Hatchery w/ Best Dark Cornish

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Sorry but this is really the deal. We as good breeders are having such a hard time keeping numbers up while still trying to improve our lines and show these birds, most of us just trade to each other in our inner circle so we know where are birds are and how they are doing, plus continue to swap and show any off spring.

That's the problem I have been running into looking for nice DC's for a couple years now. The "inner circle" is a very close knit group as I have seen and not very open to outsiders. Then they wonder why there aren't as many LF Cornish (especialy DC) in the shows as their used to be. Go figure.


Steve​

 

[Buster52]

Al is right, of course, about breeder stock being better (unless the "breeder" got their birds from a hatchery, as Al and I once witnessed at an auction

). But...

To answer the question that was asked, I bought 50 DC from Ideal a year ago July. I butchered at between 18 and 20 weeks last December. Average weight was about 3 3/4 pounds, but then that isn't an accurate account as I kept out the largest three roosters and several hens, so that cheats the average down a bit from what it really would have been.

I was happy with them, and still have some of their young 'uns in my flocks, but then I'm not a serious Cornish man like Al.

FWIW

 

[biomistake]

I butchered out two of my 3 Ideal cockerels at 20 weeks and they both weighed over 4lbs last year. The remaining rooster and hens are a little long legged but nicely bodied. Unfortunately I have to agree with Sands Poultry. I have been trying to find a breeders for two breeds and have run into the same thing... outsiders aren't good enough... nothing personal Al as I do understand its takes years and years of work and dedication to a breed but its hard to expand the breed....