🐔 Chicken breed

Cornish

Meat Origin: England

Cornish at a glance

Eggs / year ~160≈ approx
Egg color Brown
Egg size Medium
Cold hardiness Fair
Heat tolerance Fair
Size ♂ 10.5 lb · ♀ 8 lb≈ approx
Temperament Active · Hardy
Space / bird ~4 sq ft
Purpose Meat
Broodiness Sometimes
Origin England

Sources: APA Standard of Perfection / Livestock Conservancy · Livestock Conservancy / hatchery averages. Blank fields are left empty — never invented.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • +Good meat bird

Cons

  • Active — may need taller fencing
  • Needs shelter in hard winters
  • Less heat-tolerant — needs shade

Derived from the specs above — not opinion.

Not sure the Cornish is right for you?

Use the cross-species Breed Finder to match every breed to your needs.

Open the Breed Finder

⚖️ Compare Cornish with another breed →

Want to raise Cornish?

Buy day-old chicks from a reputable hatchery (affiliate — placeholder).

Find chicks
Need a coop or gear?

Coops, incubators, feeders, and heat lamps (affiliate — placeholder).

Shop gear

Cornish — frequently asked questions

How many eggs does a Cornish lay per year?
About 160 eggs per year (approximate; varies by strain and care).
What color eggs does a Cornish lay?
brown.
How big does a Cornish get?
males about 10.5 lb, females about 8 lb.
What is the Cornish temperament like?
Typically active, hardy.
Is the Cornish cold-hardy?
Cold hardiness: Fair.
Can the Cornish handle heat?
Heat tolerance: Fair.
What is a Cornish good for?
Kept mainly for meat.
Does the Cornish go broody?
This breed goes broody sometimes.
Where does the Cornish originate from?
The Cornish originates from England.

Related breeds