Cornish Thread

[CanadianBuckeye]

I'm thrilled, I got a 68 gram egg from one of my Cornish hens yesterday.

Great eggshell quality too. Interestingly the hen that's laying them is a pretty decent one, I'm pleased with everything about her- she will be the mother of my new race of white eggshell layers. So far no ill effects from the large eggs- I won't be doing any breeding until 2017 so that will be enough time I think to properly evaluate her potential. The Cornish don't lay quite as well as the layers of course but so far they have been consistent and have out- laid the buckeyes I have.

 

[hellbender]

I'm thrilled, I got a 68 gram egg from one of my Cornish hens yesterday.

Great eggshell quality too. Interestingly the hen that's laying them is a pretty decent one, I'm pleased with everything about her- she will be the mother of my new race of white eggshell layers. So far no ill effects from the large eggs- I won't be doing any breeding until 2017 so that will be enough time I think to properly evaluate her potential. The Cornish don't lay quite as well as the layers of course but so far they have been consistent and have out- laid the buckeyes I have.

When they start going broody is when their production will plummet...I'm seeing that now.

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

How old are your hens Hellbender? So far (and I only have 3 - LOL) only one has gone broody. They are almost a year old.
Hopefully I can select out the broodyness with the Ancona crosses I'll be doing. This is going to be one ugly mix.....

 

[hellbender]

How old are your hens Hellbender? So far (and I only have 3 - LOL) only one has gone broody. They are almost a year old.
Hopefully I can select out the broodyness with the Ancona crosses I'll be doing. This is going to be one ugly mix.....

They are just about 2 weeks from being 1 year old.

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

Same age then- I'll keep watching them. I have hatching eggs coming in 2 weeks, it would actually be handy to have a couple of broodies just in case the incubator fails or we get another ice storm that knocks the power out

 

[BandKfarms27]

LOL he says duck tastes like liver, so if goose tastes like duck...... problem! Which is fine, goose is so blasted expensive just as well we won't be trying it.
varidgerunner, spoken like a true chicken gourmand....... we need those adjectives those wine tasters use-    " Full- bodied, buttery, supple, smooth- smokey  with earthy notes"  or such.

Not sure about domestic ducks and geese, but wild ones?? If it tastes like liver you've screwed it up!! Wild ducks and geese need a bit of care... If they aren't gut shot, I hang them, about three days in the shade one if it's warmer out, longer if it's below 35. Then the rule is: low and slow, or hot and fast! Nothing in between or you'll get the gamey liver flavor. I like taking each breast and filleting them in thin halves. Covering with garlic powder, sea salt, and fresh ground black pepper. Then heat a half stick of butter in a skillet (between med/high and high), two slices of maple bacon, when those are frying nicely, place the fillets in, cover, two minutes the first side and flip, minute and a half (or so) on the other and serve immediately. Wild rice is a great companion. Tastes like fillet minion!

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

These were domestic, white pekin ducks probably fed corn and soy, which might explain a lot.

 

[sambat]

Finally got him down to decent weight, 13.5 lbs...now to see if he likes the ladies

 

[rc50]

Hi hope all are good... Question.... What do dark cornish weigh on average at 12 weeks ?

thanks a ton

Keith

 

[lpatelski]

Sorry, I don't have my first year's weights available without digging. This year my chicks are 2.5 pounds at 7 to 8 weeks. Cockerel are heavier right off and stay ahead of the pullets in the group.