Flock Journey is the education home of Hoover's Hatchery | Ready for birds? Shop at hoovershatchery.com

Meat Birds

Cornish Cross Broilers: Fast-Growing Meat Chickens for Efficient Production

Raised for meatDocile, SedentaryCold hardyHeat hardy
MeatPurpose
In brief

Reaches 6-8 lbs. at maturity. Docile, sedentary temperament.

Breed specifications

Cornish Cross Broiler at a glance

Purpose
Raised for meat, not an egg layer
Temperament
Docile, Sedentary
Weight
6-8 lbs.
Cold hardy
Yes
Heat hardy
Yes
Chick

This is the bird that single-handedly changed American eating habits. Before Cornish Cross Broilers were developed, a chicken dinner was a rare treat reserved for special occasions. Pre-Cornish Cross era chickens grew slowly while eating plenty of feed. Their meat was tasty but sparse. The Cornish Cross made broiler production efficient, and today it's often the most inexpensive meat the grocery store sells. Cornish Cross Broilers require special feeding and care but grow astonishingly fast. They weigh nearly six pounds when only six weeks old by efficiently converting feed into flesh. Cornish Cross Broilers are the best choice for a person who wants to quickly produce delicious meat and has no plan to save hens for egg production.

Common questions

Cornish Cross Broiler questions, answered

How big do Cornish Cross Broilers get?

Cornish Cross Broilers weigh 6-8 lbs. at maturity.

What is a Cornish Cross Broiler's temperament?

Docile, Sedentary.

Is the Cornish Cross Broiler cold and heat hardy?

The Cornish Cross Broiler is cold hardy and heat hardy.

From Hoover's Hatchery

Ready for a Cornish Cross Broiler?

When it is time to go from learning to Keeping, Hoover's has a complete selection of backyard poultry, hatched with care and shipped to your door or to a partner store near you.

Keepers also consider

More meat birds