First Run of Cornish Cross Meat Birds and Super Excited!

[mountain mom]

Well I had a whole page of comments... then it disappeared. Great. I guess I will just say this:

Dpenning- I imagine in Texas you will still have plenty of time to grow out a batch before it gets too cold! If you remember, we were processing in the snow, then had to butcher inside because it was freezing the meat outside. But that is Colorado. And it was November.

Jessica- How sad!!! Do you plan on butchering any of your older layers? Or just hand them off to that one guy? Or keep them a while?

Holm- I think you know everyone here had such a different experience with the CX. I wonder if the different hatcheries have enough difference in their lines that it affects how they behave? Also, mine were not fatty at all.

On my Legbar quest: I went to the feed store to place my meatie order and inquired about the billion dollar birds. You will not believe, they sold every singe one they had and even put people on a waitlist for the next time they can get them! They even had people as far as Nebraska drive out here for them. Looks like I will not be getting my grubby little paws on inexpensive ones anytime soon. I will be getting two Orloff babies though... on Friday!

Ralph- How is Death's doorstep treating you? You getting any better?

Linda- Good luck tomorrow!

 

[KCMOLisa]

Mine also were not fatty. In fact, they had almost no fat at all on them. I am actually thinking about giving them more corn the last couple of weeks this time because I would like to have a little more fat. When I used to buy thighs from the store, I always had to trim a bunch of fat off before cooking them. With these, these is none to be trimmed off. I am interested to see if you think the other breed is better. I was thinking of trying some just for comparison, but with the longer grow-out time and the higher price for chicks, I don't really think it would be worth it for me personally.

 

[nj2wv]

My CX are getting big but not too big. I put them out in the coop pen today. Next week they will start free ranging. If I remember I will post a picture tomorrow. I didn't over feed them and they are very active. They even fly.

 

[LindaB220]

I am sorry I have been gone, I think I have rolled off deaths door step and am now lying on the ground below the steps....  I have  not been following much.  That is a topper, or as I like to call them  "God's perfect chicken coop", for something that easy to use and functions so well has to be made by the hand of God....


Or as the county zoning office calls them " trash, you should get rid of"   I actually plan to get more of them they work so well!


I will catch up when I am feeling better..take care all

Hey,hon, we sound in the same boat. Ater being sick for four days, I'm better. Blood work was done today and surgery is tomorrow. Being sick meant that I was unable to do ALL the last minute chores and ordering. In the hands of SIL Clint for the next couple of months. (at least)

Everybody take care of yourselves. Group hug!!!! I'' keep in touch.

 

[dpenning]

Hey,hon, we sound in the same boat. Ater being sick for four days, I'm better. Blood work was done today and surgery is tomorrow. Being sick meant that I was unable to do ALL the last minute chores and ordering. In the hands of SIL Clint for the next couple of months. (at least)

Everybody take care of yourselves. Group hug!!!! I'' keep in touch.

Listen to the Docs and the physical therapists, they know that of which they speak! Good luck.

 

[Turkeytruff]

When you bring me a cashiers check for the eggs, you can call me anything you want.....


Barmates, I am getting sick, I think I am dying, not sure. MY wife had a little cold and whined about it last week, I have it now, and true to form I am getting it way worse than she did. My chest is tight. I used the last of my peppermint schnapps batting it.

My wife refused to go get me another bottle. I am way too sick to drive... OH Poor me...


I hope to recover, I really need your sympathy my wife is giving me none.......oh woe is me....

Thanks in advance for your concern..

I am putting eggs in on the 10th or 11th, which should get me fuzz balls on the 31st or 1st...


MM, There is very good scientific reason why men get sicker than women.

Virus are sex linked. They can attach themselves to cells with either X or Y chromosomes, but not both.
Now you would think this means men and women get the same number of viruses. BUT it is way more complicated than that. When identifying viruses scientists have found 90% of all viruses can only attach themselves to Y chromosomes.

Therefore a man gets 9 viruses to every one a woman gets, making men 9 times sicker than a woman and of course lengthening our time being ill. It is a burden we as men have to bear, but most of us do it without whining or complaining. We are just our normal stoic selves.




