cornish game hens

[Mrwinchester]

hello does anyone have experience with Cornish rock game hens? I've found a few threads but I'm uncertain on the feeding. First of all i don't have the Cornish cross chickens i have what the hatchery calls slow growth meat birds all roos. I'm wondering if i have to switch from starter to a finisher at two weeks like I've red or is there any other suggestions. I'm looking for a 2 lb or slightly smaller finished bird so i believe i should butcher at just under three lbs to achieve that end weight. we ordered more birds than are run can handle purposely to have some game hens and seeing they are all roos I'd like to see them have a little more elbow room in there run. Any suggestions would be great thanks

One article said to feed just starter right up till harvesting ? doe's that sound right?

 

[Bossroo]

The name " cornish game hen" is just a marketing name for the standard Cornish X that is butchered at 42 days of age. I feed mine the regular 20% starter feed. If one gets the straight run, expect the weights to differ some between the males and females.

 

[ChickenJerk]

The poultry industry refers to what you are talking about as "Rock Cornish Hens"

They are the sisters of the cockerels designed to be grown to as much as 9 weeks of age producing a large, super premium roasting chicken. The building is overfilled with day old birds and the females are processed at 21 days of age (typically) to produce an 18 to 22 oz dressed bird. The removal of these females when smaller allows additional room for the males to grow to a greater size.
Any modern broiler chicken (maybe not these red broilers), male or female, can make a Rock Cornish hen. It is just a matter of slaughtering them at the correct size. Any of the old "breeds" will not produce a product similar to what is generally though of as one or these small whole bird portions.
Normal feeding practices are utilized, nothing special is done.
The industry expects a straight run flock of 42 day old birds to average around 5.5 lbs. This is the most typical size at age for meat chickens to be processed.
The Wikipedia article on this subject is hopelessly outdated.

BTW this is the only situation where the birds the modern industry produces are ever called anything with the words; "rock" or "cornish" in the name. Names utilizing those terms are never used in any other case because they are so inaccurate.

 

[Elke Beck]

BTW this is the only situation where the birds the modern industry produces are ever called anything with the words; "rock" or "cornish" in the name. Names utilizing those terms are never used in any other case because they are so inaccurate.

This is not true. Welp Hatchery calls these Cornish-Rock Broilers, Belt Hatchery and Ideal Hatchery call them Cornish Cross, Cackle Hatchery calls them Jumbo Cornish Cross, Hoffman Hatchery calls them White Cornish Cross Broilers, and Murray McMurray has Jumbo Cornish X, Cornish Roasters and Cornish Game Hens.

Language is constantly changing, so, just as the word "corn" used to mean a small hard bit, and then meant any kind of grain, and now means (in America) maize, so names used for these birds may once have meant a bird that resulted from a cross of two specific breeds, but now means a bird that results from breeding methods that probably rarely include parents that are pure White Rock or pure Cornish. The Cornish Cross in it many forms means a white bird that grows out fast.

 

[ChickenJerk]

This is not true. Welp Hatchery calls these Cornish-Rock Broilers, Belt Hatchery and Ideal Hatchery call them Cornish Cross, Cackle Hatchery calls them Jumbo Cornish Cross, Hoffman Hatchery calls them White Cornish Cross Broilers, and Murray McMurray has Jumbo Cornish X, Cornish Roasters and Cornish Game Hens.

Language is constantly changing, so, just as the word "corn" used to mean a small hard bit, and then meant any kind of grain, and now means (in America) maize, so names used for these birds may once have meant a bird that resulted from a cross of two specific breeds, but now means a bird that results from breeding methods that probably rarely include parents that are pure White Rock or pure Cornish. The Cornish Cross in it many forms means a white bird that grows out fast.

Yes it is true, you are relying on bad sources for your information-
Try to find any of the "cornish", "rock", "cross", "game" term(s) you mentioned above included in the product literature produced by the primary breeders of broiler chickens.
Like;
Cobb-Vantress
Ross
Arbor Acres
Indian River
Hubbard

These are the breeders that supply the parent stock producing the hatching eggs for the mail order hatcheries you mentioned. Mail order hatcheries will use any name that suits the marketing scheme that plays to their customers. They have no problem with the misnomers you have mentioned just like they have no problem calling birds turkens, easter eggers, americanas, etc. My favorite- Freedom Rangers! Which is a Hubbard Redbro out of their "color line"

BTW Cobb-Vantress alone has a hatchery that produces more meat type chicks in one day than all the hatcheries mentioned above hatch in one year - combined. I think that calls and raises the bet.

