Breeding My Own Meat Birds Whats the Best Cross?

[HenHobbyist]

Ever since I started raising chickens for meat, Ive been fascinated by the idea of breeding my own fast-growing birds instead of relying on hatchery Cornish Cross chicks. I know the original cross involved a Cornish rooster and a White Plymouth Rock hen, but from what Ive read, todays commercial meat birds are bred differently.

I dont expect to recreate the exact hybrid, but Id love to breed a meaty, quick-growing chicken of my own. Im okay with a slightly slower grow-out if it means I can sustain my own flock. What breed combinations would get me the best results? Have any of you tried creating your own meat birds, and if so, what crosses worked best?

[EggsAndThings]

If you're okay with slightly slower growth, a Jersey Giant mixed with a Cornish can produce a heavy, well-muscled bird. Not as fast-growing, but very meaty!

[EggspertFarmer]

One thing to consider is feed conversion efficiency. Cornish Cross birds are bred to maximize feed use, but most other crosses will take more time and food to reach size.

[HatcheryHelper]

I tried crossing a Bresse rooster with a Plymouth Rock hen, and the results were surprisingly good! They grew faster than I expected and had excellent meat quality.

[BarnyardBuddy]

If you're looking for a solid meat bird cross, a Cornish rooster over a White Rock hen is still a great choice. They grow slower than commercial Cornish Cross but will give you a decent-sized bird with good meat quality.

[Eggcellence]

If you want a balance between growth and sustainability, a Ranger-type bird crossed with a heavy dual-purpose hen like Australorp or Orpington could work well.

[HenAndTonic]

Keep in mind that most commercial meat birds today come from carefully selected lines that aren't easy to replicate at home. However, a Cornish x Delaware or Cornish x White Rock cross should still work well.

[PeckingMaster]

I've tried breeding my own meat birds and found that while they didn't match Cornish Cross in speed, they were much healthier and better for free-ranging.

[BarnyardBeast]

I've experimented with several crosses, and a Dark Cornish rooster over a Delaware hen gave me a solid meat bird. Good growth rate, decent carcass size, and very flavorful meat!

[DownyDreamer]

If you want something sustainable but still meaty, consider a Freedom Ranger or Red Ranger breeding project. They don't grow as fast as Cornish Cross but are more resilient and easier to breed.