Maggie, Do not try to sneak an extra drink when Jessica is not here. MM and myself are in charge of the alcohol, for security reason, when she is gone.

what a burden you men have to bear!

My DH and I have just had what is called the 100 day cold up here. What he calls 'a river of snot' - I swear the makers of Kleenex and other tissues put out these viruses to keep their stock prices up every winter...

Okay. My picture of you is completely wrong, Holm! I totally thought you to be a mid 30's to late 40's guy.
So if you are unable to drive, why are you chatting with us here in the middle of the day on a school day?! I sure hope you are homeschooled and not skipping class to chat with a bunch of old people about chickens and turkeys.

Ralph, Linda and Turkeytruff- NEVER tell me what you look like. My mind can't handle these types of things.

think scary movies.....mwhaahaha....

I am sorry I have been gone, I think I have rolled off deaths door step and am now lying on the ground below the steps.... I have not been following much. That is a topper, or as I like to call them "God's perfect chicken coop", for something that easy to use and functions so well has to be made by the hand of God....


Or as the county zoning office calls them " trash, you should get rid of" I actually plan to get more of them they work so well!


I will catch up when I am feeling better..take care all

thanks for the info on the topper. Are soft toppers called tonneau covers down there?
I really think an intravenous infusion of the snapps may be required by now if conservative measures aren't working for you.....


So I am kind of cheating sneaking on this forum because I don't have cornish x meat birds. But I love reading about all your stuff going on and you guys crack me up. Mine's a stiff gin and tonic at the grill please.

I now have 30 chicks, half of which are meat birds, blathering in my ear - 6 out under a broody bantam that have managed not to kill themselves although one did jump into a dogbowl full of water only I saw it in time and pulled it out. I have 2 overly curious 8 month old blue slate turkey hens that the momma freaks out over whenever they get too close to inspect these new additions to the flock.
5 are 16 day old wild Mistral Gris hooligans that I am putting out in a large pen daily when it's warm enough and back in a box at night in my dining room. And I have 19 1-5 day old chicks that are sleeping in another box in the corner. Yes I'm crazy but I am fortunate that my DH aids and abets my addiction

Doesn't everyone have chickens in their kitchen dining room?

 

[JessicaThistle]

NOW THIS IS THE CONVERSATION THAT I HAVE MISSED! I don't like mindless drivel but yay! My peeps stepped it up!! LOVE IT! Yes, I'm yelling but I'm excited!

Linda: You may not see this before you surgery but I will be thinking of you lady. Hurry up and get back here to the B&G.

MM: At home I don't have any old layers. My hens are now just about a year old. As for old hens at the farm, yes, we will eventually butcher some. I won't do it. The guy that buys them to sell for soup stock will. Even though I haven't raised these chickens from chicks, it is still an emotional thing for me. They have lived a life that I wouldn't let my own hens grow up in and while I have to accept it, I can't line my freezer with them. I don't think that I could buy another chicken from a store either after what I have learned. I really have to separate the emotions so that I can do business here as cold as that sounds. These old non-laying hens will have to exit stage left so that I can make things right. I have begun checking and tagging laying and potentially non-laying hens. It sucks. They are all really sweet.

Egg business news:

Yesterday we had our first chick escape. I heard a scream from my daughter and she ran in telling me to hurry. A chick had escaped the brooder house and the older hens were chasing it. Of course, mom had to come to the rescue and today, dad had to fix the problem. They also got roosts and more space. They are SO happy!

So I told you last week that I was buying a large coop/run that I would be bringing my pullet group to. Well the coop is here, stained to match my main coop AND I chicken-napped two of my pullets to come home with me. I told you about Ginger, the very social pullet that followed me around. She came home today. I also had another pullet that kept escaping. I call her Red. You would put her back in her pen and within 3 minutes, she would fly over and escape. The guy we are buying the biz from had just opened the older girls pen and put her in there. They were nice to her and she felt like she belonged there. I tried to contain her back in the pullet pen but she wouldn't stay. Therefore, she came home today too! She wanted to leave so bad that she just needed to be home.

