Cornish

[Ryu]

Quote:
For the Exhibition birds I have a 2.5' tall roost. All of them can handle it except the really wide guy. He fell off the higher roost a couple times and somehow got onto his back. He back is so flat and wide he can't flip back over, so I gave him a 18" roost. That worked for awhile, until he jumped off and hurt his leg. I've got a block of wood on the floor for him now, poor baby.

They need a clear space in front of the roost to land/crash. I pile the shavings 4-6" deep infront of the roost to help cushion them when they hit.

The Heritage type birds I have had on a 8ft tall roost in the barn. I do have a couple lower roosts (4', 6') in there too. They jump up the first couple feet, then flap like crazy, but they can get up there.

I can't use nest boxes because my hens are so broody if you give them a box they will go sit--even without an egg. They make me crazy. Mine just lay eggs in the shavings.

 

[Krys109uk]

They look really nice. I particularly like your not quite so wide exhibition types. Is it the extra wide type which are preferred in shows?

 

[al6517]

RYU :

So what do you think would be the best way to go if you wanted to try to breed in some leg height, in hopes fertility can be improved. tricky I know without jepordising some other important feature.

AL

 

[Ryu]

Well, I've got three big problems leg length, eye color, and fluff. I am trying to move forward and reach some of my breeding goals in 3-4 generations so I'm trying a few different approaches.

Having only hatched a few so far--I need to know what my birds are producing first. Then I have to keep in mind that since I have only a few birds, I need to create some genetic distance in my flock.

So this year I am:

1) Crossing between the purebred Exhibition Cornish to see if they segregate for any of these traits.

2) Crossing the heavier type Cornish with the Heritage type Cornish and see what that looks like. (The chicks from this cross look very promising already.)

3) I've got some Dark Shamos coming. Not necessarily great exhibition Shamos, but excellent eye color, correct body color, and a good length of leg.

I've made good progress on 1 and 2 with hatching this spring. I am hoping to maybe not need to do number 3.

That's the plan. If I can get a little more genetic distance, I think the hatchability will go up. If I get those three accomplished, I can get started on my Barred and Spangled project!

 

[al6517]

Quote:
That makes good sense, you seem to have a better than average handle on the genitics, that baffles me. you are the guru

. BTW I spoke to Danny Padgett today and he may have some eggs in the fall maybe. his lines are also from Strait & Herring.

AL






AL

 

[Ryu]

Only one hen was willing to model tonight, the others weren't into it:

One of my original hens:

Close up feather shots:

 

[Ryu]

Ethyl is broody, so she's giving me the 'eye' in the photos. I just kicked her off the nest and stole her egg, she didn't want anything to do with me.

From the feather shots, I like the ground color on the top and bottom photo. Top is mom and bottom is daughter I kept from last year. Daughter has a better spaced pattern to me, more "U" than "V"--better definition on the edges of the lacing. The center feather is too creamy orange fo me, but the lacing a little better than the top.

That light shaft makes me crazy. Working on getting rid of that.

I'm trying to get my hens body type a little closer to the roos. Tighter, less round--a little more aggressive looking if that makes sense?

 

[Ryu]

Quote:
I know just enough to get me into trouble and take on project like this.

I have been very lucky to get the birds I have, and this fall and going forwad I hope to put as many nice birds as I can into new breeders hands.

Eggs from Mr. Padgett would be lovely. Just Whites or Darks? You could twist my arm and sell me some whites this fall....

Any chance of luring you to the Dark Side?

 

[Ryu]

Quote:
Just to keep myself honest, I made an evaluation form using the point scale from the APA standard. There are specific things that I really focus on, and putting a hard number on it and seeing it on the point scale really helps keep things in perspective.

I was hoping to have 60 to choose from this fall. It's looking like I'm going to get more like 30-40. I am culling hard down to two roos and 6-8 hens this fall (if I keep saying it, I'm sure it will happen).

 

[al6517]

Danny Padgett said he would have or might have some eggs in the fall so we will see, his lines also include Strait & Herring. I have been looking into showing but have not made up my mind. I could very well get into darks as well as white laced reds, I am starting to really like this breed. Once I get a fair amount of birds that are laying I would most certainly get you some eggs for all your help for sure.

AL