Characteristics of Cornish chickens
Today there are many different types and breeds of chickens. Meat breeds are especially in high demand among farmers and large farms. The uniqueness of this kind of chickens lies in the fact that they retain a large percentage of meat during slaughter, and their products are also famous for their dietary properties. Cornish chickens are popular in almost all countries of the world as the fastest growing, gaining large amounts of mass in a short time.
Cornish chickens
Characteristics of the species
Cornish chickens can be recognized by their unique volcano-like color. Mostly this type is always white or black, on each feather you can see rings of bright and rich red color, which contrasts with the black plumage. This drawing resembles lava, which begins to wake up: it is covered with black ash, and red “veins” appear on it, letting you know that the lava is awake.
According to the description, the feathers are smooth, soft and very close to the body. The peculiarity of the Cornish is that pets have practically no fluff.
White plumage is considered by many farmers to be the main one, but lately black is much more common. In addition to white and black colors, there are also red, dark yellow, black ash and blue. The skin of the species is always yellow. The head is large and rather wide. The scallop has a light red color, it comes in two forms: leaf-shaped and pod-shaped.
This species has a very powerful beak, always bright yellow. The eyes are claret or blood-red, deep, with pronounced superciliary arches. Eyebrows come in different colors, depending on what color the representative himself will be. The growth of the winged is small compared to other meat types, they have a massive physique, the base of the skeleton is slightly raised up, a small neck.
The chest of birds is convex and voluminous, the back is long. The shape of the plumage is unique: it creates a kind of dome on the chest and back of the feathered, which gives the individual greatness and makes it visually larger. This feature is inherent exclusively in females. The legs are short but strong, set wide apart, which gives good stability. The tail is also small and lowered. Chickens of this type are strikers in their liking, moderately aggressive, they will not attack a person or another pet just like that, but they will not go into their hands and will not sit quietly.
Bird productivity
The Cornish was bred as a beef breed with delicate meats that are also considered dietary and extremely tender. The weight of an adult female reaches 2.9-3.5 kg, and the weight of an adult rooster is 4.2-4.8 kg. This is considered very high among other breeds, since on average, meat rooster of other species gains up to 3.9 kg. Chicken Gherkin is gaining weight very quickly and already at 2 months can weigh up to 2 kg. But the maturation of Gherkin chickens occurs very late in comparison with other species.
The first time a chicken is laid at the age of 7-9 months, egg production of these birds is 125-155 eggs per year.The largest recorded record is 176 eggs per year. The weight of the egg is 55-60 g, the egg has a creamy or light brown hue. The peak egg production of chickens occurs at the age of 1.5 to 3 years.
Positive and negative qualities of the species
The positive aspects can be listed endlessly. The characteristic claims that Gherkin chickens gain weight very quickly, but only if they are healthy, active, they have a properly balanced diet. The quality of their meat is always at a high level, many experts say that only chickens of this breed have such a special taste.
Males are used to create hybrids from different breeds in order to get the best percentage of bird productivity. This species very easily and quickly adapts to different temperature conditions, but in winter, individuals need a heater and warmth.
Negative sides of the breed:
- Cornish is a rather difficult type of chicken to hatch.
- Feathered slopes to obesity, especially if their diet is wrong.
- Gherkin chicks have a low percentage of plumage.
- If it is wrong to care for Gherkin chickens, the quality of the meat will drop significantly.
Conditions of detention
This species is unpretentious in the content, birds can be kept in cages or in the poultry house. If the latter option is chosen, it is necessary to provide the winged with walking space and bedding. If in a cage, then you have to work hard. If birds are kept in cages, each hen needs a lot of space, the cage should be high and wide. All hygiene standards must be observed, it is advisable to clean the house every day.
The diet of chickens is mainly made up of legumes and various cereals. In order to properly formulate a diet for chickens, it is extremely important to pay attention to the fact that this species is prone to obesity. This is why it is best to add pre-chopped corn kernels to your meals. It will also be useful to add any boiled vegetables, fresh herbs, hay and, of course, minerals. Farmers recommend adding sand and small gravel for digestion to work properly.
Cornish people like to take dust baths, however, due to their rather large body with a small neck, they cannot clean themselves everywhere. It is especially difficult for them to remove various parasites from behind. This is where dust baths help them. Dust helps fight parasitesand also avoid their further appearance.
Bird breeding
Females have a good planting instinct, but if the hen is stressed or scared, she can accidentally crush the eggs with her weight, so most often they are given to another hen or used incubator... The incubation period is 25 to 30 days.
For raising chicks, an average temperature of 25-30 ° C is best suited. The birds of this breed are unpretentious, any food for chickens will suit them, the main thing is to monitor the maintenance and health of the pets in order to get a good slaughter later. Such a carcass can be an excellent guest at the festive table. Cooking is elementary: they take salt, garlic, herbs, coat the chicken with them, put it in the oven for baking, and after a while you can pamper yourself with delicious meat.
Anyone who is interested in Gherkin chickens, their price will delight a reasonable bar.