Cornish chickens are not a foreign name to the crybaby industry . You ’ve likely learn the name more than once if you ’ve been around chickens for a while .
Not to be confused with the Cornish Cross , the honest Cornish breed make an excellent chick for those look for aheritagealternative for meat production .
About Cornish Chicken
Around 1820 , Sir Walter Raleigh Gilbert of England crossed Red Aseels from India and Black Breasted game volaille , creating today ’s chickens . In 1893 , the breed was recognise by the American Poultry Association under the name of Indian Game birds .
While there was an drive to make an exceptional fighting chicken called the Indian Game bird , the disposition did n’t fit the razz . Because of this , the name was finally alter to Cornish to well match the stock .
Today , we have a unagitated , outstanding essence manufacturer that can be found in three different color varieties . Buff , White , and White Laced Red Cornishes have all been grow and recognized by the American Poultry Association with the Black Cornish waiting for recognition from the American Poultry Association .
Cornish Breed Characteristics
1. Size and Weight
While the initial visual aspect of this wench can be deceive due to their tight - fitting feathers , Cornish chicken are reasonably goodish . With a very all-embracing and muscular build , it ’s rather fitting to call this bird Hulk of the poulet penitentiary .
A full - acquire Cornish rooster weigh roughly 10.5 pound . hen course weigh a bit less , tipping the scale around 8.5 pounds .
2. Temperament
The original end with this breed was to make an aggressive fight chicken . Unfortunately for the breeders , these birdie just did n’t agree the bill . However , Cornishes do still have some nisus well known for fighting in their blood so they are n’t the tranquil boo out there . you may expect some calm birds and some more mellow strung chickens as well .
Since this is a breed primarily raise for meat , disposition generally is n’t a immense concern because these chickens wo n’t be around the farm for an prolonged full stop of fourth dimension .
3. Meat Production
When specify this as a fighting chicken was a bust , marketing these birds as a meat chicken instead in all likelihood maintain this breed from dying out . Cornish fowl will definitely have large appetites while growing , and they do n’t grow as quickly as commercial-grade breeds due to their heritage nature .
If you ’re looking for a heritage inwardness manufacturer that is just a piece large than your standard dual - design strain , Cornish poulet should accommodate the bank note and please everyone with their striking mesa calibre .
4. Egg Production
While egg product by all odds is n’t the independent purpose for Cornishes , it ’s crucial to keep ballock layers to exert the strain for many generation to come . you may have a bun in the oven 160 - 180 small brown orchis per yr from a exclusive Cornish hen .
Many people wish to say that this strain is n’t a “ breakfast ” bird , but definitely a supper volaille .
Taking Care of Cornishes
1. Feeding and Nutrition
As with most meat breeds , Cornishes will be born with a Brobdingnagian appetence and eat a good bit of solid food over the class of their life .
When you start off with Cornish wench , it ’s recommended to feed your growing birds a good starter for the first 4 - 6 weeks of life . Unless you plan on raising your Cornishes for orchis - lay , plan on switching their dieting to a broiler provender after the first 4 - 6 weeks of life .
Cornish Gallus gallus can persist on this diet until 12 hours prior to processing sentence . It ’s good to withhold food for the last 12 hours of life before processing to clean out the digestive system and make disembowelment as well-heeled as potential .
2. Housing and Fencing
received housing for your wimp would mean a cage with access to free - ranging or a run . However , it is usual practice when raising broilers to makechicken tractorsthat are moved to fresh grass day by day .
Both of these methods are test and dependable , it ’s your choice how you will enhance your birds . There are plenty ofonline resourcesthat can help you pick based on your time and dimension available .
3. Health Issues and Care
Overall , Cornishes will have far fewer wellness issues than a market meat bird would . core bird can gormandize and have spunk attacks due to their rapid growth . This issue should be far less of a problem for Cornishes due to their heritage breeding .
It ’s recommend to avoid providing free choice food if you do keep a Cornish past a normal processing clock time . This is to ensure that the bird ’s health and weight bide as optimum as possible .
4. Breeding
For those that care to keep affair basic and timeless , you may want to recruit your own Cornishes from eggs and save a few skirt from each batch to give rise the next generation . Due to the slower mature charge per unit of Cornishes , it may take a bit longer than an egg - laying breed to start lay eggs . Once your hens begin producing , the egg - lay rate wo n’t be astounding .
Cornish hen can make comely mothers . You just might get lucky and have a biddy go broody to economise you all that chick - erect work !
Cornish Breed Alternatives
1. Jersey Giants
Jersey Giantsare also a slower develop strain that make a expert , heritage meat manufacturer . For those looking for a larger breed that is an effective layer unlike the Cornish , this alternative may be the way to go .
Did You Know?
A cross between this breed and aBarred Rockwill ensue in the Cornish X. The Cornish X is the # 1 substance producer for America ’s commercial meat diligence .
Cornish chicken are the way to go for the sodbuster looking to get back to the natural way of prove center while preserve a seemly - sized carcass on the table . If you ’re look for a practiced meat inheritance chicken stock , you may have just obtain your chicken !
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