First Run of Cornish Cross Meat Birds and Super Excited!

[JessicaThistle]

Double Kindness: I I lived close to you, I'd come give you a hand. I couldn't imagine doing 20 birds myself. I'm sure bourbon is a fine vodka replacement. Haha!


YES: If you missed my super piece of advice, this is it: Have a tub or bucket with soapy water to give your bird a quick bath before scalding. It helps remove some of the dirt, poo and blood before the dunking. We never have to change scalding water.

 

[holm25]

Yuck!! It is 14 degrees and fells like -4 below!!! Kitty is doing great!! Chickens are squatting now so should have eggs soon.... i hope . We have said that since they were twenty weeks. They will be 25 weeks Wednsday . How are you all doing.

 

[duluthralphie]

LOL 1zooman!!

I think I live here because I am a tad "touched".

Actually I have a perfectly good home in Florida on the gulf waiting for me. BUT my DW ( Did I use that term correctly?) Refuses to live 1600 miles from our grandkids. Florida was great until my children started to reproduce, NOW I have to be here. So I got even with her by raising birds!

I had 5 eggs this morning one was frozen and cracked a tad. We have found if we rinse them in hot water and remove the little at the crack we can fry them while frozen and they are good to eat. When fried from frozen the eggs take on a different shape almost like they are fried in a form. We hope it is safe to eat this way? Any ideas or opinions?

If the egg was dirty I would not fry it frozen.

Now about the name frog, it is a joke, kind of. We had a discussion a while back about what the offspring of two CX's would be like. I took the position they would be CX's as that is the only genetic material available to the offspring.

Another person said they would not be CX's. Becoming quite insistent we were not allowed to call them CX's, even though CX to me is a very generic term, meaning they have some Cornish in them and are crosses. The argument was made the name was patented, copyrighted and handed down to Moses on stone tablets near burning bushes. We were told we should come up with our own name for these babies of 2 CX's. I decided to do that and have called the mythical offspring "Frogs" ever since.


I have yet to actually raise a frog because my Frog Parents are too young. BUT I hope to keep them alive to spring so I can hatch my own frogs next year.



I just got back in from feeding the birds. The CX's were in their "brooder" When I dumped the food on the snow they looked out the window at me and the feed as if to say, " Aren't you going to bring it inside for us?"


I told them They had to come outside to eat. When I came out from getting my frozen eggs, they were outside eating. They are getting so huge. They are at 16 weeks Wednesday and appear healthy still! Fingers are crossed here they live another year.

 

[holm25]

Tomorrow is going to be a fun day of helping seperating 20 cows from there calves to wean them.

Are turkeys are getting big and like to annoy our pekin hen it is to bad the drake does not woop there behinds. just kidding they would beat him .

DoubleKindness - I hate butchering ducks it is horrible I would do meaties any day before them. that is why I kept putting off the duck butchering.

 

[Double Kindness]

They are all such beggars, each and every chicken and duck. I fed them their last meal. Now to water my babies and bunnies then herd all these roosters and 2 ducks into the grow room to with hold them from water. Cleaning out the condo again then maybe move the cemanis outside. Do or die right?

15 roosters. Just gotta stop the crowing. Tonight roast duck. Then process. Then I have gluten-free pizza I made yesterday that will have to tide me over for a bit. One duck has a bloody tail. Another is a meanie. They eat too much to not process. I'm keeping Trouble, Truffle and Elvis. The other 4 gotta go. I'm keeping Pink and Pat, a production red capon and speckled sussex half capon, 2 slw and a br pullet. To make room for 7 white bresse, and 4 ayam cemani, 2 haffies. I need to cull my wheaten ameracuna too. I might need more booze than I have after all.

I'm sure my bf will do the deed, I got plucking pretty good. I gotta thin the herd tho, I can't afford to keep feeding them this much and they're not getting any bigger (the ducks). I need something for thanksgiving. Duck is planned. As is back up ham and a chicken. But this must get done. Asap. No more procrastinating. Ahem ralphie.

