First Run of Cornish Cross Meat Birds and Super Excited!

[Betsy57]

Betsy - I lost one the first night and none of them showed any signs of distress the evening before. It is sad, but it just happens sometimes. As long as everyone else seems active and alert, I wouldn't worry too much. I always raised the feeder to about chest height so they didn't lay down or sit to eat.

They are going to outgrow the rubber tub fast! The second day I had mine, I tried to put them all back in the shipping box so I could clean out the brooder. They wouldn't fit! Just the day before there was plenty of room in the box for all of them. You will be surprised how fast the food starts going, too! The first day I think they ate about 1/2 cup total between all of them and drank a 32 ounce bottle of water. Yesterday at just over three weeks old, they ate probably 20 cups of food and drank 4 gallons of water! I don't even want to think about how much they will be eating in a couple more weeks!

Yes, I've read their chow hounds! I can't get them to eat out of the feeder yet (circular with holes) but they're eating from a flat plate. And of course, just sitting down and eating. They're just 3 days old; I'll give them some grace and let them eat that way for now and work on training them to the feeders.

 

[duluthralphie]

Betsy, I scattered the feed on the ground for them to get them use to foraging. I am now feeding them out of a feeder also, but we are fast approaching camp day.

I am thinking of taking my 2 smallest hens and roosters out of the group and moving them in with the real chickens.

 

[CoHomestead]

I wonder if our chicks are incubator mates! I got mine just after 6 on Wednesday from Mcmurray I think the credit covers 48 hours after delivery. I figured I'd save any credits for a future order. Good luck with the babies Did u get males, females or straight run?

 

[Betsy57]

I wonder if our chicks are incubator mates! I got mine just after 6 on Wednesday from Mcmurray I think the credit covers 48 hours after delivery. I figured I'd save any credits for a future order. Good luck with the babies Did u get males, females or straight run?

Ha, yes they could be 'mates'. I got straight run I think, the bbq special. Just 15 but they sent an extra 1 but that one died so back to 15.

 

[JessicaThistle]

Lisa: That is hilarious! My CX come running and surround me to the point that I can't walk either. I used to worry about stepping on their toes that I was going to hurt them. I've done it so much now that I know they will be fine. My neighbors have commented on how funny it is to watch them run after me. I'm sure they've seen me running for my life when I've worn flip flops out there. Their beaks can do a number on the toes!

Betsy - I'm sorry that you lost one. It is just kinda par for the course. I can tuck all those peeps in at night, everyone looks happy and healthy, wake up in the morning and one is gone. I don't know why and while it sucks because I really want them all to live. Trust me that it is worse when you have to cull them yourself because of a problem.

 

[CoHomestead]

Pictures of the girls at 5 days old

 

[LindaB220]

Lost one of my new chicks yesterday. Found it when I got home. Her bottom was clean so not sure why she died. Didn't notice that any of them had issues but maybe the shipping was too much for them. Day 3 this morning and all seem okay too at this point. They're starting to eat like crazy and sit while eating. Never saw my egg layers do that but when they get too big for the plastic tub, I plan on moving them outside to a bigger area so I want to make them move around and not sit, poop, and eat all day.

Put the food up high enough that they have to stand to get to it. Same for water. And keep the food and water apart so they have to walk back and forth to get it.

 

[Betsy57]

Put the food up high enough that they have to stand to get to it. Same for water. And keep the food and water apart so they have to walk back and forth to get it.

They're getting lots of exercise (running around like crazy!) but a few will sit to eat. I can't get them to eat out of the round mason jar feeder; they can't figure that out yet so having to put the food in a lid about 1.5" deep. I put some dried mealworms in and the frenzy was on! My egg birds never got that crazy about food this early. Geez!

 

[duluthralphie]

Resist the urge to give them as much as they want. It will make for healthier happier birds later on, and I have not had one loss to heart. legs or ascites this time around.

 

[Betsy57]

Resist the urge to give them as much as they want. It will make for healthier happier birds later on, and I have not had one loss to heart. legs or ascites this time around.

How do you feed your young chicks? I'm talking first week of life. I got mine Wed. 5 am and I am guessing they were hatched Mon.
I was planning on limiting their food once they started eating good but this close to being shipped and so young, I have kept it out for them. They're not eating a whole lot. Seems about normal to me.