First Run of Cornish Cross Meat Birds and Super Excited!

[JessicaThistle]

MM: Just take them all. I am considering doing just that when chicks days are nearing the end around here. The feed store does buy 1 chick get 2 free. What a steal...er, deal!! Last year there was close to 100 or more left in the final days when I saw that deal. I was game for more but my hubby said no. I think he is wishing that he'd gone for it now since we really need the eggs. I think he is game this time especially if there is a large enough number of chicks to make sense. He said there needs to be at least 100-150 before he thinks we should do it. I love this man! He is a keeper!

There was a lovely little pale egg in the silkie nest today. Kinda looked like the color of Sunny's egg. It didn't really look like the eggs my other girls lay, so maybe she has blessed me with that little gift.

UPDATE:
I smuggled 10 more pullets home for a total of 41 now. I am also getting little eggs each day from them. They seem so happy scratching and pecking around. I LOVE it!

The chicks are enjoying their new outdoor space as well! The sunshine helps as they like to lay out in it. They are too cute!

Some of the parts finally came in for our chicken tractor structure. Of course not all of it because that would have been too freakin easy right? Hopefully the rest show up tomorrow and we can get on with the show this weekend!! I haven't called those people like but I have been secretly considering it. I haven't told my hubby. He doesn't like it when I intervene. Well, he's too darn nice and this is why things don't get done as they should, in my opinion!

Sometimes you just have to let the crazy redhead take care of business, I tell ya!

 

[nj2wv]

They are very agile when young....

When they get to be Bert's size they are still active but are less agile. Bert roosts on a wood chip bale. He  is still able to leap the 18 inches in a single bound!    I do try to help him down so he does not break a leg. But somedays he is down before I open the door for him.

I do not call him a meatball anymore, he is more like a meatloaf..

That's funny. Meatloaf !! I worry about leg issues the way they jump around. It's like kids with new sneakers when they get to run around outdoors after being in a brooder. I am hoping that they instinctively know their limits and will only jump and fly around what they can handle.

 

[nj2wv]

We have an Australian Shepherd who cleans up pretty well after 8 birds... he leaves the especially gross ones on the ground though.
Then I have to clean up after him... not so sure we have a win here.

I have broken through the tough exterior of my sweet husband.  He just proposed an amazing coop/brooding plan for the meaties and turkeys.  He still doesn't know there are chicks accompanying me home from the grocery tomorrow...  BUT, I am convinced Keadis will be an excellent mother.  At least I want her to be.  She is totally trying to start a clutch of eggs.  So adorable.  Surprise, tomorrow your non-existent clutch will have hatched!!  If there is a hen that would protect chicks, it will be her.

On the chick front:  I have decided to let my kids each choose one type, I will choose one as well.  I want to bring home 4, but will settle for 3.  I think that will go over better... arguing a dying rate and all... while I expect all to thrive.  I really hope my hubby never reads this... all my secrets will be revealed.
My daughter is leaning towards a silver grey dorking or a barnevelder or maybe a cream barabanter.  Sorry, I am too lazy at this point in the day to do capitals.  Who knows what my son wants, he will decide tomorrow.  Probably picking a cute chick.  Total dude, that one.  I will choose a Russian orloff, if their legs are yellow, or a copper marans.  Those are better priced than the diamond chickens.  $15 as opposed to the NOW $70.  I CAN'T BELIEVE ANY OF THIS.  The cream legbars were so successful, they ordered somehow more fancy, more diamond encrusted ones. 

Almost a month and my meaties will be in!!!

DoubleKindness- you have copper marans, right?!  Maybe we can make a deal?  If you are ready for CX by mid April, I will drive them (aka my hubby and I will bring them down to you) for only the chick cost from the feed store, if we could come home with a Marans roo?!

I think my dh might have reached his limit. I have about 100 outside and 100 inside and his no was a little more serious when I asked about getting another cackle surprise. If they were cats I would be the crazy cat lady and be on the news. But they are chickens so i can call it a chicken farm. We do eat the roosters and sell the eggs , chicks and hens too.

