Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[Arielle]

Arielle,
I weighed a couple of the White Cornish chicks today, one at just over 3 lbs and the other just over 4 lbs. I have not banded chicks as to hatch date, but lost the entire pen of chicks that were all over three weeks old and up on May 20, so these are my oldest I now have and hatched in April at the earliest, probably late April. [I had moved everything that hatched sometime in April, between 50 and 60 chicks, that were feathered well enough to leave the brooders, to an outside pen. What turned out to be a badger burrowed in and carried off nearly every chick, including all of the Cornish that were outside at that time.] I have some in that pen that are smaller, some a bit larger. and three groups still in brooders though some need moved soon..

If you are interested in raising quality Cornish as your choice of a heritage breed I do want to encourage you to get in and stay in. On the other hand it is much easier to get started with and keep a flock of many other heritage breeds. While I love heritage breeds and Cornish in particular, and consider Cornish the ultimate meat breed, the easier and often cheaper thing to get started with are either hatchery sourced breeds or commercial lines. Some say you have to be a little crazy to breed Cornish, and I admit if I just wanted to put meat on my table I would not be breeding them. I keep other chickens as a source of eggs, and could buy both meat and eggs cheaper at the grocery store if I wanted. There are many heritage breeds well suited to provide both meat and eggs, but I love large fowl Cornish.

THank you for taking the time to weigh up some birds. Thats about 4 pounds in about 16 weeks, or a little less. They dress at a higher % I'm sure than dual purpose types and certainly better than the heavy egg layers.

I trust Walt's advice, that they are not for beginners. If I venture that direction , I will start with a few from Ideal and see if I like them after raising them up.

 

[NotAFarm]

I would like any critique on this New Hampshire cockerel (and/or pullets). He is just over 4 months old.
What do you see as his strengths and weaknesses? Thank you in advance for your help.








On the far left here with a group of pullets that are the same age.

 

[15littlem]

I would like any critique on this New Hampshire cockerel (and/or pullets). He is just over 4 months old.
What do you see as his strengths and weaknesses? Thank you in advance for your help.








On the far left here with a group of pullets that are the same age.

Holy Cow! Those are some of the most BEAUTIFUL large fowl I have ever seen!! Where did you get your breeding stock?

 

[NotAFarm]

I got them from BYCer, kathyinmo, aka Kathy Bonham.

 

[Arielle]

Quote:

x2

Gorgeous!​

 

[Chris Herzog]

I like the cockerel....any chance you can post some more pics of your pullets?

Chris

 

[gjensen]

Holy Cow! Those are some of the most BEAUTIFUL large fowl I have ever seen!! Where did you get your breeding stock?

. . . .and they will get a lot better over the next few months.

 

[Arielle]

I watch my chickens move, eating, scratching, running and I see subtle diferences in how birds move.

While movement and gaits are not in the SOP, should there be selection for or against specific walk or running styles?

 

[fowlman01]

I watch my chickens move, eating, scratching, running and I see subtle diferences in how birds move.

While movement and gaits are not in the SOP, should there be selection for or against specific walk or running styles?

Not specific, but the gait should be correct for the breed. usually it is not looked at carefully, but some breeds like Cornish have leg problems that can only be seen when the bird is moving. I pay special attention to how Cornish move when I am judging. Some of them walk like a nazi soldier. goose step I think it is called.

Walt

 

[Arielle]

Quote: If I'm understanding this, goose stepping like the Nazi military march is a no-no in cornish.

My turkeys don't move like my chickens. At full weight the turkeys lumber along, a turkey trot looks like speed walking to me.

The chickens RUN. I look for differences in movement between those that are narrow versus those that are wide between the legs. Will there be a difference in movement between say a leghorn and a NH, for example?