Cornish Thread

[fowlman01]

I am one of those people that you have helped get some quality birds, Adam. They are wonderful and putting out some very nice young stock. My only problem is the ratio of male to female (LOL!). I swear, my ratio has been 8:2 in favor of the boys this year! But, that just gives me some good eating for the coming year. I did have to put one down today that had been limping around a little. When I checked him over, his legs were full of infection from something, I have no idea what. I put him down, cut them open and saw what I already suspected was the problem and got rid of him. Otherwise, I have about 35 little beefcakes out here. I love seeing their heartshaped backs getting wider and wider!
I also have some of Imwalles BLR project birds, a Black Laced pullet and a Splash Laced cockerel. I am not crazy about her, but she is workable. I DO like the cockerel and will be working him with some of the girls that are coming up.
I have 4 girls from kf, 3 WLRs and 1 DC. The WLRs are the much better birds for true Cornish type but took a lot longer to grow than the ones from spangled. One of those has awesome color to boot! The DC is too leggy, BUT if I put her under one of my good boys from spangled, I think I will see improvement.
Personally, I think working your own strains is half the fun. Anyone can go out and buy the best and claim them as their birds, but if you didn't breed them to achieve that level on your own, where is the glory. I like to get at least something that is workable and build on it using a few really good specimens. Thanks to spangled, I am doing that now.
This fall I am looking at which clubs I need to join, but I know that ICBA will be one. I like to believe that I have quite a few years to work with my birds before I have to throw in the towel. So, you guys can count on seeing me around. Whether I will get to big shows, I don't know. My first goal is to build a noteworthy flock, and the second is to help others truly interested in building up the breed to get a start with them. However, for the first couple of years, I will probably be a little selfish because I don't want to start selling anything unless it meets the quality deserving of being called Cornish. I have hatchery birds that are part of a meat project, but I make it quite clear to those looking that they ARE hatchery birds.

I do want to say though, this last week was our county fair. My kids took some Buckeyes that were pretty darn good quality but looked a little rough from lack of space to really separate them out. The judge is a production guy from here in MN. I was a bit ticked that he had almost nothing to say about the Bucks except that "you don't see too many of these around". I got the distinct impression that he had no idea what to look for on those birds. THEN he went over to a trio of DCs, that though they were in excellent condition as far as feathering and such to show, they were clearly hatchery birds and not even close to the standard. He placed those pretty high in the class of about 30 pens. Imagine my shock and annoyance. He did a pretty crappy job with ducks too this year, but that is another story for another thread.
It is a bit annoying that a judge would give kids reinforcement to raise birds that are so far from the standard by placing them so high in a show.
On a positive note, it is nice to see someone local who is interested in Cornish to raise.

Does he have an APA License? A lot of fairs hire some guy that knows meat birds or commercial poultry so they don't know what a SOP Cornish looks like...or any other breed for that matter.

Walt

 

[kfacres]

I would have to disagree with you about established breeders not willing to sell, over the past few year when we have had quality birds to sell we have got birds to people, there is the numbers thing, but I would say that I have helped at least get 5 new breeders into quality Dark LF in the past two years, and I believe I was willing to help you out at one point but things did not work out. I do think it is unfair to say that, I know Avigems has got bird to others, and know plenty of others when they have the birds are willing to work with ohter that are going seriously work with the breed. The biggest kicker is timming and hatching as far as getting birds, for example last year we had lots os standards to share with others this year we don't have that many so I will not sell many if any.

Right on, and I sure appreciated it... but I must say you were the only person who offered to sell quality, pure cornish birds. Sad, really, that I couldn't get up to your place.

 

[Minniechickmama]

Does he have an APA License? A lot of fairs hire some guy that knows meat birds or commercial poultry so they don't know what a SOP Cornish looks like...or any other breed for that matter.

Walt

He is a total production breeder. I doubt he is APA. The only judge I know of locally who is, is Duane Urch, but he never judges here because so many birds here come from him. Also, his county fair is the same week as ours, and their poultry show.
The judge we were supposed to have ended up in the hospital the day of our show, so this guy was a sub. He was here 2-years ago and I didn't like him then either. I should have known then when he placed our hatchery birds so high that he wasn't such a great judge to have. At least he wasn't as bad as our goat judge that was here. We don't show goats, but that guy was a nightmare and they ejected him about half-way through the show. He was kicking out wether meat goats for misplaced teats and such. He made most of the kids cry and that includes kids in 3rd grade and under in the Cloverbud group who shouldn't have been getting judged at all because it is just supposed to be a fun chance to take their animal in the ring. That was a bad night for a lot of people.
I think I may make a point of having some input on what judge we have for poultry. This guy doesn't need to come back here just to overlook some very good birds for the very pretty birds. That isn't judging, it is window shopping.