 

[Mrwinchester]

Thanks everyone for their replays. I am aware of the different names of which they call the Cornish x , What I'm looking for is it have some nice little chickens like you see in gourmet shops which are around 1.5 lbs if that big what to feed them other than starter if anything at all, oh and if it would matter if its medicated if I'm not to feed finisher thanks again..


These are the meat birds we ended up getting. It's either i build another run or do as above thanks..

HEAVY DUAL PURPOSE /
SLOW GROWTH MEAT BREED
Frey's Special Dual Purpose

This breed is a combination of some of the heaviest dual purpose breeds still in existence. It was developed for those who want a hardy, healthy chicken with firm and flavourful meat. Mortality is very low in this breed, and weak legs and heart attacks are almost unheard of.
The females are a rusty red in colour and are generally quiet, but they are not recommended for growers wanting high egg production. The females will grow to approximately 6 lbs. live weight at about 15 weeks. As females approach maturity (15–20 weeks), they tend to put on fat, so if larger-size females are desired, we suggest a diet lower in protein and energy. Females between 10-14 weeks old are a favourite of the Asian community.
The males are white and may have dark markings on their backs. Males will be 7 to 8 lbs. live weight at 15 weeks.
As males mature they can have a tendency to fight and so keeping the ratio of males to females at 1 to 10 or lower will help. If you raise only males and want to keep them to an older age you can try darkening the pen and beak trimming.​

 

[Elke Beck]

Thanks everyone for their replays. I am aware of the different names of which they call the Cornish x , What I'm looking for is it have some nice little chickens like you see in gourmet shops which are around 1.5 lbs if that big what to feed them other than starter if anything at all, oh and if it would matter if its medicated if I'm not to feed finisher thanks again..


These are the meat birds we ended up getting. It's either i build another run or do as above thanks..

HEAVY DUAL PURPOSE /
SLOW GROWTH MEAT BREED
Frey's Special Dual Purpose

This breed is a combination of some of the heaviest dual purpose breeds still in existence. It was developed for those who want a hardy, healthy chicken with firm and flavourful meat. Mortality is very low in this breed, and weak legs and heart attacks are almost unheard of.
The females are a rusty red in colour and are generally quiet, but they are not recommended for growers wanting high egg production. The females will grow to approximately 6 lbs. live weight at about 15 weeks. As females approach maturity (15–20 weeks), they tend to put on fat, so if larger-size females are desired, we suggest a diet lower in protein and energy. Females between 10-14 weeks old are a favourite of the Asian community.
The males are white and may have dark markings on their backs. Males will be 7 to 8 lbs. live weight at 15 weeks.
As males mature they can have a tendency to fight and so keeping the ratio of males to females at 1 to 10 or lower will help. If you raise only males and want to keep them to an older age you can try darkening the pen and beak trimming.​

As has been said before, the Rock Cornish Game Hens you get in the store are just very young Cornish X. Slaughter at about 3 to 4 weeks, and you will get small carcasses.

 

[donrae]

I would feed them non medicated starter. Non medicated, as they're not really going to live long enough to have any problems with cocci, and the starter for the high protein levels.

I've never seen that hybrid, it looks nice! A sex link meat bird....the pic looks nice and meaty, but not grotesque like the Cornish crosses get. And 15 weeks isn't a bad turn around time at all.

 

[Mrwinchester]

Thank you everyone for there advice. This is my first batch of chickens they are doing great at just over two weeks we did not loose any out of are 68 chicks we received . Now here's the problem which ones would i butcher? It's kinda like having to make the decision which of your children you would give up for adoption. Oh that darn square foot rule i sure wish i could just stack them all two high. At my currant size of enclosure it would only allow two square feet per bird. I have the option of making a less secure run and divide the flock but risk predator attacks. Well i guess i have to make a decision now and switch feed or build a run.Thanks again for all your help.


P.S. I try to act all manly around the wife and tell her not to get attached but i'm the one who i think is having the issues lol.

 

[donrae]

edited.......responded to a different thread in my mind lol.