Okies in the BYC The Original

[al6517]

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I don't know much about cornish but what makes them good??? What do you see in others that you don't like?? Are they hard to raise? Are they more for eating rather than yard birds for eggs & bug eating?

Well Carah just like any other breed you want to try and have the best representation of the breed standard, just like when you & Maddy show birds the better bird win's. WTS Hatchery stock is just so far removed from what they actually should be and really don't offer anything and actually take away from ones flock if it's poorly bred. True Standard Cornish Grow slow, need special feed for best results, don't lay but 150-160 egg's a year at best, and can be difficult to handle on a regular basis, plus most folks don't have the ability to seperate Roosters as these Roo's cannot be anywhere near each other, they are very gamey. You can eat these birds but with the slow growth it's not that feasable to most, The don't forage all that well but do need special pen set-up's . They are also very hard to Incubate their egg's, fertility is an issue mainly with very good stock ( Whites mainly ) because of their body conformation, and hatching them takes special incubator skills to get good results. The biggest reason is there are just not that many good breeders out there to get good stock from for all these reasons, and hatchery stock is just not even an option at all for those of us looking for good birds.

AL

 

[Buckguy20]

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If that is the plan then I won't be there. Al is gonna take me fishing that weekend.

 

[al6517]

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If that is the plan then I won't be there. Al is gonna take me fishing that weekend.

I like your new Sig line, but it's not true in your case, you have a man chicken breeder Waiver, unless you have Foo-Foo's LOL

AL

 

[Buckguy20]

No FOO FOO's here! Thanks for the Waiver!

 

[Sooner]

So with the commonly found cornish, they aren't slow growers & lay too many eggs? If I understand correctly you don't have much option on getting good slow growing birds with the correct standard.

If that is the case Monty, I'm going fishing too!

 

[Buckguy20]

Well, I gotta run, be back later!

 

[al6517]

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It's not so much the slow grow factor they all do that, and egg production is just part of their production woe's. It has mainly to do with the APA standard, unfortunatly the APA standard is counter productive by incouraging a body conformation standard that prohibits good fertility and breeding practices. Therfore insuring good birds are very hard to breed and find. Most true old time Cornish breeders I have found just won't let go of any quality stock. Anyway it's frustrating because I am not lowering my standards or am I giving up on finding some good ones, I got plenty of time, but I am in a hurry as well LOL.

AL

 

[Sooner]

Then it is wonderful that Charley is loaning you a roo!! I will have to look at my standards book to see what it says, never looked before. What is your ultimate goal for the cornish once you get good stock?

 

[al6517]

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I like the breed and it's rarity makes them even more attractive to own & breed. I do have a major program that I have been into for a few yr's. That is to breed a true self sustaining meat bird in it's own breed, it will take 20 years plus I think but I like the challenge. Thats why I need good seed parent stock of the Standard Cornish, and some of my other breeds that I am working with. Pipe dream maybe, but I am still going to try and I have already had many success, so on I go.

AL

 

[averytds]

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We're coming down Friday night and bringing 9 birds to the show. I don't do 6AM unless Vegas is involved, but you can put us down for 3 for lunch. What time?

If there's something you really want from Smith's, they say they'll deliver free to shows. So you can buy in advance and not have to worry. I'd call to order and be sure though since it's so close to time.