to buy them.
1. Local Feed Stores: Many local feed stores carry Cornish Cross chicks during the spring season. This is a convenient option as you can easily pick up your chicks and any necessary supplies in one location.
2. Hatcheries: There are several hatcheries that specialize in breeding and selling Cornish Cross meat chickens. Some of the most popular options include Murray McMurray Hatchery, Cackle Hatchery, and Ideal Poultry.
3. Online Retailers: If you prefer to shop online, there are many websites that sell Cornish Cross chicks making it extremely easy to buy Cornish cross chickens online. You can find many chicks online doing a simple Google search such as ” Cornish cross for sale ” ” Cornish cross chicks for sale ” or ” Cornish cross chickens for sale “. If you are needing a place to start looking for Cornish cross here is a great place to start.
Things to Consider Before Raising Cornish Rock Broilers
Where Will you Raise your Chickens?
- Your backyard: If you have a large backyard, then it can be an ideal place for raising meat chickens. You can build a coop and run for the birds and allow them free range during the day.
- Rural areas: If you live in rural areas or farmland, then it is easier to find space for raising meat chickens. You can use your barns or sheds as coops and create a fenced area for their run.
- Urban areas: Raising meat chickens in urban areas may seem challenging due to limited space but with proper planning and zoning regulations, it’s possible. You will have to check with your city ordinances to ensure you can build or buy a coop to provide a place for your chickens to live.
What Will you Feed your Meat Chickens?
- Starter Feed: From day one until they are 3-4 weeks old, provide your Cornish Cross chicks with a high-quality starter feed that contains at least 20% protein. These feeds typically come in crumble or mash form. From the time you get your chicks they will need access to feed 24 hours a day until they are a week old. Once they are a week old they will need access to feed for only 12 hours. So they get feed for 12 hours and no feed for 12 hours. This is to help prevent the chickens from growing too big too fast.
- Grower Feed: Once the chicks reach 3-4 weeks of age, transition them to a grower feed that contains around 16% protein. This will help support healthy growth and development as they begin to get more active.
- Water: Always provide your chicks with clean, fresh water that is easily accessible at all times.
Who Will Butcher your Chickens?
It is important to know this information as soon as possible. If you plan on butchering your meat birds yourself you need to start researching so you know how to properly do it and are prepared when the birds are ready. If you do not want to butcher them yourself then you need to call around to different processing facilities in your area to see who does it. Not every processing facility will process birds because they are so small. Once you find a butcher that will process them for you go ahead and make an appointment about 8 weeks from the date you got your chicks. You will need to weigh your chickens and get their live weight so you know when they are ready to butcher.
How to Raise Cornish Cross Chickens for Meat
Raising Cornish Cross chickens is a popular option for those looking to produce their own meat at home. These chickens are bred specifically for meat production and can reach full size in as little as 6-8 weeks.
How to Prepare
- Shipping: Wherever you get your Cornish chicks from a farm store, ordering online, poultry store, or hatchery they will be either delivered to the post office or to a designated pickup location. Shipping can be pretty expensive since they are live animals being shipped so you can always check with a local farm store and typically they cover shipping cost so essentially you get free shipping. Either way, you need to know the ship date so you can know when they will be arriving so you can be prepared.
- Housing: Jumbo Cornish Cross chickens need adequate space to move around freely and access to fresh air and sunlight. A coop that provides shelter from the elements, plenty of ventilation, and a secure fenced area for them to roam is essential.
- Bedding: Cornish rock chicks need clean bedding. This will help cut down on odor as well as disease. You want to keep bedding dry. The best bedding we have found is pine or cedar shavings. Add them every day or every other day based on the number of chicks you have and the size of your brooder. It is important to note you should only use shavings and not saw dust. Chicks will often mistake saw dust for food.
Proper Care
- Feeding: Cornish Cross chickens require a diet high in protein to support their rapid growth rate. Feeding them with specially formulated feed that contains at least 20% protein is recommended. For the first 3 weeks they require 20% protein Chick Starter Grower. After 3 weeks they can be switched to Chick Grower which consist of 18% protein.
