Cornish Thread

[CanadianBuckeye]

I was reading the SOP the other day, and I found the section in disqualifications regarding the telescoping pea comb. That's where there is an indentation at the back of the comb. One of my cockerels has this fault. I have standard dark Cornish, 3 pullets and 3 cockerels.
I have a choice of 3 roosters. The "best" one is too red, he has an odd colour. The second best one, almost as good as the first in size and shape, has good colour but he has that telescoping comb. The third rooster is small, but has an OK comb and good colour. I'm still trying to figure out proper wing carriage, I 'm not sure I understand what not carrying the wings on the back means. (?). I don't think my cornish have proper wing carriage based on what I think I'm reading in the SOP.
Pullet wise, one seems pretty good, good size and colour. One is in between, and one has good lacing, a bit light in colour but is small.
Is the telescoping comb a recessive trait? I couldn't find out much about it. If you were to choose between these three roosters as your primary breeding rooster, which would you recommend? Is that telescoping comb enough to eliminate that one rooster from the breeding pen? Or, should I not worry about it and just cull the chicks as the trait shows up?
I'll try to get a photo of the telescoping comb.

 

[CLSranch]

Since you only have 6 total as of now and not a wide selection to chose from. I Wouldn't be to worried. You can raise all you can then you'll have a selection. And like hellbender said. You can eat the ones you don't like. You can also get a new roo next year if you don't like the chicks. Work your way up to what you want. I don't know about the telescoping comb.

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

Thanks CLS. I know it's too early yet to really choose, but it's fun practicing selecting to SOP and then predicting what the chicks might look like. I'm really looking forward to some chicks from this group, the Cornish are a very interesting breed and I'm glad I have them.

 

[Fat Daddy]

I'm still trying to figure out proper wing carriage, I 'm not sure I understand what not carrying the wings on the back means. (?). I don't think my cornish have proper wing carriage based on what I think I'm reading in the SOP.

IMHO, Wings should be short, not carried on the back or over lap the base of the tail. If they over lap the center line of the back, the bird is a clear cull in my mind. Cornish wings should be clam shaped, and just slightly canted forward. Many cornish wings you see are too long or "split".... I have two pullets with good wings. 30 + that dont...... But they're still young and I have hope! Good wings take a while to develop. Good ones always have lots of muscle at the shoulder to hold them tight to the body.

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

Thanks Fat Daddy. I think I can see exactly what you mean on your Cornish. I thought from the description in the standard, the wing carriage was like a hot chicken- out to the sides not touching the body. You have lovely white Cornish

.

I'll go have another peek at my cornish, I'm pretty sure none of the wings cross at the back but they seem a bit on the large side.

 

[CLSranch]

Nice pic fat daddy. That'll help me on knowing which hens I want to let set next spring.

 

[Fat Daddy]

My dark hens are not " mahogany" enough for the SOP in my opinion. The type is getting better thou. I don't guess anyone is ever completely happy with their birds.... At least I never have been. All my birds are moulting so hard it looks like a pillow fight has taken place around my pens..... My dark roo has next to no tail at all but most of his Beatle green feathers are back.....

 

[CLSranch]

My dark hens are not " mahogany" enough for the SOP in my opinion. The type is getting better thou. I don't guess anyone is ever completely happy with their birds.... At least I never have been. All my birds are moulting so hard it looks like a pillow fight has taken place around my pens..... My dark roo has next to no tail at all but most of his Beatle green feathers are back.....

Hopefully you get what you want out of the next batch. Maybe you can find what you want in somebody else's roo's on here and have what your's lack improved. Works on cattle. Put a long legged bull with a short legged cow.

 

[hellbender]

A couple of my 5 month old pullets.










And my daughter's personal protection dog-in-training. He's come a long way from wanting to de-feather each and ever bird on the place!

A bit of correct training goes a long way but he's still in for many months of training, considering what his ultimate status will be.

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

Hellbender your Cornish seem to love free ranging, like mine do too! They like to be up high as well. Are yours laying eggs yet? Are the white ones Cornish too? Nice solid dog, what breed is he?