 

[mountain mom]

Well, we have our fingers crossed that the weather forecast for Saturday is going to be accurate. 43 and sunshine. That is as good as we will get, it seems.
I also don't want to buy another bag of feed... mostly because I ferment the feed for the meaties. Since it is cold, it is now in my house and it makes me crazy.
My daughter is less attached to this round of meat birds, which I find interesting since I am more attached to them. She has taken to calling them "chicken nuggets" and totally says Cruella DeVille type "kind" words to them.

DoubleKindness- I will be thinking of you tomorrow!!

Ralphie- I would also keep the blue. If you breed him, I may be hitting you up for eggs to hatch for my Thanksgiving dinner next year!

Jessica- I don't know how I didn't think of the chicken bath before scald! Duh.

I am in total agreement with everyone that this is the best thread! I found myself talking about Ralphies eagle problem with my husband and he was like, "who the heck is this?!" Oh yeah, he doesn't read my chicken blogs I think he was even more confused because we have family in Duluth and surrounding areas!

 

[duluthralphie]

Doublekindness I am no longer procrastinating!

I just changed my long range plans from 10 hens to 35....

And from a pair of CX's to 3 hens and a rooster....

From 2 roosters to 4...

I am so happy now, My DW got a raise at work so I can afford more chicken feed!


I am going to butcher 2 Toms Sunday, I think, I have grown so attached to them this will be hard. I looked at my young Toms. I have 3 or 4, I cannot tell for sure. At this age you would think it would be obvious but it is not. The one never developed a deep red huge waddle or snood. He is a self blue, if he is a he. He is smaller than my other Toms but larger than my hens. His legs are fairly thick. I have never seen him to the turkey dance or join in the tom turkey games.

I have one other self blue very obviously a tom. He is also on the smaller side but no doubt a Tom.

The other two Toms are splashes. They are larger and more aggressive. They will fill the oven quite well. I offered one of them for sale on Craigslist for Thanksgiving or breeding but no takers, yet. If I only process one on Sunday it will be because I changed my plans so I can have fresh Turkey for Xmas too....or Valentines day,,,,or Easter..... Not because I am a procrastinator..


MountainMom I would gladly send you eggs this spring if you want. I had real problems hatching them last year though, but It was my fault not the turkeys. I was trying "wet" hatching. I have changed to dry hatches and things are better. I got almost 100 eggs from 2 hens last year, I should have 4 this year. However, JJ and Ethel are not pure breeds. They have some brownish feathers.

JJ and Ethel are lifelong residents here and will never be eaten. They are too cool. I mention them not being pure because I may not be able to tell Ethels eggs from the others. I will try to keep them separate but.........Chit happens here.

 

[mountain mom]

Doublekindness I am no longer procrastinating!

I just changed my long range plans from 10 hens to 35....

And from a pair of CX's to 3 hens and a rooster....

From 2 roosters to 4...

I am so happy now, My DW got a raise at work so I can afford more chicken feed!


I am going to butcher 2 Toms Sunday, I think, I have grown so attached to them this will be hard. I looked at my young Toms. I have 3 or 4, I cannot tell for sure. At this age you would think it would be obvious but it is not. The one never developed a deep red huge waddle or snood. He is a self blue, if he is a he. He is smaller than my other Toms but larger than my hens. His legs are fairly thick. I have never seen him to the turkey dance or join in the tom turkey games.

I have one other self blue very obviously a tom. He is also on the smaller side but no doubt a Tom.

The other two Toms are splashes. They are larger and more aggressive. They will fill the oven quite well. I offered one of them for sale on Craigslist for Thanksgiving or breeding but no takers, yet. If I only process one on Sunday it will be because I changed my plans so I can have fresh Turkey for Xmas too....or Valentines day,,,,or Easter..... Not because I am a procrastinator..


