Cornish (Indian Game)
Muscular meat breed with broad shoulders and pea comb.
Overview
The Cornish chicken originated in Cornwall, England, during a period in which breeders sought to create a superior fighting bird. These chickens were developed through the crossing of various game fowl, including Aseel and Old English Game, resulting in a bird with exceptional musculature and a characteristic body shape. Early efforts focused on developing a bird with both strength and a robust build, suited for its original purpose.
Over time, the breed's impressive meat qualities became a primary focus, leading to its widespread adoption as a broiler and roaster chicken. The distinctive broad breast and heavy thighs made it highly desirable for commercial meat production. Today, the Cornish, often hybridized, forms the genetic basis for much of the world's commercial poultry industry due to its efficient growth rate and meat yield.
Origins
Tracing back to Cornwall, England, the Cornish (Indian Game) earned its place in the lineage of chickens through generations of selection — a slow conversation between climate, husbandry, and human eye. Muscular meat breed with broad shoulders and pea comb.
Temperament
Custodians describe the Cornish (Indian Game) as known for a docile nature despite its game fowl ancestry..
Conservation
Current status: Not formally tracked, but widely used in commercial strains. · rarity tier Common. Working populations remain in the hands of a small global network — 0+ of them keep programmes on Best of Breed alone.
Cornish (Indian Game), in photographs.
A living plate — community submissions and high-resolution photographs from Wikimedia Commons, sorted by clarity.