Cornish Thread

[TV]

Can I be so bold as to inquire why you would want to breed a LF brahma to a Silkie, there could be several issues here but........... hey to each is own, Just wondering.

I just finished reading this thread from beginning to end and am so glad to see you back in the fray. The experts such as yourself have so much knowledge to dispense to we who are just beginning with these magnificent birds. I acquired a trio of LF Dark from Frank Reese just a couple of months ago and have been truly amazed at how different they are from other breeds, and I have had chickens my entire life. I'm a little long in the tooth to be starting such a project,but a person has to have something to occupy their spare time..........whatever that is.

 

[big medicine]

I just finished reading this thread from beginning to end and am so glad to see you back in the fray. The experts such as yourself have so much knowledge to dispense to we who are just beginning with these magnificent birds. I acquired a trio of LF Dark from Frank Reese just a couple of months ago and have been truly amazed at how different they are from other breeds, and I have had chickens my entire life. I'm a little long in the tooth to be starting such a project,but a person has to have something to occupy their spare time..........whatever that is.

I am glad you noted how different Cornish are from other breeds. It has been stated here many times that not everybody is geared to deal with the trials of keeping Cornish, and the main reason most breeders are hesitant to part with breeding stock to first time Cornish owners. Too big a chance the newbies will not be up to the challenge of keeping them going, or maybe just have the good sense to change over to an easier breed.

 

[big medicine]

For the Asian market-- most are using Cornish bantams over silkie hens...

My LF Cornish cover my Silkie hens very well--- and produce a quite a bit meatier bird. This is not an intential mating-- as my silkies are only here for incubators-- but during dry spells- I did use their eggs for fillers...

For that matter- the Cornish male I used was the BLR, very Braham appearing cock from the Big Med project... I would guess that a LF Brahma, wouldn't be much bigger-- if at all bigger-- I suppose only Big Med would know. Personally, I don't see it being a problem enough that it would need to be AI'd.

The blue laced red project birds varied some in length of leg early on. My early silver laced Brahma project birds definity favored their Cornish side of the family, short bull dog stance. It took bringing in some good Brahma blood to lengthen the leg and stance. Working under the assumption that part of Cornish vertillity issues might be due to the short wide stance of the males, I tried to favor more leg when selecting breeders in the BLR project, as I was working more on a sustainable meat bird than show stock. Although one of the cockerels going into this years breeding pen is more moderate in leg length, just too well built not to use.

But to answer the question, weight wise the two breeds should be fairly close, but a good typey Brahma would be considerably taller than a good typey Cornish.

 

[kfacres]

The blue laced red project birds varied some in length of leg early on. My early silver laced Brahma project birds definity favored their Cornish side of the family, short bull dog stance. It took bringing in some good Brahma blood to lengthen the leg and stance. Working under the assumption that part of Cornish vertillity issues might be due to the short wide stance of the males, I tried to favor more leg when selecting breeders in the BLR project, as I was working more on a sustainable meat bird than show stock. Although one of the cockerels going into this years breeding pen is more moderate in leg length, just too well built not to use.

But to answer the question, weight wise the two breeds should be fairly close, but a good typey Brahma would be considerably taller than a good typey Cornish.

But my Blue cock- wasn't very typey in his cornish look-- IMO showed more of his brahma heritage coming through. he is a good 6-8 inches taller and more upright in stature than his full sibling black laced brother.

I guess the point I'm trying to make- is I would venture to say that the above mating described should work naturally... At least, I would sure try it a year before doing any AI work.

 

[brahmabreeder]

Can I be so bold as to inquire why you would want to breed a LF brahma to a Silkie, there could be several issues here but........... hey to each is own, Just wondering.

I mainly wanted to do it for curiosities sake. I also wanted to see if I could take the extreme broodiness of the silkie and the large size of the brahma to create a good broody bird.

 

[big medicine]

But my Blue cock- wasn't very typey in his cornish look-- IMO showed more of his brahma heritage coming through. he is a good 6-8 inches taller and more upright in stature than his full sibling black laced brother.

I guess the point I'm trying to make- is I would venture to say that the above mating described should work naturally... At least, I would sure try it a year before doing any AI work.

I hear what you are saying, I guess my answer was geared more toward the difference in type of birds that Nick might be able to expect to find at a show.

As to the blue laced red project birds, still considerable range as to height, type, and hardness of feather(especially noticable in the females). How do your colored males measure up against the white birds you got from me last fall ? Basically same blood, one generation later.

As far as natural breeding to a silkie, maybe. I'm not 100% convinced they are really chickens myself, so I couldn't blame a self respecting cock bird if he didn't notice either.

 

[kfacres]

I hear what you are saying, I guess my answer was geared more toward the difference in type of birds that Nick might be able to expect to find at a show.

As to the blue laced red project birds, still considerable range as to height, type, and hardness of feather(especially noticable in the females). How do your colored males measure up against the white birds you got from me last fall ? Basically same blood, one generation later.

As far as natural breeding to a silkie, maybe. I'm not 100% convinced they are really chickens myself, so I couldn't blame a self respecting cock bird if he didn't notice either.

the blue is bigger framed, and more upright. the black laced is about same size and looks.
Because the blue is like he is, and his offspring from last year-- he is not being used for any breeding this year- and might be gotten rid of in general. I have a son that is a much better bird I believe.

the pullets are bigger than the ones I raised, but they're also softer feathered-- so that might have something to do with it. They most def are poorer layers, but lay a much bigger, darker egg.

 

[TV]

I mainly wanted to do it for curiosities sake. I also wanted to see if I could take the extreme broodiness of the silkie and the large size of the brahma to create a good broody bird.

It sounds to me like you're trying to create a Cochin, why try to recreate the wheel?
Help me understand.

 

[brahmabreeder]

Well my thought process was I have a silkie laying around so why not make good use of her. I just thought it would be fun to see what I get. Probably will end up being ugly but I don't care I just want them to hatch eggs. I wouldn't mind getting a few cochins but I already have quite a few brahmas and my dad wouldn't be so thrilled about me getting a new breed at the moment. Maybe once I know the best way to go about keeping track of records and at least breaking even I will add a new breed. I have already made up my mind though that hopefully at the end of this year I can get bantam dark brahmas. BTW I'm not really trying to create anything just want to make good broodies out of what I already have.

 

[kfacres]

just use the silkies... I have four of them-- and right now, they don't even have a male in the pen.. They are here for one reason- and that's it... Even though the wife really likes her peaches and cream...