Cornish Thread

[hunter434]

Hi,is there any Dark Cornish breeders in Ohio? Looking for Hatching eggs

 

[JennieRD]

I finally talked myself into taking on Large Cornish Game Birds. I'm a new to Cornish, just bought my first Standard Buff Cornish hatching eggs for the bator and would love a little insight on their feeding and care. I have a few questions as everywhere I have looked all I can find is reference to Cornish Cross not Standard Large Fowl Cornish care and feeding.

I've had Cornish crosses in the past and know how to feed and care for the rapidly growing bird, I guess my big question and concern is I want to start my foundation stock so I can breed, hatch, and butcher them as pure breeds not crosses. Is there much difference in the feeding of a Standard Large Cornish (10-12 lbs) and a regular chicken. I am getting mixed information from every site I go to. I need to hear from someone who has been breeding for a while and made their fare share of mistakes....Id like to avoid as many as I can!

Do I feed a regular diet alone with all my other birds, Marans, Wyandottes, Orpington's, Cochin, and Guinea Fowl?
Do I feed 21% chick starter, grower, broiler?
Do I feed Turkey starter, grower, finisher?
Do I restrict their feed for 12 hours a day, then free feed the remaining 12 hours?

Thank you for any answers, I'm just getting a little frustrated with conflicting feed strategies. I cant even find a book on the feeding and caring of Cornish game!

 

[Minniechickmama]

I get the impression that you believe these are a fast growing bird like the Cornish Rock Crosses. Take my word for it, they are not. They are a challenging breed to raise and breed too.
Yes, they need a higher protein content that other breeds. Start on chick starter is good. I keep my Cornish on starter until they are about 6-months old. Then, you want to keep them on an 18-20% protein feed minimum, but I don't believe there is a need to go as high as the game feeds that are 28-30%.
To select breeders, you want to wait until no sooner than 6-months of age. By this time, they are well worth butchering, but they are not done growing by any stretch. Cornish continue growing even after they are a full year old.
There are not many breeders raising Buffs, and those that have good ones, I doubt will be selling eggs. Generally, Cornish breeders only sell started birds if anything. Therefore, I would have to question the quality you have acquired. The bottom line though, is what do you want these for? If the birds you have satisfy your reason for having them, then it is all good.

 

[JennieRD]

My main purpose is as a meat bird. But unfortunately one part of my personality is perfection. I do not know how to do things halfway. Even with my egg layers, if a hen is too small for the breed I have, she either goes in the pot, or I send her to a friend whose second source of income is selling farm eggs. The ones I keep are all to standard, and I try to weed out imperfections or flaws. I feel all standards were set for a reason by the original breeders and I try to respect all their hard work.

If I dismissed all their effort, then why have them in the first place. Something attracts us to a given object, that is why I brought it home in the first place. I compare it to a spouse, if you like someone when you met them, why try to change them after you marry. For me its the same concept.

If anyone comes to see my birds I like being proud of them, even if they go in the freezer, the pot, or stay on the yard.

I am hoping these are what I have been looking for. Its been a task finding information on the Cornish Indian Game Chicken.

The only thing I have been able to find is in the Internet Archive at the Library of Congress: https://archive.org/stream/standardbredcorn00bohr#page/18/mode/1up I could not believe I even found it, but its great reading and informational.

 

[JennieRD]

Thank you for the information!!! It's eased my mind a lot. I enjoy challenges so the breed may do me good!

 

[PeterHer]

Hello! I'm looking for some LF dark and black Cornish hatching eggs! If anyone have any or knows anyone that does please pm me
Thank you

 

[kfacres]

I get the impression that you believe these are a fast growing bird like the Cornish Rock Crosses. Take my word for it, they are not. They are a challenging breed to raise and breed too.
Yes, they need a higher protein content that other breeds. Start on chick starter is good. I keep my Cornish on starter until they are about 6-months old. Then, you want to keep them on an 18-20% protein feed minimum, but I don't believe there is a need to go as high as the game feeds that are 28-30%.
To select breeders, you want to wait until no sooner than 6-months of age. By this time, they are well worth butchering, but they are not done growing by any stretch. Cornish continue growing even after they are a full year old.
There are not many breeders raising Buffs, and those that have good ones, I doubt will be selling eggs. Generally, Cornish breeders only sell started birds if anything. Therefore, I would have to question the quality you have acquired. The bottom line though, is what do you want these for? If the birds you have satisfy your reason for having them, then it is all good.

This is good advice, from someone who knows. Coulnd't have said it any better myself.

 

[austinbndr28]

Here's some of my bantam white laced red cornish!

 

[spangledcornish]

nice

 

[kfacres]

Since I promised an update with pictures- here is some showing the dark cock (year and half old), and some females that just happen to make the background.

Plan for next year is run my best white cockerel from this year's hatch with all my dark and blue laced red females. I think this is 2 of each.

Plan is to run this guy with my best three bodied white females, which I suspect will come from this year's hatches as well.

Those will be my two pens to hatch from. If you can't tell- I'm trying to turn the highly desired white color- into the body style of my dark birds; which I find is very appealing to me!

Will run all remaining white females with the old white cock. Prob will not hatch any eggs from them- but might offer them for sale.

I haven't shipped any hatching eggs in two years, have basically ignored all the requests. Think I'll have more time next year, and will resume helping get other people into this awesome breed. My other daily obstacles have been drastically reduced.

I have one cockerel left this year that has not sold yet. I believe a lady in IN has spoke for it, pending a picture I'm getting ready to send her. I have found the demand for these birds great this year- and have not butchered a single one.

Side note: I have some Brahmas from the big medicine blood that I would consider selling. They are really magnificent birds, but unfortunately with only a 3 pen coop-- I don't have the room for them. Nor do I have the ability to dedicate myself fully to two breeds. Pictures available. I sure hate having to sell these birds, but fortunately, I know a great place to get them again if I ever have the need!