First Run of Cornish Cross Meat Birds and Super Excited!

[LindaB220]

Sorry about your chick..Its so frustrating to not know what the cause is. That was like my two last week I lost. They were fine, went to bed and each am (2 days in a row) I lost one.. I'm down to 21 now.
I'm glad everything is going well for you ) And very cool about the SGD. They seem like interesting birds. I agree about the prevention comment. Hitting each problem head on reduces the weight of the stress. You have good perspective

You'll have to let us know how Thanksgiving dinner goes!



Update:
I was out working on the hoop coop when DH came up and volunteered to help. Spent his day off working with me, and then the kids joined in. It was a nice time working together on something for the birds. I had the peeps outside in their old pen while we were working, and when I put them all into the new one, they started this distress cry that I've never heard before. It was what they must use to call for their mother hen when they're scared or separated. They kept it up for a good 10-15 minutes. I feel bad. And I'm going to be nervous tonight. I've got welded wire with hardware cloth over that and a tarp over that. But the way they're cheeping it is going to call the predators in. Ugh. Me=mother hen=getting attached=bad news. Its going to be hard on processing day.

Welcome, Duluthralphie!

Babies are so funny. They get so upset at any change. My little 4 week olds went outside this week. 4 to the girls pen and 6 to the boys. They were so upset. The little pullets were actually nice and not running them and pecking like I'd thought they would. I did put the littles in a crate outside of the coop so they could observe each other. Two days later I put them together. I didn't do this to the little guys and the roosters did a lot of stomping and chasing for a while. I sat outside and when they did it I squirted them with the hose. Ran like crazy. But they have all integrated so well.
Yes, dealing with gson AJ is a challenge. My DD Aimee has been so proactive since he was a little boy. Therapy and meds out the kazoo, but it's working so well that they went to Dallas for 3 days and he had a ball. Big improvement over a little boy that couldn't stand to watch a parade without freaking out. You know, monsters and demons. They still watch him but as long as he is with us he knows he's safe. Nobodies life is perfect. We all have our crosses to bear. Aimee's is me and my incessant talk of chickens.

 

[JessicaThistle]

I wasn't going to do it but I couldn't resist! First free range time! Tomorrow they are 3 weeks old.

 

[Double Kindness]

Wow Jessica they are so big! Now I'm definitely going to have to try some cornish x soon I'm very impressed with your growth! Your chickers are going to be processed before mine from the looks of it, I'm very interested to know the rest of the process.

 

[PlaidBattleAxe]

They look wonderful!! Look how they love the free ranging! I love it

 

[Brookshire11]

I hope your daughter is ok. Keep a watch on it. Hate spiders!!!!! Almost more than snakes. Well, I'll have to think about that.

I'm just disgusted. My lady that was getting my CX's for me cancelled out and I'm stuck with ordering from a hatchery. I'll be going with Schletch Hatchery. Good prices and I like the owner (by email) I don't know though, they are saying the winter is going to be so bad. The earlier I order the better.

Edited: On another note, 2 of my 8 week old Sapphires (blue egg layer) have started to crow. Go figure.

I've heard that about this winter too. I ordered some more layer babies (lost a few girls to a new pup...)
I wanted to get them adjusted before we added the meaties. But at this rate..it may be spring. That allows me to save for the supplies though. I'd really like to process COMPLETELY outside, but we don't have any propane burners, etc

Sorry about your chick..Its so frustrating to not know what the cause is. That was like my two last week I lost. They were fine, went to bed and each am (2 days in a row) I lost one.. I'm down to 21 now.
I'm glad everything is going well for you ) And very cool about the SGD. They seem like interesting birds. I agree about the prevention comment. Hitting each problem head on reduces the weight of the stress. You have good perspective

You'll have to let us know how Thanksgiving dinner goes!



Update:
I was out working on the hoop coop when DH came up and volunteered to help. Spent his day off working with me, and then the kids joined in. It was a nice time working together on something for the birds. I had the peeps outside in their old pen while we were working, and when I put them all into the new one, they started this distress cry that I've never heard before. It was what they must use to call for their mother hen when they're scared or separated. They kept it up for a good 10-15 minutes. I feel bad. And I'm going to be nervous tonight. I've got welded wire with hardware cloth over that and a tarp over that. But the way they're cheeping it is going to call the predators in. Ugh. Me=mother hen=getting attached=bad news. Its going to be hard on processing day.

Welcome, Duluthralphie!

Hope your daughter is feeling better!

 

[PlaidBattleAxe]

I've heard that about this winter too. I ordered some more layer babies (lost a few girls to a new pup...)
I wanted to get them adjusted before we added the meaties. But at this rate..it may be spring. That allows me to save for the supplies though. I'd really like to process COMPLETELY outside, but we don't have any propane burners, etc

Hope your daughter is feeling better!

