Cornish Thread

[hellbender]

Thanks oldguy, will do. It's fun to see them grow up. I am very pleased with one of my pullets already (well I only have a choice of 3) but the 3 cockerels look very similar so far.

My eye is not as well developed so I like to wait for about age 8 months to make a final cut, because they do indeed mature quite slowly. I have several birds and that makes it harder....for me. I have sold birds that I have come to regret.

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

Thanks Hellbender. I don't plan on breeding any of my birds until they are into their 2nd year, so that's good to know and I will hold on to them as long as I can.

 

[hellbender]

Thanks Hellbender. I don't plan on breeding any of my birds until they are into their 2nd year, so that's good to know and I will hold on to them as long as I can.

You might aught to let them get some practice when they are old enough because if not, when they are two years old, they might simply not be able to cut the mustard. There is no harm in allowing hanky-panky with the youngsters, but you don't need to allow the hens to set or you don't have to incubate any eggs.

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

OK thanks Hellbender, I will keep that in mind!

 

[kfacres]

That's my point... If you are raising the birds to put meat on the table, then you need to select breeders that are increasing whatever traits you want to propagate, at the age that you are ready to butcher..

Let me clarify:

You want to butcher your birds at 12 weeks.

You have 3 cockerels to choose from. A- matures out at 8 weeks. B is in his prime at 12 weeks, and C takes 2 years to full mature and fill out. You keep all three, and at 2 years of age, Cockerel C is the lead candidate for mass and substance.

So, you have to make the decision- keep C because he's the big heavy mature bird, or keep B because he's the one that's the biggest, meatiest, and best carcass at 12 weeks? Maybe you should keep A because he'll shorten your days on feed.

In raising meat birds, days on feed is important, whether or not you free range. Maturity pattern is important as well. By keeping the slow growing, late maturity birds, the only thing you are doing is ensuring that your birds will be ready for the table later in life. Economically speaking- if you have a flock of birds that will lay on 80 percent of the final product by 12 weeks of age, and you have a flock that will lay on 100 percent to the final product at 12 months of age== which one is more productive? Practical? Feed efficient? More bang for you buck?

I raised Cornish for many years, and this whole thing about Cornish being slow maturing is hog wash. Yes they are slow growing, but compared to any other chicken they simply have more meat at nearly every stage of life than any others. Yes they are slow to mature, slow to crow, and slow to lay== but if you debone the entire bird, at nearly every stage of life- you'll find more leg and breast than anything else. The only thing I can tell is that they won't lay a layer of fat onto the carcass as early as most will-- but even mature the genetics, body style and capabilities aren't going to allow for that layer of fat anyways.

So, like I said, if it was my breeding program, I would select for the birds that fit the bill of what I want-- meaty carcasses at 12 weeks of age. Having a big massive, monster mature cock does me know good if he's a meatless, spindly legged, light weight 12 week old cockerel...

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

KFacres you are bringing up some very good points that I have forgotten to consider. I am most interested in the production aspect of Cornish. And, I do want them to keep looking like Cornish, selecting those that do justice to the breed or in time I fear I will lose sight of what makes Cornish Cornish. I don't know if that makes sense or not! But, because production is important to me I will have to learn how to find the balance between the two.

 

[kfacres]

In reality my examples are extremes, and likely not going to be that diverse. but at the same time, when I had my birds, my different lines were better/ poorer at certain traits than the others. My goal was combine those lines together to make my final product, and then use line breeding and physic to replicate at a uniformity standpoint. I was fairly successful at this.

In reality, again speaking about Cornish- the differences you'll have, shouldn't vary that much. But, back when somebody came up with the crazy idea that CX chickens were superior to the rest-- look what's happened in that 50 years. Something out of this world that nobody ever saw happening-- just with a simple genetic cross and the desire to propagate something with a distinct goal in mind.

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

It's true, I have to decide on a goal and stick with it. I think I will write it out and paste it to the wall of the coop, so I don't forget!

 

[hellbender]

It's true, I have to decide on a goal and stick with it. I think I will write it out and paste it to the wall of the coop, so I don't forget!

The 'goal' will do you little good, pasted on a wall. It has to be in your mind's eye. It might even change as time goes on.

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

What is the best way to develop that mind's eye goal? I look at my birds and I see what I like and don't like, but I am having a hard time figuring out how to put two birds with faults/good things together, so that the offspring will be better. I suppose that it will be mostly trial and error, given that I have so few to start out with.