Diversity

About Cornish ChickensAbout Cornish Chickens




Cornish, also known as Indian Game, Chickens are bred specifically for meat production. They produce meat more efficiently than any other chicken. They reach a dressing weight of five pounds at five weeks. Cornish chickens lack the typical hairy feathers left over after plucking other breeds—a fact which saves processors the energy and time of singeing the carcass prior to butchering. They show little desire to forage and generally handles confinement well.  

They are considered loud and intractable. The roosters readily show aggression and Cornish chicks at times show cannibalism. Health problems associated with their rapid growth prevent the kind of activity common to most chickens. The high feed conversion ratios give farmers a narrow margin of error in feeding. Underfeeding yields fowl prone to predation. Cornish farming works well in a commercial production under highly monitored conditions but will most likely fail in a backyard coop.    

Cornish chickens are broad, muscular fowl on widely spaced yellow legs. They manifest in three basic colors; Dark, White, and White Laced Red. The Cornish breed has short feathers that leave parts of the body bare. They sport a pea comb, no crest, and small wattles. Their protruding brow, piercing eyes, and curved beak support their reputation as a predatory bird. Most of the commercial growers breed Cornish with white feathers and yellow skin.  

Feed carefully. Many Cornish cross breeds break their legs or grow lame as a result of their rapid weight gain. Ulcers develop in lame birds forced to sit in their own feces. Consequently, they require wire pens to keep their bodies away from ammonia rich feces. Cornish fowl fed too much can die of heart attacks. Those fed too little display predation. The backyard breeder would do well to stick to the hardier Cornish chickens or the new hybrid called the Colored Ranger rather than the commercial Cornish cross. Pasture the chickens as much as possible. Pen any who go lame. Move their run often to encourage exercise and discourage parasites. Provide a warm, draft free coop for these short feathered fowl.