Cornish Thread

[sambat]

So the Cornish Rocks' fast growth changed the labels huh. Well guess that holds true for commercial broilers not for our standard cornish

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

So the Cornish Rocks' fast growth changed the labels huh. Well guess that holds true for commercial broilers not for our standard cornish

I would imagine there is a market in the US for the real slower growing heritage chicken, as Hellbender said, true capons grown from heritage breeds probably are an entirely different taste experience than the cornish cross at any age. I wonder if the higher end restaurants would be keen to get those heritage capons. I suppose it's more red tape and paperwork, but it might benefit small farmers and consumers if there were USDAratings specific to heritage chickens. Here in Canada you cannot really grow chickens or eggs for market except in a very small way unless you hold quota. The rules are very specific, the industry is tightly regulated and there are chicken police that enforce them- no more than 99 laying hens, eggs can only be sold on farm unless graded, and no more than 300 meaties, can only be sold on the farm without quota.

 

[JRNash]

Chicken police...

 

[sambat]

Ive seen postings about that but havent read up on it.

 

[sambat]

Is there any particular type of feed that is recommended for cornish during all this heat? I've thrown in a couple of ice cubes ib their water to help them keep cool.

 

[spangledcornish]

Is there any particular type of feed that is recommended for cornish during all this heat? I've thrown in a couple of ice cubes ib their water to help them keep cool.

I wouldn't say there is a recommended feed however if you are limit feeding your birds feed them late in the day or early in morning, digestion naturally causes heat production, in the summer when temps get hotter than normal we will spray the runs down a couple times to help keep the soil temps a little cooler, we have also utilized shade cloth or old sheets to create more shade outside to encourage them to lay/dust in the wet soil. Granted we are not free ranging our birds.

 

[JRNash]

I'm in Southeast Texas the humidity outside right now is ghastly!! Hot and humid. I don't have to wet anything here,its been raining for two weeks or better. I keep two wading pools full of water and they have lot's of shade. I don't do the ice or frozen food thing. This year i will hang a box fan in the coop when the temps get above 100

 

[JRNash]

Sambat are Your birds cornish or Cx. Pure Cornish should have no problem with the heat as long as they are healthy with plenty of fresh water.
Last year I raised Cx through the hottest part of the summer with no problems. The reason for adding the fan is my bird population has went from 35 to over 200 various birds

 

[JRNash]

The only feed I would avoid is cracked corn.

 

[sambat]

I have both, I have standard cornish and the cornish x. Yes the cornish x get overheated easily so I keep them in the shade mostly but I wondered if my dark cornish might do better if a little extra care was given. Didnt want a heat wave to cause problems I can avoid