Cornish game hen

Cornish game hen (also Rock Cornish game hen) is the USDA-approved name for variety of broiler chicken, produced from a cross between the Cornish and White Plymouth Rock chicken breeds, that is served young and immature, weighing no more than two pounds (900 g) ready to cook.[1][2]

A Cornish game hen ready for the oven
Baked Cornish game hen with vegetables
A roasted Cornish game hen

Despite the name, the Cornish game hen is not a game bird and can be either male or female. Bred to develop a large breast over a short period of time,[2] the fowl weighs roughly 2.5 pounds (1.1 kilograms) when slaughtered at four to six weeks of age[2] and typically commands a higher price per pound than mature chicken.

History

The Saturday Evening Post credits Alphonsine "Therese" and Jacques Makowsky of Connecticut with developing the small fowl in the mid-1950s. The couple crossbred Cornish game cocks with other varieties of chicken and game bird, including the White Plymouth Rock hen and the Malayan fighting cock, to produce a succulent bird suitable for a single serving.[3] The musician and comedian Victor Borge was an early investor in and promoter of the concept,[4] leveraging his personal popularity to transform the dish from an exotic menu item into a common household meal.

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References
  1. "70.201 Chickens". United States Classes, Standards, and Grades for Poultry AMS 70.200 et seq. Effective September 5, 2002 (PDF). United States Department of Agriculture. p. 3.
  2. "What is a Cornish Hen?" Ochef.com. Accessed July 2011.
  3. Doyle, Jim (December 1, 2005). "Te Makowsky - original breeder of the Rock Cornish game hen". The San Francisco Chronicle.
  4. Palmer-Skok, Virginia (2013). "The Danish Clown Prince". Legendary Locals of Southbury. Arcadia Publishing. p. 46. ISBN 9781467100687.
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