Cornish cross chicks arriving next week

[wolfwalker]

Welp,

Play on words intended

It has been 19 years since I raised meat birds and as i wanted supplemental heat for my greenhouse over the next couple of months, just to keep it above 40 on the rare night we drop to the high 30's I have 25 SR of Welp's Cornish cross broilers coming in next week. as they were the only ones who could meet my arrival date. I will update this post when they arrive and then once a week. they will be placed in the greenhouse 2 weeks after arrival.

I will be following their recommendation of 24 hour light for 5 days with full feed then to return to a normal light cycle and a 12 hour on 12 hour off feed access. I want maximum growth and metabolism as I want the heat produced. During the day they will have access to the outside shade house, which is enclosed with 2x4 field fence with skirting to keep rabbits and deer out. in fact I most likely will move their feeders to the shade house, just to get their butts moving to food. the shade house is 20X100, so they will have plenty of room to roam.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

We have never raised meat chickens, but have talked about it as a possibility one day. I look forward to seeing how yours do.

 

[Ted_Harrell]

Of course keep us informed about your progress with the cornishX

 

[wolfwalker]

Well the post office received my chick shipment at 11:36 am yesterday, and they state I will not receive my chicks until Friday. Here's hoping they are wrong. I will be placing tiny green zip ties around legs of 5 of them to weigh and monitor during this grow out. that way I am always weighing the same ones. will post back when they arrive with pictures.

 

[Acre4Me]

Well the post office received my chick shipment at 11:36 am yesterday, and they state I will not receive my chicks until Friday. Here's hoping they are wrong. I will be placing tiny green zip ties around legs of 5 of them to weigh and monitor during this grow out. that way I am always weighing the same ones. will post back when they arrive with pictures.

Can you go pick them up at the PO?

 

[wolfwalker]

that is when they are supposed to arrive at the post office. I can only hope that they come early they sat in the distribution center in Des Moines 20 hours and some change before departing this morning at 08:42

 

[wolfwalker]

I do like it when the post office estimates are wrong. at 04:43 this morning my phone beeped at me and when I opened txt messages I spotted that my chicks were on their way from the hub an hour away to my post office. (I normally get up at 4 so I was awake) and at 07:43 they arrived at the post office and I was there 5 minutes later.

26 healthy and thirsty chicks arrived. the postmaster told me when they got there she opened the box and counted them as they have had issues with dead chicks arriving in the past. LOL she told me they were hungry. knowing what I ordered that seems a forgone conclusion LOL.

So once they settle in and I have a chance to watch them for a bit, I'll pull 5 random chicks and leg band them and weigh them so I can track the progress.

 

[FortCluck]

I have 21 dual purpose meat chicks that I hatched myself, I'm definitely interested in the weights that you get so I can compare mine.

At 7 days mine were 5 oz

 

[wolfwalker]

As promised. the five have been chosen, banded, (and wasn't that fun and a half) and weighed. and I include the chart for your to see.

 

[FortCluck]

As promised. the five have been chosen, banded, (and wasn't that fun and a half) and weighed. and I include the chart for your to see.View attachment 1959135

Awesome! Thanks