8 Weeks Old...White...Fat Legs...Won't Perch...Lay Around...Huge

[rckirby]

The one at the feeder is your only pullet. The others are most definitely cockerels.

That's what I was afraid of. We have some decisions to make around here!

 

[eviemethugh]

I have, more than once, seen the painfully uneducated tractor supply employees trying to sell cornish x to a customer clearly wanting egg layers only. It IS the fault and responsibility of tractor supply. They should have some responsibility for the animals they sell and the customers who count on them to help make the right choice for their family.

I bought cornish x last year for meat. I carefully restricted feeding and they free ranged with my laying hens. They were HUGE. But they were very healthy. I got 6 and ened up with three roosters and three hens. I only managed to butcher one. It was so painful and hard for me. I gave some away. But I kept one rooster. Big Meanie Meatie was his name. It didn't really fit, he was precious. He died in March, barely over a year old, but he did have a good life. He was in love with my Brown Leghorn hen and the feeling was mutual. They spent every day side by side. I wanted him to go to sleep peacefully sitting in a patch of flowers but it didn't happen that way. He died during a horrible storm just inside the door of the doghouse he used for shelter...I am assuming it was a heart attack. But for a meatie he lived a long, happy life. I miss that big guy. Sorry for the super long story. I was looking at pics of him last night and feeling sad so I just wanted to share.

The most beautiful chicken love story I've ever read. I choked up a bit. The poor leghorn! I hope she isn't lonely.

And Duluth ralphie s post is the most helpful as far as the HOW in keeping CX

 

[duluthralphie]

I should mention when keeping CX's every day is a challenge. Be prepared to lose them, we fight genetics by keeping them alive. I just got home and saw Bert. I have been gone for over 3 weeks.

He perks up and waddles over when I call him. I will miss him when he is gone, but I am 90% positive he will not make it to winter. Maybe I will get some good keepers out of my next batch.

I figure they outlive goldfish and are a lot more fun. Petting a goldfish was never very satisfying.

 

[thegawd]

goldfish should live 30 years if kept right... not many people keep them right though. bowls are a death sentence.

 

[dekel18042]

goldfish should live 30 years if kept right... not many people keep them right though. bowls are a death sentence.

I've had the same goldfish for 16 years. They were about 3 inches long when I got them. How old do you think they are?

 

[MysteriaSdrassa]

I have to mostly agree with others have posted here. Generally roos of Cornish Xs do not live very long,, even with highly limited diets. They are just so big and it seams that there hearts give out fast. Hens on the other hand can live fairly long lives and lay fairly well. They won't pump out eggs like some breeds but will, in my experience, lay every other day, even in winter. If you decide to keep the hen you will have to really watch her diet and kinda "force" her to find a lot of her own food free ranging,, the exercise is good for her.

 

[duluthralphie]

I have to mostly agree with others have posted here. Generally roos of Cornish Xs do not live very long,, even with highly limited diets. They are just so big and it seams that there hearts give out fast. Hens on the other hand can live fairly long lives and lay fairly well. They won't pump out eggs like some breeds but will, in my experience, lay every other day, even in winter. If you decide to keep the hen you will have to really watch her diet and kinda "force" her to find a lot of her own food free ranging,, the exercise is good for her.

This is the same thing I do with Bert. I do not dare et him run with the "real" chickens or he will gorge himself at the feeder.

 

[duluthralphie]

Here is a picture of a "Toad".

I have white toads and barred toads.

The white toads seem to grow faster and have bigger breasts. They also have less feathers.





These are Bert's my Cx's babies. They are not sterile as you can see. with the white one there is no doubt it looks like a CX. All the birds are the same age in these pictures. Even the turkeys which the Toads out grow.