City backyard + Cornish = Stupid?

[donrae]

Here's another thought, if you're only raising around 5 or so. You could build a stationary pen, say something like 4 x 8. It wouldn't give them tons of space, but it would be enough. Don't clean it out, just make a deep bedding situation. Add straw or shavings, whatever dry material every day or so. When you're ready to process, that area would be prime to convert into a lovely raised garden bed

. don't know if you have space for that or not, but it's something to think about.

If your honey really wants to do this, I say go for it. It may not be a money saver, but the birds aren't fed any antibiotics and have more space and ability to move than a factory raised CX. You may be able to let your birds out to free range a bit also. It's not always about money, sometimes it's just about the experience. He may do this once and get if out of his system, and it's no real bother or significant expense to you. Plus, chicken dinner is always good!

There shouldn't be any risk to your layers. I've raised small batches of CX with my layers and they do fine. Plus, the CX come from the same hatcheries the layer chicks do. Hatcheries are pretty big on bio security, so I'm never worried about a hatchery chick bringing anything in.

 

[scooter147]

I've raised more Cornish over the years than I care to count.
If butchered around 8 weeks I find it hard to tell the difference between what I raise and those bought at a store.
What I did was just like the one poster mentioned. I raised them to about 10-12 weeks and the last three weeks to a month (depending on weather) I opened the door and let them out to eat grass, scratch, run (yes they can run), flap about and try to be a normal chicken. I think it makes a big difference in the taste and texture of the bird.

I've always said store bought chicken melts in your mouth and only candy should do that.

 

[hellbender]

I've raised more Cornish over the years than I care to count.
If butchered around 8 weeks I find it hard to tell the difference between what I raise and those bought at a store.
What I did was just like the one poster mentioned. I raised them to about 10-12 weeks and the last three weeks to a month (depending on weather) I opened the door and let them out to eat grass, scratch, run (yes they can run), flap about and try to be a normal chicken. I think it makes a big difference in the taste and texture of the bird.

I've always said store bought chicken melts in your mouth and only candy should do that.

I'm not supposed to post on my dad's computer but I can't help myself. In my limited experience, store-bought chicken melts when it cooks and not much is left but strands of what is supposed to be meat that is completely tasteless .....to me.


ETA: Scooter147, I'm assuming you are talking about Cornish X???

Jason

 

[fatcatx]

If your honey really wants to do this, I say go for it. It may not be a money saver, but the birds aren't fed any antibiotics and have more space and ability to move than a factory raised CX. You may be able to let your birds out to free range a bit also. It's not always about money, sometimes it's just about the experience. He may do this once and get if out of his system, and it's no real bother or significant expense to you. Plus, chicken dinner is always good!

This is the conclusion I'm coming to. Ultimately it may not make sense other than letting your significant other scratch an itch. At least dinner will be on the table.

Everyone has given me lots of “food for thought”. I also like the idea that letting them out to be chickens potentially adds flavor. I guess I will give DH the green light and see what comes of it.