Cornish Thread

[rebel yell]

My first pair of Black Bantams,

 

[rebel yell]

Here is the pullet by her self

 

[Minniechickmama]

I have 10 cornish chicks for 4-h and all of them are supposed to be roosters..but the bottom cornish looks like a hen to me because besides her all the others have bigger combs and are getting red but the bottom cornish isn't so what do you guys think??

Chicken Farmer,
You are right, that one is a pullet. Even the professional sexers I have read are only about 85% accurate, so it happens. She probably won't get quite as big, but close. No worries though, they all taste the same.
Good luck at your fair!

 

[chicken farmer]

Chicken Farmer,
You are right, that one is a pullet. Even the professional sexers I have read are only about 85% accurate, so it happens. She probably won't get quite as big, but close. No worries though, they all taste the same.
Good luck at your fair!

Yes,I can really tell she is a pullet now and thanks for the feedback and yes I hope I do well at the fair,I will have to post them when I get judged,and do they lay any at all?

 

[Minniechickmama]

Yes,I can really tell she is a pullet now and thanks for the feedback and yes I hope I do well at the fair,I will have to post them when I get judged,and do they lay any at all?

CF

Those are not birds you are going to keep, sorry. You really need to get them processed and into the freezer at 8 or 9 weeks. Because of the way they have been bred for years, the are fast growing for meat. The chances of keeping them long after that is slim. It has been done with restricted diet, but even then, they don't live very long. If you want some actual purebred Cornish that will lay eggs, then you need to look for Dark Cornish, or White Red Cornish. The really well-bred, show types are not easy to get and will cost you some money. However, if you are looking for some that are just for your own use and like that look for your laying flock, there are hatcheries who have those two varieties in both Standard size and Bantam.
I got two batches of the Cornish Rock Crosses out here. My kids will show a couple of pens at our fair in 3 weeks and then they will go to the freezer. They are just a fast way to put meat in the freezer.
As things get heating up, be sure to keep plenty cold water for your birds and keep them in a place that has plenty of ventilation. Have you gotten any tips on washing your birds for show?

 

[chicken farmer]

CF

Those are not birds you are going to keep, sorry. You really need to get them processed and into the freezer at 8 or 9 weeks. Because of the way they have been bred for years, the are fast growing for meat. The chances of keeping them long after that is slim. It has been done with restricted diet, but even then, they don't live very long. If you want some actual purebred Cornish that will lay eggs, then you need to look for Dark Cornish, or White Red Cornish. The really well-bred, show types are not easy to get and will cost you some money. However, if you are looking for some that are just for your own use and like that look for your laying flock, there are hatcheries who have those two varieties in both Standard size and Bantam.
I got two batches of the Cornish Rock Crosses out here. My kids will show a couple of pens at our fair in 3 weeks and then they will go to the freezer. They are just a fast way to put meat in the freezer.
As things get heating up, be sure to keep plenty cold water for your birds and keep them in a place that has plenty of ventilation. Have you gotten any tips on washing your birds for show?

Yes,I no they grow fast and will have heart attacks or have problems but Im just wandering if they would ever lay and egg....and the only thing i was told about washing was to watch there flapping of there wings because if its wing goes down on the tub too hard it can brake its wing

 

[Minniechickmama]

Yes,I no they grow fast and will have heart attacks or have problems but Im just wandering if they would ever lay and egg....and the only thing i was told about washing was to watch there flapping of there wings because if its wing goes down on the tub too hard it can brake its wing

I have never heard that, but it may be possible....
Most people around here use a mild detergent like Ivory Snow to wash them. Rinse really well and then do another rinse with white vinegar that helps to whiten the feathers. If you are going to wash, then you hold them over their wings and set them in the water and then there will be no flapping, or at least not as they get in the water. They sort of relax when they get in there too. Just don't make the water real cold, try to make it somewhat tepid so it isn't such a shock to put them in. We run water and leave it sitting in the sun for awhile to get it warmed up for them.

But back to egg laying. Normally, pullets start laying 20-24 weeks of age. I can't see too many of those CRX getting through life that long.

 

[chicken farmer]

I have never heard that, but it may be possible....
Most people around here use a mild detergent like Ivory Snow to wash them. Rinse really well and then do another rinse with white vinegar that helps to whiten the feathers. If you are going to wash, then you hold them over their wings and set them in the water and then there will be no flapping, or at least not as they get in the water. They sort of relax when they get in there too. Just don't make the water real cold, try to make it somewhat tepid so it isn't such a shock to put them in. We run water and leave it sitting in the sun for awhile to get it warmed up for them.

But back to egg laying. Normally, pullets start laying 20-24 weeks of age. I can't see too many of those CRX getting through life that long.

Thanks for the info and I read before that they lay very poorly but can but didnt no if it was true

 

[kfacres]

Thanks for the info and I read before that they lay very poorly but can but didnt no if it was true

if 1000 sources say the exact same thing-- i wouldn't believe them.

 

[chicken farmer]

if 1000 sources say the exact same thing-- i wouldn't believe them.

Yea I was kinda thinkin