Can cornish giants or crosses stand freezing temps?

[jgagnon]

Hi. I most unfortunately lost 35 (all but 8) of my 10 week old cornish giants yesterday thanks to an incredibly hot heat wave we are having. Darnit darnit darnit!

Im wondering if I ordered a new batch right now (assuming they will be finished mid October) can they withstand the cold? First frost dat is usually beginning of October here in the north.

Would CC be better than giants?

Thanks. Jaclyn.

 

[miss_thenorth]

When they are big, they can withstand freezing temps. At least mine did. Last year I processed one batch in October, and we had several nights of freezing temps.

 

[cassie]

All chickens (except liitle babies) can withstand cold a lot better than heat. We don't even try to raise meaties in the heat.

 

[jaku]

WOW! You lost 35 in one day?! Oh, that's just awful. To answer your question, yes, they will do fine in the cold, and if you're worried, just put a heat lamp out with them. I'm in Michigan, and I'll order my fall batch for around the the middle of August, and finish them in the middle of October.

 

[jgagnon]

Thanks alot!
I will be ordering some tomorrow. They wont get here till end of August...but we gotta do what we gotta do

 

[jaku]

I just found out I'll be having frozen birds this year too. I have a week long training on the other side of the state at the end of September, so I won't get to start my birds til after then. I'm NOT looking forward to processing at the end of November!!