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How to Grow Cornish Game Birds

The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines a Cornish game hen (or Cornish rock hen) as an immature Cornish chicken -- possibly interbred with another strain of chicken. It is usually five to six weeks old, and is harvested at a ready-to-cook weight of 2 lbs. or less. The creation of the plump Cornish game hen, a hybrid, is usually attributed to Te Makowsky, a French immigrant to the U.S. in the 1950s. If you are tempted to grow these on your own, try not to get too attached to them, because you'll want to harvest them at the tender age of five or six weeks.

Things You'll Need

Feed
Infrared lamp or other heat source

Instructions

- 1
  Obtain chicks from a commercial breeder. The University of Minnesota Extension notes that commercially bred chicks have been cross-bred for the most efficient conversion of feed to meat, and adds that starting with day-old birds is the most realistic approach for most growers.
- 2
  Make sure the birds' living space is heated. Chicks should be started in 90 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Decrease the heat by about 5 degrees a week until ambient temperatures are at or above the level of the supplemental heat. Infrared lamps can be a good heat source for small broods; if you're raising a large number of Cornish game hens, commercial brooder units will work better.
- 3
  Give the chicks feed containing 20 to 24 percent protein at first, reducing after the first few weeks to feed containing 15 to 20 percent protein. Continue with that regimen until the birds are harvested. if you mix your own feed, carefully follow the directions of the ingredients' suppliers. Make sure the birds have plenty of fresh water.
- 4
  Keep the birds confined and provide adequate ventilation to prevent buildup of moisture and ammonia. Good sanitation helps prevent disease.
- 5
  Harvest the birds in about five to six weeks, when they are about 2 1/2 lbs. live weight. They should dress out at about 1 1/2 lbs.

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