 

[Cedarknob]

Kfacres, I know for a fact that someone, though not an established breeder, gave you a pretty promising DC cockerel and offered to pick up more for you at Crossroads, and had previously offered to get you started with quality stock at his cost [and that cost was a bargain IMO] but you hesitated and lost the opportunity.

With so many statements like.......................................

I see no reason in even trying to raise quality Cornish, let alone trying to buy some to do such an endeavor.

.

................................... being made by you here at BYC, and so many other statements over the past year and longer [blasting both the breed and the breeders] I have to wonder about why you joined the ICBA or follow this particular thread. True Cornish are certainly not a breed that everyone is going to like, you have repeatedly stated you do not like them, and that is certainly OK. It is going to take a person that appreciates them to get in and stay in, because quality Cornish are one of the more difficult breeds to find, maintain, and improve.

 

[kfacres]

Kfacres, I know for a fact that someone, though not an established breeder, gave you a pretty promising DC cockerel and offered to pick up more for you at Crossroads, and had previously offered to get you started with quality stock at his cost [and that cost was a bargain IMO] but you hesitated and lost the opportunity.

With so many statements like.......................................
................................... being made by you here at BYC, and so many other statements over the past year and longer [blasting both the breed and the breeders] I have to wonder about why you joined the ICBA or follow this particular thread. True Cornish are certainly not a breed that everyone is going to like, you have repeatedly stated you do not like them, and that is certainly OK. It is going to take a person that appreciates them to get in and stay in, because quality Cornish are one of the more difficult breeds to find, maintain, and improve.

I dont' recall seeing your name in the ICBA lists-- o great Cornishman.

That good cockerel, was a good bird, I cannot lie- and much appreciative for getting and using him. But it seems the more I breed him to my females, and the more I promote and picture those offspring-- the more they receive slander being called counterfit Cornish.

 

[fowlman01]

Here in the west Cornish breeders will help people get started with good birds....not a problem. And there are lots of good Cornish here. However....they will not send good stock to a person that is going to cross them with another breed.......or someone that runs down the Cornish Club. The Cornish breeders...the real breeders, are a tight group and they share a lot of info, so they know who to give or sell a bird to. Anyone who is a serious breeder should have no problem securing good Cornish in large fowl or bantams, especially this time of year.

Walt

 

[fowlman01]

How about we talk Cornish and stop the bickering.




Walt

 

[kfacres]

good for you west coast people...

what good does that do any of us out east?

Maybe it should be the West Coast Cornish Club, instead of the ICBA?

What's your definiton of serious breeder? Someone who plans to show at every show? I don't think that's serious- that's just someone I see wanting to show and have some bragging rights.

You know in my two passionate species-- we see show stock herds and flocks come and go like hamburgers in town. 3-5 years is all they last. The people who tend to avoid shows, and set at home doing their own little thing and linebreed-- are those that last through the 5 year break-in period, and 90% of the time-- they are the ones who stick it out for the long haul.

 

[kfacres]

How about we talk Cornish and stop the bickering.




Walt

There is none to talk about, clearly.. since new people, people with average cornish, people with cornish projects, and non- cornish people are not allowed on this thread.

Can you carry on a conversation with yourself?

 

[fowlman01]

good for you west coast people...

what good does that do any of us out east?

Maybe it should be the West Coast Cornish Club, instead of the ICBA?

What's your definiton of serious breeder? Someone who plans to show at every show? I don't think that's serious- that's just someone I see wanting to show and have some bragging rights.

You know in my two passionate species-- we see show stock herds and flocks come and go like hamburgers in town. 3-5 years is all they last. The people who tend to avoid shows, and set at home doing their own little thing and linebreed-- are those that last through the 5 year break-in period, and 90% of the time-- they are the ones who stick it out for the long haul.

West coast people ship, but I doubt they would ship a smart alec anything. I'm not sure why you are trying to start fights, but it is usually the sign of a person that lacks self confidence. there are plenty of serious Cornish breeders and and some of them never show. I have been doing this for 45 years, so I don't think I would be considered a fly by night.


BTW: what are your "passionate species"?

Walt

edited by staff