Standard Cornish Chickens: Not Cornish Cross! | Blake Phillips

Standard Cornish chickens aren’t Cornish Cross—and choosing good breeders takes more than spotting a big young bird. Blake Phillips of 4 Hill Acres joins Jennifer Bryant and Carey Blackmon to talk about raising large-fowl Cornish, breeding for balanced proportions, and why he waits until about 18 months to select his breeders. In this conversation: • The difference between Standard Cornish and Cornish Cross • Body shape, leg placement, and clamshell wing carriage • Maturity, natural breeding, and longevity • Feeding decisions and seasonal fertility in Blake’s flock • Preparing white Cornish for a poultry show CHAPTERS 00:00 Why wait 18 months to choose breeders? 00:18 Standard Cornish versus Cornish Cross 02:26 Meet Blake Phillips of 4 Hill Acres 03:30 Body shape and balanced proportions 08:11 Wing carriage and leg placement 10:59 Maturity and choosing breeders 12:39 Breeding for longevity 14:05 Feed management 15:30 Preparing white Cornish for a show 16:57 Seasonal fertility and selling birds 17:55 Finding Cornish breeders and Blake’s farm WEIGHT CORRECTION The 8½ lb and 6½ lb weights discussed early in the episode are for large-fowl Cornish cockerels and pullets, respectively—not bantams. Reference: https://livestock.extension.wisc.edu/... Blake’s growth, maturity, and fertility observations describe his own birds and breeding program; results vary between flocks. Explore more Poultry Nerds episodes and resources: https://www.poultrynerdspodcast.com/ Guest: Blake Phillips • 4 Hill Acres, Cookeville, Tennessee Hosts: Jennifer Bryant & Carey Blackmon Subscribe for more conversations about poultry breeding, genetics, nutrition, incubation, and practical flock management. #CornishChickens #PoultryBreeding #PoultryNerds