Cornish Thread

[hellbender]

Caponizing is neutering a rooster right? How do they do that since their organs are internal, I have only heard of it a few times, would they just pull the organs out and cut and clean?

A small incision is made, usually in the bird's left side from which the testis are removed.

 

[QueenMisha]

It's very easy to get more laying hens than one needs so it can be practical to poulardize them and make the meat much better.  

A pullet has only one ovary and it is just a little bit difficult to see it until one gets a bit of practice.  I have simply separated the oviduct in two with the same results as removing the ovary.

Right, I understand! I remember a time a year or two back I had way too many laying hens and was getting maybe 30 eggs a day. With no front yard or roadside to sell them from I was just using them for target practice on the trees... I may try this procedure next time I I get a mutt hatch.

Caponizing is neutering a rooster right? How do they do that since their organs are internal, I have only heard of it a few times, would they just pull the organs out and cut and clean?

Yes it's neutering. You make an incision between the ribs about 1" long and go inside with a slotted spoon and scoop out the teste. One incision on each side for newbies like me, although I know many experienced caponizers can reach both testes from one side. I tried that the first few times I did it because I hated cutting the skin twice but I accidentally killed a bird on the table and decided it was worth the extra time and cutting to do the less risky way. It is not something for everyone, I like to think I have a very strong stomach, but Caponizing is something else. Even first aid, stitching/supergluing wounds on birds and such, doesn't compare. But... it is worth the positive outcomes, I love my capons and even my slips are a sight nicer and calmer than my cockerels.


Also... question for everybody... are Black Cornish considered rare? Black Cornish bantams in particular? I can find almost no mentions or photos of them online. As I find myself trying to narrow down the breeds I want to focus on long term... I find Cornish of some type always being on that list. Right now I have my MMH mutts (mostly only here as meat birds and maybe some experimental breeding), my Standard Dark hen of dubious quality (I haven't studied the standard as much as I like too but I'm inclined to think she's not show quality, maybe (?) breeder quality), my Bantam White Laced Red hen (who has a nice thick body but terrible coloring - I'm not even sure she IS WLR, looks like penciling almost!), and my Black Bantam pair (who I think are of pretty good quality). I'm a huge sucker for anything nobody else has, and I love picking up the breeds and varieties that get little or no attention paid to them so I can try to draw newcomers to the breed. I was originally wanting to do WLR, but between the hen's bad color and the fact my cockbird died last month, I think I'm gonna drop those.

 

[hellbender]

I've seen black birds mentioned but have never actually seen one in the flesh. Sounds like a project!

 

[JRNash]

@Queenmisha,Do your MMH dark Cornish have any white feathers? one of my roosters and one of the hens both have white in their wings And the roosters tail reminds me of a feather mop

 

[sambat]

My Cornish X rooster has red feathers...possible that broilers have some Rhode Island Red?

 

[QueenMisha]

@Queenmisha,Do your MMH dark Cornish have any white feathers? one of my roosters and one of the hens both have white in their wings And the roosters tail reminds me of a feather mop

I don't think these ones do - although I recall the cockerels I got some years ago in my first hatchery order did. I'll check tomorrow if I have time before work.

They do have interesting tails. Lots of variation. I'm also noticing a lot of disparity in body type. Two of the cockerels are much more compact and heavier, while the other three are longer and at least a pound lighter. How big are yours right now? Mine are 7.5 months or so and about 6 pounds. Seems quite downsized from the ones I got in my first order a few years ago. I have a distinct memory of most of the cockerels from my first batch dressing out at around 9 pounds each at around 9 months, but I'd have sworn those ones were already full size by the time they reached 6-7 months.

 

[sambat]

I have had cornish with white tips to their feathers, Ill post a picture of some we still have

 

[CLSranch]

My MMH are a little diverse with no white feathers, but outta my 11 left I have a very nice trio that I plan on separating after the new coop is built just for incubating. And Queen Misha Ideal has several varieties of Cornish Bantams, that would make for nice projects. I plan on getting a few.

 

[JRNash]

no more hatchery Cornish for me.

I'm estimating in the 10lb range

 

[CLSranch]

Nice Roo JRNash.
I was looking for pics of my Cornish. Couldn't find the file but thought these were noteworthy.