sources of cornish

[leelyndal]

I'm completely new to this site so please be gentle with me if I'm asking a particularly "newbie" type question.

I would like to know if anyone knows of good sources of very high-quality standard cornish day old chicks you can recommend?
I not talking about the cross rock broilers which are everywhere but just pure cornish with huge broad breasts, and 10+ lbs.

Many commercial hatcheries are through shipping these for 2008 it seems and besides, I get the suspicion that the large hatcheries hold back on the really good strains of cornish and instead ship watered-down strains which hardly resemble the pictures they show in their catalogs.

Please correct me if this suspicion is wrong as I'd really like to know where to get them.
Thank you,
henry

 

[lowcountrypoultry]

I wouldn't know because I don't purchase Cornish.

But

 

[sussexgal]

I'm new to here too.... have only had chickens since last year. But I read.... lots of info here and on other poultry forums.... what I read is you want to make sure whatever hatchery you deal with is in the NPIP - Nat'l Poultry Improvement Plan. Ideal in Texas jumps to mind as a participant. Also - lots of positive feedback regarding Ideal from folks who have purchased from them. My only other suggestion is to go to poultry shows where you can talk to breeders and see their stock before buying. Hope this was a bit of help.....

 

[sandspoultry]

We got Dark Cornish from Welp hatchery a few years ago and are very pleased with them.

Steve in NC

 

[billfosburgh]

iv`e yet to see "high quality" cornish come from a hatchery. i assume your talking about good exebition type. find a good breeder. i had very good cornish when i was young but all the old breeders like Charlie Hurd & lew Strait are all dead. there has to be some around. i`m also looking but wont settle for junk. find a paper called The Poultry Press. theyb used to have some good breeders advertise in there.
if you find some let me know. i want bantams. we can compare notes. i have a couple good cornish books around here somewhere. the pics in the hatchery catalogs are just that, a stock pic. there birds rarely match that quality.

 

[Colored Egg Farmer]

Quote:
same thing and they were wonderful birds and came healthy.

 

[linebacker]

I got dark cornish from Ideal. I was not expecting show quality stock and didn't receive them. The birds are okay, but not great. I wouldn't not recommend them, however, I just wanted to point out that at some point I think they have crossed a better egg layer with them.
Brad

p.s. Of all my chickens, an Ideal Hatchery dark cornish hen is my favorite!

 

[leelyndal]

Yes this my experience. My Buff Orpingtons and Buff Cornish both came from Ideal. By all accounts, hens of these breeds should average about 8 lbs and roos, a couple more.

I've been quite disappointed with what I received.

The search goes on for high-quality stock in these two breeds (BO and Cornish), so if anyone has any SPECIFIC recommendations, please let me know.
Thanks!
henry

 

[Southerngirl]

Dark Cornish we ordered from Cackle are great and the roosters are beautiful. Very healthy and hardy. I will purchase from them again.