Accidenlty got a meat bird?

[Redhead Rae]

So, do Cornish hens just sit by the food, eat and sleep? I have been starring at the 3 questionable ladies (hope they are ladies!) and they are leaping around a tad, enjoying the stick roost and chasing/pecking with the others in the large bin we have set up? Would a "meat bird" have that much energy? The one is perhaps a little lazier than the other 2.

They are not as nimble as other chickens as they grow and they don't move as fast, but unless you feed them excessive amounts they don't just sit by the feeder and eat, they will act like normal chickens if given a chance.

 

[Redhead Rae]

@Molpet should be able to tell you how feed up Cornish X so they survive longer term. She uses them in breeding programs.

 

[Klsullivan99]

Thank you all for your insights! I have a very sad daughter at the thought that her chicks might get too large to live healthy egg laying lives, but we are going to try to monitor their food and see how they continue to grow next week. Our coop is above the run and requires a ramp/ladder to get into it, so I'm slightly concerned that setup wont work for these 3 if we do keep them.

 

[Klsullivan99]

Thank you all for your insights! I have a very sad daughter at the thought that her chicks might get too large to live healthy egg laying lives, but we are going to try to monitor their food and see how they continue to grow next week. Our coop is above the run and requires a ramp/ladder to get into it, so I'm slightly concerned that setup wont work for these 3 if we do keep them.

 

[Molpet]

@Molpet should be able to tell you how feed up Cornish X so they survive longer term. She uses them in breeding programs.

some of us use them in our sustainable meat bird experiments. Feed restriction and exercise is the key to longevity..

Make sure they have an area big enough to exercise in. They will go a couple hundred ft to look for food if you can let them. Keep the food and water far apart so they have to travel... well unless it's really hot, they need more water than an average bird. I feed fermented feed so they get extra water that way too. https://tikktok.wordpress.com/2014/04/13/fermented-feed-faq/

after a week old feed 2x a day all they can eat in 10-20 min. Yes they will cry for more, but they will forage and keep active. I had 5 cx, 2 barred rocks and 2 meat turkeys together the same age... everyone had restricted feed and, when they were still in the brooder, I took them outside they got a lot of exercise looking for bugs and weeds to fill up on.

keep with layers so they stay active.

they can climb the ramp but will have trouble roosting on a roost more than 4-6" high
the winter is hard on them if they can't get enough exercise, they really pack on the pounds.... kinda like me

 

[Klsullivan99]

some of us use them in our sustainable meat bird experiments. Feed restriction and exercise is the key to longevity..

Make sure they have an area big enough to exercise in. They will go a couple hundred ft to look for food if you can let them. Keep the food and water far apart so they have to travel... well unless it's really hot, they need more water than an average bird. I feed fermented feed so they get extra water that way too. https://tikktok.wordpress.com/2014/04/13/fermented-feed-faq/

after a week old feed 2x a day all they can eat in 10-20 min. Yes they will cry for more, but they will forage and keep active. I had 5 cx, 2 barred rocks and 2 meat turkeys together the same age... everyone had restricted feed and, when they were still in the brooder, I took them outside they got a lot of exercise looking for bugs and weeds to fill up on.

keep with layers so they stay active.

they can climb the ramp but will have trouble roosting on a roost more than 4-6" high
the winter is hard on them if they can't get enough exercise, they really pack on the pounds.... kinda like me

Oh dear..thank you..unfortunately we live in fox land so a huge run wasn't an initial option..all this exercise and space might be tricky..anyone live near Malvern, PA that wants to trade chicks? I'm assuming from the pictures and comments that everyone is confident that I indeed have Cornish cross and my hopes of them being another breed are slightly foolish.

 

[aart]

anyone live near Malvern, PA that wants to trade chicks?

Not sure anyone will give you layer pullets for meat birds, but try in your state chat thread, might be some meat raisers or someone who can take and use them for what they were bred for.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/pennsylvania-unite.248345/page-7394

Sad, kind of, but great opportunity to teach your daughter about where meat comes from. Does she like to eat chicken?

 

[Klsullivan99]

Not sure anyone will give you layer pullets for meat birds, but try in your state chat thread, might be some meat raisers or someone who can take and use them for what they were bred for.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/pennsylvania-unite.248345/page-7394

Sad, kind of, but great opportunity to teach your daughter about where meat comes from. Does she like to eat chicken?

Thanks, I'll send a note in that forum. The "circle of life" lesson is a tough one, she does eat chicken but the conversation about these particular chicks already had her declare that she's not eating these They are her chickie babies ..

 

[Molpet]

Thanks, I'll send a note in that forum. The "circle of life" lesson is a tough one, she does eat chicken but the conversation about these particular chicks already had her declare that she's not eating these They are her chickie babies ..

the first ones are always special... shame it had to happen

 

[aart]

They are her chickie babies ..

I love my chicky babies too, but I also appreciate grilled cockerel.
But pretty hard for a kid...how old is she?