First Run of Cornish Cross Meat Birds and Super Excited!

[LindaB220]

Thanks, guys, ready to go. Whew!!

 

[mountain mom]

Jessica- I don't blame you a bit. I don't know that I would be able to either. Likely not. A fall round of meaties sounds like the perfect idea! Even a small one if you still have a full freezer.

I have decided to do two rounds again. I was very hesitant and wanted to just do one in the spring, but I can't do more than 20 at a time. It is just too much for me, and I don't have a great place for them if I do a bigger group. So, I think two batches it will be. But I will start before September this time!

Ralph- I hope your doc didn't catch you!

Last night we had milk braised CX leg quarters. I can't even tell you how delicious this is. Of course the meat is amazing to begin with, but this makes it extra amazing! I may need to get my meaties a bit sooner than I originally anticipated... all this CX talk has had me taking more chicken out of the freezer than usual!

And what on earth do you need a dining room for? I thought it was solely for storing stuff and brooding chicks. And sick bay.

 

[JessicaThistle]

Holm: I agree with Ralph. I forgot to make the comment last night but I totally disagree with the statement that Cornish Cross can't run. Mine ran. Mine ran to me, chased me, ran after bugs and each other. I saw very little of the fat, lazy and disgusting that so many people like to say about CX. When raised correctly, meaning rationed feed and free ranged, these are lovely, active, normal chickens.

Ralph: I hope you weren't busted stocking up on your meds. Haha!

My two chicken-napped pullets were happy as can be this morning scratching and munching up worms as fast as they could. I think they are going to be as fat and sassy as my personal hens in no time. I do plan on smuggling out some more today.

I find the only thing the dining room is good for is chicken hospital and storage. The table has lots of space for my piles of things.

 

[mountain mom]

I am so happy for Ginger and Red! All the hens and pullets will be so happy to finally make it home!

My ladies are so THRILLED the snow is melting away. They are out dust bathing... in mud. The ground is so wet, there isn't any dry dirt. They are desperate for a bath, I guess. They have also been pecking away at all the green grass trying to make it's way through the mud. So happy.
Except Clyde. She is ticked because she is trying to go broody and everyone keeps kicking her out of the one and only nesting box everyone likes to lay in. I am going to have to make her a nice cozy spot that she wants to be in when I have her set on my turkey eggs. I will have to trick her, I think. There are plenty of nest boxes, they are all just crazy.

 

[nj2wv]

Today when I went to the pen in the coop ,where I coop train my birds before letting them free range , the meaties escaped when I opened the door. I had to chase them back in and one of them snuck out the coop door into the run and was eating and drinking with the big ones. For fat and lazy birds they sure had this old lady running this morning. Lol.

 

[holm25]

Holm: I agree with Ralph. I forgot to make the comment last night but I totally disagree with the statement that Cornish Cross can't run. Mine ran. Mine ran to me, chased me, ran after bugs and each other. I saw very little of the fat, lazy and disgusting that so many people like to say about CX. When raised correctly, meaning rationed feed and free ranged, these are lovely, active, normal chickens.

I know they can run... but they cant out run a cow, cuz our milk cow would kill them in a heart beat. I know we feed them to much but my grandpa who helps raise them thinks you should feed animals as much grain as they can eat. Same thing with cows and pigs. But I don't believe animals were meant to eat grain only things they can find foraging.

 

[holm25]

Today when I went to the pen in the coop ,where I coop train my birds before letting them free range , the meaties escaped when I opened the door. I had to chase them back in and one of them snuck out the coop door into the run and was eating and drinking with the big ones. For fat and lazy birds they sure had this old lady running this morning. Lol.

You have to coop train your birds?? I have never done that and they have always went back at night.

 

[JessicaThistle]

I know they can run... but they cant out run a cow, cuz our milk cow would kill them in a heart beat. I know we feed them to much but my grandpa who helps raise them thinks you should feed animals as much grain as they can eat. Same thing with cows and pigs. But I don't believe animals were meant to eat grain only things they can find foraging.

Actually, I think they totally could outrun the cow if not overfed. But you have an uphill battle with Grandpa over that one.

 

[holm25]

Yeah. He drives me nuts.

 

[duluthralphie]

I know they can run... but they cant out run a cow, cuz our milk cow would kill them in a heart beat. I know we feed them to much but my grandpa who helps raise them thinks you should feed animals as much grain as they can eat. Same thing with cows and pigs. But I don't believe animals were meant to eat grain only things they can find foraging.

They would be mush under a cow herd feeding frenzy.

I also know you will never change your Grandpa's mind, I am assuming he is of my generation and when I grew up on a farm you fed an animal all it wanted to eat. It is hard to do, limiting the food intake seems unnatural, but it really works.


I even watch the feed Bert has access too. I feed him low value food and force him to hunt and scratch for his food. Of course, he is trying to become a woman's man and spending more time wooing the girls than eating.