- Water: Make sure your Cornish Cross chickens have access to clean water at all times, especially during hot weather when they may drink more than usual.
- Temperature: Keep the temperature inside their coop between 75-85°F during the first week of life then gradually reduce it by about 5°F each week until they reach maturity. The chicks do not have feathers when they are born. They slowly begin losing their fuzz and growing feathers around 7 – 10 days old. Until they are full feathered they cannot regulate their body temperature properly resulting in them needing a heat lamp.
- Exercise: Encourage your Cornish Cross chickens to exercise by providing them with enough space and obstacles like perches or toys in their outdoor enclosure.
- Health care: Regularly check your birds for any signs of illness or injury such as sneezing, coughing, diarrhea or lethargy; if you notice any symptoms consult with a veterinarian immediately.
- Butchering: Once they reach maturity (around 8 weeks), it’s time to process them for meat production using humane methods like stun-killing followed by bleeding out before cleaning and packaging the chicken meat.
Overall raising Cornish Cross Chickens can be rewarding but requires proper attention and care throughout its lifecycle.
Tips on Raising Cornish Cross Chickens
- As soon as you receive your chicks it is important to know that they are a day old and have not eaten or drank yet. When you get your chicks it is important to immediately put them in a prepped brooder. Your brooder should have a heat lamp, fresh bedding, feed, and fresh water.
- Before placing your baby chicks into the brooder get a cup of water and gently dip their beaks into the water. They should begin to drink immediately. This is a great way to make sure they can drink and are able to begin hydrating.
- As you dip their beaks in water check for cross beak. Cross beak is when the top and bottom beak do not line up properly. This makes eating and drinking more difficult for them. Some chicks can live a healthy life with cross beak although they may require extra attention to ensure they are eating and drinking enough.
FAQ’s
The short answer is that Cornish Cross chickens can technically reproduce, but it’s not recommended. These birds have been selectively bred for their meat production traits. Which means that they have very different physical characteristics than egg layers. Egg layers meat is typically tougher than meat birds. For example, Cornish Cross chickens grow at an incredibly rapid rate compared to other poultry breeds. They also tend to have larger body sizes and shorter lifespans. Additionally, the males may have difficulty mating with the females due to their large size and weight. If you are looking for baby chicks you can raise to lay eggs you can simply search for “egg layers” on Google. You can also specify what egg color you are wanting. Brown eggs are extremely popular but you can also get hens that lay green or blue eggs.
Yes. Cornish Cross is a type of broiler that has become increasingly popular in the poultry industry.
The Cornish Cross chicken is actually a hybrid breed created by crossing two different types of chickens: the Cornish and the White Plymouth Rock. The Cornish chicken has short legs and broad breasts, making it an ideal bird for meat production. Meanwhile, the White Plymouth Rock is known for its fast growth rate and ability to produce large amounts of meat.
Yes. If you’re interested in buying Cornish Cross broiler chickens online, there are several options available to you. Many hatcheries and farm supply companies offer these birds for sale on their websites. Allowing you to order chicks or young birds and have them shipped directly to your doorstep. When you buy Cornish Cross chicks online, it’s important to do your research and choose a reputable supplier. Look for a company with good reviews and customer feedback, as well as clear policies regarding shipping, returns, and guarantees.
Is Raising Cornish Cross Chicks Worth it?
In conclusion, raising Cornish Cross chicks is a fulfilling and rewarding experience. While this breed of chicken requires more attention and care than other breeds due to their fast growth rate, the end result is well worth it. With proper feeding, housing, and management practices, you can raise healthy and meaty birds in just a matter of weeks. Whether you are interested in homesteading or simply want fresh, delicious meat for your family’s table, raising Cornish Cross chicks is an excellent option to consider.
If you have any questions or comments feel free to leave them below.
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