Are we Cornish Rocks? *UPDATE PG 13*

[Robin'sBrood]

The kids and I talked it over and we've made our final decision - we're definitely going to keep the pullets and re-home the cockerels. Thanks for all the help with identifying the breed, I'll keep y'all updated with Ethel & Maude's progress.

 

[the_great_snag]

My sister had some broiler birds a couple years ago that she was too lazy to butcher. She ended up keeping them for several months before finally selling them to someone as live birds. They got very very large and had legs like tree trunks! lol

They were kept on free range and were not given any commercial feed. She has a very large property for them to roam and no predator issues... anyway...

You could try holding them if you want, and they may do ok on a free range diet, but they will still not live as long as standard breed birds, and if you hold them too long they will have no usefulness for meat either...

 

[Robin'sBrood]

Yeah, I know they probably won't live very long. I've explained that to my kids and they understand that it's a breed thing and a fact of life for this kind of chicken.
I'm not "too lazy" to butcher them, just too tender hearted. But, the way I look at it... they're going to die somehow and I would rather that they get to live the good life of a chicken... where they can eat bugs, sun bathe and roll in the dirt... even if it's just for a short time. I wish I could keep the boys too, but I already have a grown roo and there is no way I can keep any more that crow. But, the cockerels are 5 weeks old already and will probably be with me for another week or so, so.... life is better than what it would have been for them if they had ended up as, say, Tyson chickens.

 

[Brunty_Farms]

They are fun to have as adults... if they are able to free range and as long as you keep them active they will be fine. They will live a couple years or more if you keep them moving.

Good luck.... I wanna see pics in like 2 months!!

 

[Robin'sBrood]

I won't be able to free range them but once they're big enough to integrate into the adult flock, they'll have a 32' x 12' run to do their chicken thing in. I hope that will be enough room for them to live happy lives.

 

[Brunty_Farms]

Ya I don't see why not. They might not roost though you may have to keep a spot for them on the floor. They may try though it just depends on how big they get.

 

[Robin'sBrood]

My CRs woke up to find some new freedom today... they've inherited the old run from my adult chickens, which gives them a lot more room.

8 weeks old and checking out the new ground.

With my sweet DD (who is in her PJs.)

The way they normally look, head down, EATING.

 

[raroo]

AWWWW, they look GREAT!

You've done a good job with these guys, they look so healthy and clean, and in good shape! I like the roo, he is super cute! Wow they are some lucky birds, they should have no problem making it to your 6 month goal and beyond! I just love cornish X, they will always hold a tender spot in my heart! Big sweet gentle giants that they are

George likes to sit beside me on the grass, she gets as close as possible and nibbles the grass while I pet her back and wings, and then she wipes her beak on my leg and tugs at my sweater, she's so CUTE!!! Greta likes to explore more but she always comes back for a pet and a chest scratch and sits on my lap. They are such dolls.

Your chicks have that same sweet expression in their eyes, they are lovely!

 

[Southerngirl]

Pearl was our gentle Cornish X that we had kept because my oldest son named her. She was from our first batch of broilers that we had purchased from McMurray Hatchery. She lived for about 3 years and finally passed on from congestive heart failure in the southern summertime. She was happy, and could actually fly up 3 feet to roost in the hen house !! She weighed a good 12 pounds possibly more . Enjoy them !

 

[Robin'sBrood]

My 4 are still doing great. They love to take dust baths in their run. They're still up on their legs and are still able to run (as in towards me when I have food.

)
I looked out today and saw one of the girls scratching in the dirt just like any other chicken. I guess since I nearly starve them they've figured out they they're going to have to dig a little for some buggy snacks.