CSU - Chicken State University- Large Fowl SOP

[cluck-cluck]

ditto, forgetful!

Can anyone who raises Cornish share what they find are the difficulties of the breed? I'm already guessing that these birds are not as popular on this site as they are pure meat birds? Yet I find them to be quite handsome!

 

[gootziecat]

I'm in bantams and from what little I know, the open beak is problematic, as well as obtaining and retaining the pearl eye color. I have one rather large bantam pullet. She's a hefty girl. I'm wondering if size is a problem with them.

 

[catdaddyfro]

ditto, forgetful!

Can anyone who raises Cornish share what they find are the difficulties of the breed? I'm already guessing that these birds are not as popular on this site as they are pure meat birds? Yet I find them to be quite handsome!

yes they are very nice looking birds and the reason they aren't popular is simply because it is hard for them to breed much less the breeding stockman to get it right. The sheer awkwardness of the Cornish bodies makes (chicken sex) hard to get it done. They are huge-mongous and those big ol breast makes it difficult for the guys to do the "teter totter" motion and get everything where its supposed to be.

Then on top of that the hens by far are not the best prolific layers there are either. So you see why it would take someone very special and very dedicated to a lot of work and time for very little outcome. Glad for the few that take on the task though and keep these awesome breeds such as the Cornish up an running though, need more like those guy/gals.

Jeff

 

[fowlman01]

I'm in bantams and from what little I know, the open beak is problematic, as well as obtaining and retaining the pearl eye color. I have one rather large bantam pullet. She's a hefty girl. I'm wondering if size is a problem with them.

Cornish and Call ducks to me are the hardest breeds to reproduce, to get good specimens and to correct faults. As noted, they are not built for good fertilization of the egg. They typically don't lay a lot of eggs, unless they are hatchery birds and those are not really Cornish. Cornish are not nimble birds....they are more awkward in their movements than most chickens.

Any bird that is hard to reproduce starts out being a problem. Some artificially inseminate Cornish. I don't....what good is a bird that can't breed itself?

The pearl eye is nice, but it is a very small part of what a Cornish is. It is a one or two point deduction in a show unless the judge thinks "It is not a Cornish without a pearl eye". I have heard that before,. It is only 2 points off if it doesn't have a pearl eye, so I don't know how it becomes 100 points in some peoples eye. Breeders are always trying to have the pearl eye changed. That is because they can't get the pearl eye for some reason. We don't always get the pearl eye either, but I'm not going to cull a great Cornish because it doesn't have a pearl eye.

A Cornish is defined by the large bone, the wide head , the hard feather and hard body. A Cornish (large or bantam) should feel like a brick in your hand. If it feels soft you are doing something wrong. The eye color comes last.

Walt

 

[cluck-cluck]

Quoted from Walt Are these eyes pearlescent? and wow, I never heard of open beak, I must look that up! Was it according to the APA, that heritage fowl must reproduce naturally? I guess a Cornish would indeed be very difficult to keep to the SOP with the pressures of making them so broad and meaty! Yet they are still so beautiful!. We truly have an amazing variety of birds!

 

[fowlman01]

Quoted from Walt

Are these eyes pearlescent?

and wow, I never heard of open beak, I must look that up!

Was it according to the APA, that heritage fowl must reproduce naturally? I guess a Cornish would indeed be very difficult to keep to the SOP with the pressures of making them so broad and meaty! Yet they are still so beautiful!. We truly have an amazing variety of birds!

No those are not pearl. Pearl looks pretty white. This is good but it looks kind of yellow. I will try to find a picture. When you see it you will remember it. I haven't had any problems with open beaks. I know what you mean by that, but I just don't see it in these Cornish. I don't see it in the Cornish I judge either. I would say that open beak in a Cornish is unusual....unless it is a hatchery bird.

Walt

 

[Matt1616]

Walt, have you seen any quality LF Dark Cornish in recent years in your judging travels? This may have been covered already but I am to lazy to go back and look.


Matt

 

[fowlman01]

Walt, have you seen any quality LF Dark Cornish in recent years in your judging travels? This may have been covered already but I am to lazy to go back and look.


Matt

Yes, There are some good ones in Virginia. (Rohrs Kieth).

Walt

 

[cluck-cluck]

That would be great, thanks Walt.. I really love the head on that one!

 

[fowlman01]

That would be great, thanks Walt.. I really love the head on that one!

This is the best I can do for now. It isn't a Cornish, but it is a pearl eye. It stands out if it is on a colored bird.

w.