Cornish

I don't know about other birds from McMurray but I've spoken to several folks who have gotten LF Dark Cornish from them and many look like bantams. Really very small birds and they have been for the last 3 to 4 years.

I think Cackle is breeding them again so they would be a better source. I've owned their birds and while they are anything but 'show-stock' they are large meaty birds that can breed without a ladder or a 'helping-hand' from the vet.

I have some Dark Cornish. Would love some Jubilee's. Where could I get some.

I find this 'review' very hard to credit. Perhaps you will provide some pictures of your dangerous Cornish cocks? I strongly suspect you have been sold something other than Dark Cornish since such behavior is not to be found in the DC breed.

Perhaps a person might find one bird in group of 25 that could display a bit of hostility if they are treated badly but to have five....show me the pictures. The Dark Cornish is NOT in any way a classical game bird. They were initially bred with fighting in mind but the progeny was so pathetically inferior as combatants, they were laughable and son relegated to 'meat-bird' statue. I keep several cocks together and they show no aggression toward each other or any human.

I will patiently await pictures of your birds, hopefully attacking a human,

I didn't see where the reviewer said his roosters were aggressive amongst themselves. If your experience has been different, feel free to state so, but you are basing your review on his using different criteria, which make it meaningless.

I bought them from McMurray. I have owned them for over a year now, and I am down to two roosters, since I butcher my birds. Perhaps you may think that I am cruel to my animals, but this is not the case. When I first bought a clutch of chicks at an auction I bought 6 RIR's. By the time I discovered (new to chickens) that only one was a hen, I was fighting off the other 5 young roosters who would go after me when I fed them. It took my two dogs to help me round them up for sale. The RIR hens are not much sweeter, so I looked for a new breed.
I only have to pecked once near my face to recognize that when a rooster chases you and crouches, he intends to strike at your face. Perhaps by smacking near them with a horsewhip I encourated their protective instincts, but I have to use a fishing net when I feed the flock, and every other week one of the two of my remaining roosters goes after me, their feeder and caretaker. When it's time to clean the coop, I net them and put them in a dog crate in the run so that they will leave me alone.
I am nearly 60yo and I have owned many different kinds of animals. Although you cannot assume that every Quarter Horse is docile, or that every German Shepherd is vicious, roosters run on hormones. When I owned EE roosters I never had this problem and could easily come and go in the run. Now, I watch my back.
They are a tasty breed, but perhaps I should have bought hens, instead. You are foolish to assume that a rooster won't go after a human, but I guess you will need to experience that before you

My vote: Eat the birdies, at least the males. You feed them and bring them water and shelter and give them girls. You probably even worry about them when they're sick or injured and may even provide some sort of medical care. Attacking you is a stupid move and chicken is delicious. They'd understand. Life is too short for males that are jerks.

I've been searching for 2 large fowl cornish hens, any chance you're located near North East Ohio and have any available?

I hear you ducks. I had a bunch of SS roosters who roamed in packs that attacked me wherever I went.out. Like you I carried a fishing net whenever I went out to feed or manage the coops, and eventually I started netting them just to gain some respect. I received two serious injuries, I could not believe how hard they can hit.. These roosters were different lines of the same breed. I bought a pellet pistol, shot them in the head, and stewed them, all but the two who have yet to attack me. On the other hand, my 12 LS roosters would die of a heart attack before they'd attack a human. For that matter, not one of my 3 RIR roosters is human aggressive. You just never know, but when your roosters are bad, your life gets miserable, that is for sure.

I have Cornish hens gave me 5-6 eggs a week! They was not overly friendly but I don't like them getting under my feet. Beautiful and got along with the rest of the mixed flock. Very independent and foraged very well. I have red laced pullets coming in the spring.

I had 12 BSL cockerels bought as chicks. They turned out human aggressive attacking us frequently. I had game chickens years ago and the roosters never attacked us but we never handled them except to move them to a new coop in the night or to butcher. My children constantly handled the BSL's however and they were not human wary like my game roosters were. I think that being the only difference in their rooster-like behaviors. I am down to one BSL cockerel for my 5 girls. He was constantly jumping on me when my back was turned but I started chasing him all over the yard waving my arms. Now every time he ruffles his feathers I will chase him. After a few minutes of this crazy dance the pullets will start following me and will even squat for me, lol. He does continue to chase DH and the kids because they run from him. I like him though because he will keep my little chihuahua away from the pullets. I saw a large chicken hawk flying over and he had all the girls up under a low bush until it left the area.

I have only had heritage Dark Cornish, and the roosters are passive to me. I adore them, wonderful breed. I am a small person, 5 ft tall about 100 lbs. Never had a single aggression issue with them. The thing is, when a bird breed is mass produced, you get flaws that are not bred out. That's sadly what happens with "hatchery birds". Aggression is a #1 issue! To experience the breed quality, you want a bird bred by a breeder, that wants to preserve the breed standards and quality of the breed.
Adults will not mix in with other adult chickens without severe fights or worse.. plan your flock accordingly.
Roosters, socialize, socialize.. etc. pick them up. carry them around.. it pays off later. Just because you plan to eat them don't ignore them. It really pays off later when that "bad day" comes. And Kudos, you gave them a good life, with lots of love before that "bad day" comes.

I have two dark Cornish roosters that I'm selling along with some white Plymouth Rock hens. They are either going to be rehomed OR MEET THEIR MAKER!!! In the 15 years that I have owned chickens with a multitude of breeds, I HAVE NEVER HAD ROOSTERS THIS AGGRESSIVE!!! Perhaps the hens are docile and make great mothers...but I have nothing good to say about the roosters. And in reading the other reviews, I'm definitely not alone in this! They are indeed pretty with that metallic sheen on their feathers, but my compliments end there. If you are going to keep this breed, keep hens! And if you must, keep only one rooster and handle him constantly in the hopes of preventing the daily attacks over here...

I have a pair of Purebred White Cornish. The breeder I bought them from got the eggs from Fat Daddy (Bill) a member in this group. They are just coming up on laying age. Have started breeding and about to get it right. She should lay anytime now. We have a cold front moving through it will probably make me wait even longer. My rooster "Hummer" is lap friendly tame but "Mrs.Hummer" is not so much. It's so exciting to finally have at least a pair of the breed that I really love. I hope those of you with Cornish will pick up posting on this thread and let's talk Cornish. I do have other chickens, geese and ducks. But always willing to learn and/or help if I can.

Little Eden Farm said:

I have a pair of Purebred White Cornish. The breeder I bought them from got the eggs from Fat Daddy (Bill) a member in this group. They are just coming up on laying age. Have started breeding and about to get it right. She should lay anytime now. We have a cold front moving through it will probably make me wait even longer. My rooster "Hummer" is lap friendly tame but "Mrs.Hummer" is not so much. It's so exciting to finally have at least a pair of the breed that I really love. I hope those of you with Cornish will pick up posting on this thread and let's talk Cornish. I do have other chickens, geese and ducks. But always willing to learn and/or help if I can.

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I heard that Cornish cant handle cold weather very well because they have tight fitting feathers.
Do you have any experience with this?