Thanks! Her eye is finally un-swollen and the black circle has faded.

I want to try processing outside this year too! My mom has an old dual burner propane canning stove that I might borrow, or DH has suggested using our outdoor kitchen (READ: firepit with industrial sized grill over top

).

I'm apprehensive about adding any more to my flock at this point in the season, like you said, due to the impending winter, so our current batch of CX is it for us.. but spring is soooo full of my dreams already (new layer-bird hoop coop/run, and lots more birds!). It'll give me more time to sweet talk DH into the bargain that if he helps me BUILD the bird house, I'll do all the work with the birds. He really dislikes having to do extensive bird chores (anything to do with my CX chicks.... but he's better about taking care of our already grown birds. Consequently he was the same with our kids---not a baby fan but likes having them older).

 

[holm25]

Just curious why they were giving you nightmares. I love raising my CX! I wish I lived near you. I would have gladly adopted them!

If you read my post about our butchering you would note that we had the evasive roo that hid away. He avoided the first week of butchering even though he was big enough and nearly missed the final one. We called him Birdzilla. He dressed out at 7 1/2 pounds which would have made him a 10 lb bird.

They were gross pooped every where and they ate and ate and ate!!!! We went threw over 800 pounds of feed per week!!!!!!!

 

[holm25]

Here is a few of ours free ranging but we raised 250 CX so there was lots of poo and lots of birds everywhere!!

 

[LindaB220]

Thanks! Her eye is finally un-swollen and the black circle has faded.

I want to try processing outside this year too! My mom has an old dual burner propane canning stove that I might borrow, or DH has suggested using our outdoor kitchen (READ: firepit with industrial sized grill over top

).

I'm apprehensive about adding any more to my flock at this point in the season, like you said, due to the impending winter, so our current batch of CX is it for us.. but spring is soooo full of my dreams already (new layer-bird hoop coop/run, and lots more birds!). It'll give me more time to sweet talk DH into the bargain that if he helps me BUILD the bird house, I'll do all the work with the birds. He really dislikes having to do extensive bird chores (anything to do with my CX chicks.... but he's better about taking care of our already grown birds. Consequently he was the same with our kids---not a baby fan but likes having them older).

Glad her eye is better. I'm deciding the same thing. I've got so many eggs coming to hatch I'm just not going to have the time or room for CX's this year. I wanted them but........ I'm on Day 12 of my White Plymouth Rocks in the bator. And 2 more doz coming in Sept of Basque and Coronation Sussex and the SG Dorkings on Sept 22 Busy, Busy. I sold one of my hatchery newly laying pullets yesterday so I think I'll advertise on CL and try to get rid of some more. I'm keeping the 11 pullets that are Sapphires (blue egg layers) and will be getting rid of the 12 cockerels. Somehow in the next couple of months. I'm thinking of making a small rocket stove out of cement blocks to put my pot on for processing.

 

[duluthralphie]

They were gross pooped every where and they ate and ate and ate!!!! We went threw over 800 pounds of feed per week!!!!!!!

I can understand this, BUT do not blame the CX's. Blame the hatcheries, Tyson and Golden Plump!

You have fallen into the trap. I did with my first batch. Most of them were gross. Most of them sat at the feeder and pooped while they ate. I saw hope in a few of them that played and ran. Then I read a bunch of threads on here about raising them free Range or like regular chicks. Do not blame yourself it is easy to fall into the trap. I even see some here that advocate the "common wisdom'.


CX's are great bird with super personalities, if you give them the right environment. I feed mine 18% protein and not very much. I am purposely slowing their growth down. Mine are 4 weeks old today and no where near full size. They live in a "tractor brooder" but have access to the outdoors and free range. I have 23 left after a predator incident, I feed them 3 cottage cheese containers of feed a day. 1 in the morning and 2 in the evening. I dump it on the ground in a line or little piles. I make them work for their food.

The rest of the day they are on their own. They chase bugs, eat seeds and whatever they find. They have "little chicken fights" that are so cute we just laugh. They mix with my larger chickens. They are protected by my main Roo. Life is good for them. I know the oxymoron of this but I love them and am fully aware I will butcher most of them. I plan to keep 2-3 for eggs and chicks next year.

I am excited to see what the babies will look like, does the CX pass through?

My chicks live near a scrap iron pile, they climb it and scratch around it, they have lots to keep them busy. Those that want to travel the 75 feet to the sand piles do, where they climb the hill and seem to be playing king of the hill. They lounge about in sand baths.

When I go towards them they come running at me like my other chickens, they are super.

So as I said do not blame the CX's, blame the people telling you they need to be fed 24-28% protein 12 hours a day!