 

[nj2wv]

MM:  Just take them all.  I am considering doing just that when chicks days are nearing the end around here.  The feed store does buy 1 chick get 2 free.  What a steal...er, deal!!  Last year there was close to 100 or more left in the final days when I saw that deal.  I was game for more but my hubby said no.  I think he is wishing that he'd gone for it now since we really need the eggs.  I think he is game this time especially if there is a large enough number of chicks to make sense.  He said there needs to be at least 100-150 before he thinks we should do it.  I love this man!  He is a keeper!

There was a lovely little pale egg in the silkie nest today.  Kinda looked like the color of Sunny's egg.  It didn't really look like the eggs my other girls lay, so maybe she has blessed me with that little gift.

UPDATE:
I smuggled 10 more pullets home for a total of 41 now.  I am also getting little eggs each day from them.  They seem so happy scratching and pecking around.  I LOVE it!

The chicks are enjoying their new outdoor space as well!  The sunshine helps as they like to lay out in it.  They are too cute!

Some of the parts finally came in for our chicken tractor structure.  Of course not all of it because that would have been too freakin easy right?  Hopefully the rest show up tomorrow and we can get on with the show this weekend!!  I haven't called those people like but I have been secretly considering it.  I haven't told my hubby.  He doesn't like it when I intervene.  Well, he's too darn nice and this is why things don't get done as they should, in my opinion!  

Sometimes you just have to let the crazy redhead take care of business, I tell ya!  

That is good you brought more home. Are you bringing them all home ?

 

[duluthralphie]

I crawled around the barnyard today finding where to put my new pens. I think I placed 4-5 more, which I badly need.


I thought I had a turkey hen attacked by and eagle, I saw her lying by a tree all ragged and twitching..... Then as I got closer I saw she was just enjoying a dirt bath. It amazes me how into their baths they get.

Everywhere I went that little flirty White rock followed me. I swear she is a reincarnated dog. When I went out the door I was not 30 ft off the steps when she came running to me. She just follows and talks, does not seem to be begging for food.

I took the waterers out of the coop today! A true sign of spring.

And that beautiful young Jake reconfirmed his position on the soon to lose one's head list. I sure like his coloring but he has to be removed from the gene pool. I don't want someone getting hurt by a bird to stupid to not attack people (me). I was never in any real danger though, JJ protected me like always.

I scared one of the diamond encrusted egg layers off her nest, could be another week til she gets back on it,...

 

[Double Kindness]

I don't have marans mm.. i wish!

Last night 2 runner ducks joined my flocks. They are a bit louder than anticipated...

I'm on the hunt for turkey poults too.. the bf said ok b/c turkeys help vaccinate against Marek disease. What am i even thinking?

I need a plucker mm.. it's on my list of must have tools for this endeavor.

 

[holm25]

Ralph my uncle grew up in a city and married into my family.

 

[JessicaThistle]

That is good you brought more home. Are you bringing them all home ?

Absolutely they are all coming home! The drive is 50 minutes one way each and every day. Darn tootin I'm not doing that forever. Haha! Since I got the coop for these pullets ready, I haven't really had time or a great way to load them all and transport them home. By grabbing as many as I can each day, I am getting there albeit slowly and it isn't a major deal. Being that there are only 120ish of this group, it is kinda manageable doing it this way.

When the first chicken tractor is built and we have to bring home the group of 225, I suspect that we are going to have to find a better way to haul them. Any ideas would be appreciated.

 

[duluthralphie]

Ralph my uncle grew up in a city and married into my family.

BLAME YOUR AUNT!!!!!



roflmbo!

 

[duluthralphie]

Absolutely they are all coming home! The drive is 50 minutes one way each and every day. Darn tootin I'm not doing that forever. Haha! Since I got the coop for these pullets ready, I haven't really had time or a great way to load them all and transport them home. By grabbing as many as I can each day, I am getting there albeit slowly and it isn't a major deal. Being that there are only 120ish of this group, it is kinda manageable doing it this way.

When the first chicken tractor is built and we have to bring home the group of 225, I suspect that we are going to have to find a better way to haul them. Any ideas would be appreciated.

I think you need to rent a few ponies, get some chaps and have a good old fashion chicken drive! Have the TV and newspapers out taking pictures as you herd the chicken to the new pasture land.