Anyone ever have success at keeping a Cornish Cross as a "pet??"

[AudraBrooke]

Some people have suggested withholding feed to slow the growth down. Might sound cruel but if it's for the health of the animal I think that's a reasonable measure.

I had a couple once and one of them broke its femur under its weight. Didn't know it until I got under the hood or I would have ended it sooner. The other did ok up until the end.

Is it ok to food restrict all of them?? I have read that you should make food available to your chickens at all times some places and then others have said you don't have to. They will all be together so would it be ok to feed them all on a restricted time schedule than to have it available all the time?

 

[LizStreithorst]

I have one that I rescued when it fell out of the truck on the way to the processing plant. She was in very poor condition with round worms and mites. I hoped that I could integrate her with my laying flock but she prefers to be inside. I make her go out during the day, but at night she sleeps in my fish room which has a concrete floor. I recently quit feeding her almost entirely so that she will eat green stuff outside. She just laid her second egg today. Her name is Sweetie.

I will do her in when the time comes but for now she's happy and healthy.

 

[jolenesdad]

How much free ranging will you be giving your birds... or are they going to be in a run situation? This will change what and how much you can feed your other birds... and also will be a huge factor in how long your Cornish can live comfortably, but there are absolutely exceptions to the “Cornish can’t love more than a few months” rule.

I would keep her if you can range them. I would also keep my heart and mind open. It’s not a very far stretch from where you are st now to having her processed if that’s the right choice for her and for you to be in an okay and maybe even a good place with it. I just had my very first meat chickens processed today. I’ve nwver done so in my life, and my chickens are pets. I treated them as such because I want my food to be the happiest and healthiest it can be because I’m still going to eat chicken. I had an enormous appreciation and respect for my meaties.

Whatever you choose is absolutely fine, and I’m sorry you are in this spot without choosing to be in it. I would give it a go to give her the best life that you can. You mentioned that you have friends that raised meaties. Did they process them? I bring that up so that you will have a plan, there may (and likely will) come a time that she is uncomfortable and/or hurting and needs to be dispatched. They could help. It’s a sad reality for all chicken keepers that there are times we need to be able to do this.

 

[AudraBrooke]

The area we live in is unfortunately not a good area to free range. Keeping this in mind we built the structure they live in to 15x10 feet so it’s I believe quite suitable or our small group of 4 hens.

 

[jolenesdad]

That area is absolutely suitable for 4 hens, but I would personally worry that without actual free ranging, the Cornish will not be able to keep from growing. The food resources available in that space will be quickly consumed so you will need to provide food.

Perhaps someone with more specific feed experience will chime in for your layers, but you will have to be on a very very regimented feeding program and will have to figure out how your Cornish doesn’t consume the rations for the other birds.

One additional question, are you sure the Cornish is a hen?

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

The area we live in is unfortunately not a good area to free range. Keeping this in mind we built the structure they live in to 15x10 feet so it’s I believe quite suitable or our small group of 4 hens.

Is your run covered?
Cornish cross can be kept in a layer flock. She has grown up around non Cornish cross chickens so far and that is a good thing. Put up some low roosts and log stumps so that she will start to build her wing muscles up from jumping up to them. Do deep litter in your run to encourage scratching and foraging.
Good luck with your Cornish cross.

 

[AudraBrooke]

Is your run covered?
Cornish cross can be kept in a layer flock. She has grown up around non Cornish cross chickens so far and that is a good thing. Put up some low roosts and log stumps so that she will start to build her wing muscles up from jumping up to them. Do deep litter in your run to encourage scratching and foraging.
Good luck with your Cornish cross.

Yes it is covered with first chicken wire and then a slanted metal roofing. I am in the process of making a few “chicken gym perches” for them to climb on and I made a chicken swing for them and have a large tire filled for a dust bath that they like to sit on the eggs of.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Yes it is covered with first chicken wire and then a slanted metal roofing. I am in the process of making a few “chicken gym perches” for them to climb on and I made a chicken swing for them and have a large tire filled for a dust bath that they like to sit on the eggs of.

Sounds good. Also dumping your grass clippings into the run and tossing in a head of lettuce once a week will allow them all to get some greens.

 

[AudraBrooke]

Sounds good. Also dumping your grass clippings into the run and tossing in a head of lettuce once a week will allow them all to get some greens.

Will do!

 

[AudraBrooke]

I think I may try and restrict their feedings I'm just worried about not feeding the ENOUGH. I guess I'll need to do some research to make sure I'm giving them enough to be happy/healthy chickens.

I may put my Cornish in to her coop for a few minutes when I do feed to make sure she doesn't get the majority of the food and the others not get enough...and then let her out to join after a little while? That might be the best way to do it with the living situations I've got.

My friends that do raise meat chickens do so to process them for their consumption and I would assume they would gladly help us out by taking her off our hands when the time comes that she does not seem to enjoy life any more....but until that time comes I hope to give her the best life that we can!