McMurray's White Laced Red Cornish-Standards

[Minniechickmama]

I would like to ask what the opinion of the WLRC from McMurray is from folks who have gotten them recently. I know the deal with hatcheries, but I am willing to work with them for a while if I can get some that are half-way decent to start. I have gotten some DC cockerels that are horrible, but needed work, only kept one. But I am also interested in trying some of the WL if they are at all worth starting with.
Any opinions are greatly appreciated.

 

[Minniechickmama]

Anyone?

 

[WyandotteTX]

I have never seen any of the WLR from there myself but I did buy some of their Dark Cornish years ago. Were absolutely awesome chickens honestly. They werent the giant gregarious Cornish that are shown but muscular, athletic and laid extremely well. I think I had 15 hens and would average about 13 eggs a day from them. They were marked up well with proper Dark Cornish coloring but definetely not the super short, stocky exhibition type.
Not exactly answering your question but trying to help...haha

 

[Minniechickmama]

WyandotteTX
Thanks for your input. I did get 3 cockerels from MM last spring. I kept one and butchered the other two. They made good eating birds at about 3 months- 3 1/2 pounds each.
I am keeping the roo I held back until I have something better of the DCs. I am going to work on those mainly, but would like to try the WLRs too. Maybe I just need to start from hatchery and work at it a while. We will see how it goes. I need to keep this obsession somewhat under control. I only have room for some many breeds and breeding pens. I am not sure hubby will let me build any more for a while.

 

[Ohne-Fehler]

I don’t have any experience with the Cornish breed but if your aiming for show stock it seems no matter the breed its better to start with stock from a breeder. There was a thread on the International Cornish Breeders Club forum about this; some breeders did not seem to think it would be worth the work. It seems that the Cornish are hard enough to breed already so this would be a massive undertaking.

 

[Celtic Hill]

Generally speaking, if you are looking for quality birds, don't go with hatcheries. BUT if you are working on a breed that is rare or uncommon then you sometimes have to go with hatcheries. So if you can't find any breeders tock your kinda stuck going with hatcheries. Your best bet would be to get about 50+ plus of that breed and then cull the ones that go to the standard, keeping a trio or a quad, selling or butchering the rest. You have to start from somewhere even if it is hatchery stock.

 

[Minniechickmama]

I know it is best to go with a good breeder, but something as uncommon as the WL Cornish, I do think I am stuck going hatchery. I am also going to get a flock of Dark Cornish, but I am trying to go with breeders on that since I have a couple of contacts for them, I just have to buy live birds from them. Just wanted to toss the question out there if anyone had a secret on a breeder of them. Thanks for the input guys/gals.

 

[Celtic Hill]

Quote:
I didn't realize they weren't common. I know nothing about Cornish. Im in the same boat with you The Porcelain Duccles are soooo hard to come by im crossing Hatchery stock with the Nicest of my good stock to give me more genetics. Good luck! My suggestion, order 25 chicks from to separate hatcheries and keep only the best. like the top 2 or 3 Trios.

 

[Minniechickmama]

The WLRCs are a rare variety. Actually, it isn't looking like there are too many good breeders out there with Cornish of any variety. You can get them from most hatcheries, but they are just your average hatchery quality too. I may just have to start there and work on them for a few years to get some good ones.

 

[Robert Blosl]

As a Heritage Breed invented by Wid Card in the 1920s there are most likely less than fifth alive right now. They are very rare. I think there is a fellow in Oklahoma who has some nice ones. If you look around you can find the rare ones. If someone would get the best stock and not the hathcery stock it sure would be nice to help this old breed from dieing. We need breeders who can afford feed for these poor chickens. They cost the same to raise as a hatchey fowl which is not really the same genetic make up of what you are talking about. bob