I let them out in their new run. It is right on the corner of the huge compose pile that we have. These two were immediately in heaven! They began scratching and enjoying chicken life right away. They seemed super happy when I checked on them at dark and put a small light on for them.

Tomorrow I plan on grabbing 10-20 to bring home.

I think if we get all settled and I need more chickens in the freezer for winter, I may do a late batch of cx in late July or August if things are all settled with the layers all at home. My hubby doesn't know this yet. Hehe

 

[JessicaThistle]

So I am kind of cheating sneaking on this forum because I don't have cornish x meat birds. But I love reading about all your stuff going on and you guys crack me up. Mine's a stiff gin and tonic at the grill please.

Doesn't everyone have chickens in their kitchen dining room?

Turkeytruff: You are perfectly welcome here. We just need great chicken conversation and the willingness to support and give advice to others raising chickens and especially cornish cross.

We have plenty of gin and tonic to serve up for you at the grill!

My chickens have all been raised up on the coffee table in the living room. Who needs a dining room?

 

[Turkeytruff]

hear hear - hic!

 

[duluthralphie]

Welcome to the bar Turkeytruff.

Jessica. I think a batch of CX's later makes good sense.

I was going to set eggs today, but between being sick and the "diamond encrusted" chickens not laying eggs, I am not sure if I will.

The chickens are kind of on auto pilot while I am down. I went out collected eggs and let Bert in and out of his coop. I am forced to let the other chickens come and go at will. I hate it, they like it. I am praying if something gets in the coop the birds just stay high and away from it. My DW would normally lock up my birds and I would owe her two major favors and a minor one for her doing it, but she has been nearly as sick as I am.

Bert is so smart! I have to keep the feed area of the coop where he sleeps locked during the day, or the other birds mess with my timer and make a mess in there, preferring to scratch for food amongst the fed then the leaves outside. As soon as I open the door Bert runs out. When I open it in the evening he runs back in and jumps up on his roost ( I changed his roost from a feed bag to a bag of chips.)

Last night he made a short side trip on the way to the coop, he saw a barred rock hen he fancied, alas that was not to be. It appears it was one sided lust. When he grabbed the back of her head to mount, she squawked and broke free inside of complying. It is so funny watching Bert in action. He is just like a regular chicken, He forages and hangs with the other birds al day, Even though he would sit by the feeder if I kept it full for him.

Because of Bert being Bert, I only keep layer mash inside the coop. I just scratch feed the rest of the birds and make them forage now that the snow is gone. I have a feeder outside but I only partially fill it with just cracked/mashed corn. Not much protein.


Holms, I had lots of fat on the first batch of CX's last summer, The second batch had very little. If you had a lot, I am guessing you gave them more feed than they needed, I know it seems weird but, I found I did not have to feed a of protein or expensive feed to the CX's to get good results. The less I fed them the more they wandered, the cleaner they were and the bigger then got.

Speaking of big, I wish I had a platform scale, Bert must be 25 pounds, I hope he does not hurt one of my little EE with his attempts to be Don Juan. Some of my EE, I bet do not go 3 pounds they ae so small. It is amazing such a small bid can ay such big eggs.


Well, I think I mentioned everything, my nebulizer treatment is over, I loaded up on codeine cough syrup, only thing left ti do is change my nose tampon and go back to bed.

Take care..........

PS. I had to forgo my preferred cold treatment last night ( Cinnamon Schnapps and Peppermint schnapps with a little 7-up and orange juice) The doc did not think I should mix the two. But what does she know??????



Speaking of which, I saw the doc at 7 am yesterday, she gave me my prescriptions, told me go home rest, and do not drive after taking them.......Well, I am not always that good at following directions.....

I decided I needed some orange juice and I had ran out of schnapps.......So I went to get some.... I got my stuff I needed and wheel the cart to the checkout,,,,,,,and as luck would have it the Doc was ahead of me in line..............Luckily she was looking the other way, so I just kept my back to her and got my stuff........


I will know for sure if I got away with it on Thursday when I go see her again,.......