Featuring poultry expert Jim Adkins of the Sustainable Poultry Network who provides an overview of practices to ensure your flock is sustainable and profitable.
Some really good info here. And many of the things said here about sustainability is why I've decided to move away from Cornish Cross birds and onto native chickens. But I don't know if I agree about Cornish Cross not doing well in a pastured setting. The ones I tried loved being out in the open in fresh grass and bugs. They weren't in those confined tractors but were out free ranging and being moved to fresh pasture range regularly. Since then, I've seen videos of people free ranging Cornichs cross and they did great as well. Not overweight, not lethargic but running around like other chicken breeds do
I love the production expectations as part of the standard. I did show birds as a child, conformation and colour were most important. I won a show with a Seabright cock, after, some experts (I do think they were right) said that my bantam Seabright rooster was too big! The judges must have thought they had to encourage a 9 year old boy! That rooster was too big, but nice! I loved the black breasted bantam games, and had secured three birds of a "wheaten" strain, that is to say they were a lighter shade of black reds, more orange, so nice! In crossed them with darker black reds and lost my type. I was young, on my own and could not find my way back! Now I am old and I have to get back to birds! Chickens you know!
This is exactly what I am looking for thank you. I want to breed barred Plymouth’s to the standard of perfection. I am up in Canada just building my breeding flock , I have a lot of room on a hobby new farm and dedicated ti a self sustaining life. If any one can let me know of sone quality birds please reach out. Jim maybe you know sone breeders in Canada. Thx
Such a great point about sustainability. I’ve always been bothered by cornish cross and the fact that I cant produce my own without buying more chicks from a hatchery. Not my vision of a sustainable farm.
