Recent content by ccr

  1. ccr

    31/2 week old meat chicks seem cold....

    Thanks Brunty_Farms for all your information! These birds were all vaccinated for Coccidiosis and Mareks - so it shouldnt be that. As they were vaccinated, they did not get medicated feed. I have been told by Rochester too (the hatchery I got them from) that it is heart attacks. However, I have...
  2. ccr

    Canadians check in here....

    I'm on Vancouver Island in B.C. - ANYONE know of anywhere else other than Rochester that has a good selection of Heritage breeds OR good breeders in B.C. where I can get some young pullets????? I want to add up to 10 layers to my flock and would like Heritage breeds......anyone???? Help!????
  3. ccr

    Canadian Ontario Hatchery?

    I'm in B.C. and out of those hatcheries, dont seem to have any choice other than Rochester who I order from regularly but wish I had somewhere else to go. I am happy with the stock and delivery pretty much through Rochester, but I do not find them helpful in the slightest. Their phone staff...
  4. ccr

    do meat birds start crowing before they are ready to dress out?

    Yup, you will have some crowing going on starting around 7 weeks - it is one of my signs to know they are ready to go in! I take mine in at 8 weeks to and the boys are just starting to crow - sounds weird as it is not a full crow, just the beginnings.
  5. ccr

    31/2 week old meat chicks seem cold....

    Hi everyone, Nope, I dont have any cedar in my shavings - it actually is hard to get cedar shavings here and our property has a creek running through it and they will not deliver cedar shavings as it can kill fish in the creek. I am beginning to think that perhaps I am just paying for not...
  6. ccr

    31/2 week old meat chicks seem cold....

    Well I'm still losing chicks. They are 4 weeks old on Wednesday, pretty much fully feathered and still dying. I hear a lot of sneezing among them, they do have ample ventilation and new shavings everyday (I do not remove any, just add more) . I have witnessed one die - very violent death -...
  7. ccr

    31/2 week old meat chicks seem cold....

    Thanks for the reply! So, do you think I should delay letting them out? They have such short lives to begin with, I like to see them have as much time as possible out in the grass and sun! I have the door open for them today, but as I said, none of them want out. I have turned one of the three...
  8. ccr

    31/2 week old meat chicks seem cold....

    Hi all, I have raised meat birds before and never had the problems I have had this time. I have lost 17 I think - just lost 5 this morning. We are having colder weather than usual right now - still frosting overnight - so I have three heat lamps instead of the usual two on them. By now, I...
  9. ccr

    Sexing meat birds

    Deb, Okay chicks are three weeks old now. All have combs, but on some I also see wattles coming in - can I say these are boys? I am also quite amazed by the size difference at this age - hens seem bigger! However, I did read in the Rochester Hatchery book that the boys do put more energy into...
  10. ccr

    Help with my cornish x rocks...

    I reduce their feed intake at 3 weeks. They have free choice 20% starter until 3 weeks, then I go down to 18% and feed an ice cream bucket full for every 50 birds a.m. and p.m. (1 gallon/4 litres) Make sure you have ample feeders so they dont fight or overcrowd and everybody can get food. I...
  11. ccr

    Help with my cornish x rocks...

    ameador - mine are about the same age as yours now, they are 2 weeks old today. I worry a bit if they are panting at this age - although I have noticed a couple of mine are. This breed grows fast and eats a lot, so it is hard on their hearts and legs (which is one of the reasons they dont move...
  12. ccr

    McMurray Cornish Roasters

    I havent bought from McMurray, but I get Cornish Giants from Rochester (same birds I think) and I give them free choice until 3 weeks, then limit their intake as they will eat themselves to death. From 3 weeks until slaughter I feed am and pm and provide clean water, lush pasture and some hen...
  13. ccr

    Yum Yum vs. Wow what a great personality!

    Well, it is a topic that is hard....I raise Cornish meat birds and that is what they are - meat birds - as others have said, they are only meant to live so long...we slaughter at 8-9 weeks. I have had a couple moments where taking them to slaughter was harder than other times. During the...
  14. ccr

    Sexing meat birds

    Thanks Deb. I know, there lives are short...especially for the game hens, but I make their lives as good as possible for that short time - lots of fresh air, green grass, dust baths, running and playing...and ofcourse lots of the best food I can get my hands on! I actually put leg bands on...
  15. ccr

    Sexing meat birds

    I put this under raising chicks and then saw this section! I raise Cornish Giant Broilers, but this year I am also doing Cornish Game Hens. So, I need to be able to sex these chicks by 4-5 weeks to pick out just hens for the Cornish Game Hens. I cant remember from last year if they show...
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