White Cornish: Building a Quality, Sustainable Flock for Meat and More.....

[KoopOnTruckin]

That is unfortunate, and something I wasn't aware of with Cornish. I've heard that they could turtle, but I didn't know it was life-threatening. Sorry to hear that...

 

[KoopOnTruckin]

Will the loss hurt your spiral breeding program too much? And is there anything you can do to help prevent it? I've looked online for more info about it, but I can't seem to find much.

 

[Fat Daddy]

Will the loss hurt your spiral breeding program too much? And is there anything you can do to help prevent it? I've looked online for more info about it, but I can't seem to find much.

Good Morning. As far as the breeding program goes, I always try to cover my backside. If you notice the eggs are marked as I set them as to which pen they come from. As they hatch, I toe punch them. This allows me to track which pen they come from. I held 4 "extra" cockerels over, just in case. I have already moved his son into that pen to take his place. The hens in this pen have not accepted him as their rooster yet, but Im sure it will work out.
As to how to prevent turtling from happening. I dont have a clue. They die pretty quick once stuck on their back. Its most common when two are locked in combat. I lost my last dark cornish roo this way too. He was a awesome bird...Once they reach their adult size. They are slightly less graceful than a old fat man. Just a trade off for the meat bird build I guess....


























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[SidChick]

Could anyone tell me if Cornish hens do well in winter? Summer? I'm in Kansas. We get below zero and above 100... thank you!

 

[Fat Daddy]

Could anyone tell me if Cornish hens do well in winter? Summer? I'm in Kansas. We get below zero and above 100... thank you!

Good morning.... I share your weather and have raised LF cornish for years. Cornish are not fans of either extreme. But I have no issues as long as they can get out of the wind and are kept dry. Frost bite on toes is the biggest issue. Simply not enough feathers to covers toes when sitting on even a wide roost. When they are bred close to the SOP, they are a very "hard feathered" bird. This means they are meant to have no fluffy, insulating feathers. Good for hot but sucks in the cold! On the other side of that, they do a little better with the heat. But if you look at the build of the roosters, they are so thick they get hot quickly. This effects breeding desire in the hot summer. The hens do fine in the summer heat...

 

[SidChick]

Thank you for that. I'm still debating...

 

[coberdor]

Fat Daddy,

I just had the exact same thing happen to my large rooster. He was close to 12 lbs. I found him dead in the morning, laying on his back. No marks, no signs of illness prior. It's a tragedy. He was hugely wide across his back. I have two of his sons, but they aren't as big.

 

[Fat Daddy]

Fat Daddy,

I just had the exact same thing happen to my large rooster. He was close to 12 lbs. I found him dead in the morning, laying on his back. No marks, no signs of illness prior. It's a tragedy. He was hugely wide across his back. I have two of his sons, but they aren't as big.

Good morning, Sorry to hear about your rooster.... Even thou they are "Just meat birds", we do get attached to them too. Or I do anyway.... I have found it normally happens at two times. When they are completely focused on romance, or when locked in battle.... You take just be'n able to roll over for granted. But I can kinda relate. Im a large man with all the agility and flexibility of a old turtle. Think'n about it, even a turtle can flip them selves back over! Is there a such thing as yoga classes for old fat men and wide roosters? ;-)

 

[Kiki]

Good morning, Sorry to hear about your rooster.... Even thou they are "Just meat birds", we do get attached to them too. Or I do anyway.... I have found it normally happens at two times. When they are completely focused on romance, or when locked in battle.... You take just be'n able to roll over for granted. But I can kinda relate. Im a large man with all the agility and flexibility of a old turtle. Think'n about it, even a turtle can flip them selves back over! Is there a such thing as yoga classes for old fat men and wide roosters? ;-)

LOL!!!

 

[Fat Daddy]

Well the first fertility test was less than I had hoped for. 6 outta the first 18 were viable.... Clears were replaced with fresh eggs and the process continues. More of the girls are coming on line, but only about half the pullets are laying as of now. The cockerels are figuring out the "romantic duties" of their position. With the results of the first fertility test, its clear they have picked a favorite and courting them.... They will soon figure it out. We got our NPIP testing done yesterday. I am now a certified clean farm! Once everyone comes on line. And I get my brooders full... This should allow some limited day old and egg sales.... The breeder pens are looking good again this year.... This is most of pen "B".... Getting all of them in the same pic is always difficult!

This is pen "C", the replacement Cockerel seems to have settled in and assumed his position as the Boss..... He is his fathers son... Pen "A" were just sure I was up to no good. They refused to come out for a photo op....