MountainMom I would gladly send you eggs this spring if you want. I had real problems hatching them last year though, but It was my fault not the turkeys. I was trying "wet" hatching. I have changed to dry hatches and things are better. I got almost 100 eggs from 2 hens last year, I should have 4 this year. However, JJ and Ethel are not pure breeds. They have some brownish feathers.

JJ and Ethel are lifelong residents here and will never be eaten. They are too cool. I mention them not being pure because I may not be able to tell Ethels eggs from the others. I will try to keep them separate but.........Chit happens here.

I have just begun my turkey research...
I will have to pick your brains on hatching, I think it would be so fun to do with the kids. We will probably have to keep a turkey then, I'm sure my softie heart would be even more attached if I hatched the darn thing

 

[LindaB220]

Doublekindness I am no longer procrastinating!

I just changed my long range plans from 10 hens to 35....

And from a pair of CX's to 3 hens and a rooster....

From 2 roosters to 4...

I am so happy now, My DW got a raise at work so I can afford more chicken feed!


I am going to butcher 2 Toms Sunday, I think, I have grown so attached to them this will be hard. I looked at my young Toms. I have 3 or 4, I cannot tell for sure. At this age you would think it would be obvious but it is not. The one never developed a deep red huge waddle or snood. He is a self blue, if he is a he. He is smaller than my other Toms but larger than my hens. His legs are fairly thick. I have never seen him to the turkey dance or join in the tom turkey games.

I have one other self blue very obviously a tom. He is also on the smaller side but no doubt a Tom.

The other two Toms are splashes. They are larger and more aggressive. They will fill the oven quite well. I offered one of them for sale on Craigslist for Thanksgiving or breeding but no takers, yet. If I only process one on Sunday it will be because I changed my plans so I can have fresh Turkey for Xmas too....or Valentines day,,,,or Easter..... Not because I am a procrastinator..


MountainMom I would gladly send you eggs this spring if you want. I had real problems hatching them last year though, but It was my fault not the turkeys. I was trying "wet" hatching. I have changed to dry hatches and things are better. I got almost 100 eggs from 2 hens last year, I should have 4 this year. However, JJ and Ethel are not pure breeds. They have some brownish feathers.

JJ and Ethel are lifelong residents here and will never be eaten. They are too cool. I mention them not being pure because I may not be able to tell Ethels eggs from the others. I will try to keep them separate but.........Chit happens here.

Hey Ralphie, guess what I've got in my new coop? YES I was able to get transportation to the place that had them. One rooster and 8 hens. heh heh. The lady sells the eggs but another hatchery takes the same eggs and raises CX's .. Got my start. Incredibly pumped up on this. You can't order these. Questions? PM me.

 

[1zooman12]

While on the turkey topic, I have it from several unconnected sources that a turkey hen makes a terrific broody mom for large chicken egg incubation with a zeal approaching the grand champion, the silkie herself. I admit that I have never witnessed it but my sources are keen about it. It does occur to me that once becoming broody a turkey could handle a great many chicken eggs. What I do not know is if the turkey is as easy to make broody as a silkie and once going do they stay the course? With the silkie there is a threshold effect that varies from mom to mom. Some go into gear after sitting on 8 medium sized chicken eggs while others require 9 or 10. In any event the number, whatever it is, the optimal number is rather specific for each silkie. It would be great if the turkey is the same way. Of course there are different sized turkey breeds each of which could handle a set number, if indeed that is the case. The larger the breed the greater the theoretical threshold number would be. While I have owned turkeys I never set about trying to determine if indeed there is a threshold. It makes sense however. Maybe some of you more experienced turkey breeders can answer the question. The net benefit would be that a large turkey could likely handle a much larger set number. If I can lay (pardon the expression) hands on a large breed of turkey hen or two I would be compelled to test this thesis and report to you folks. What a boon two or three hens would be for those desirous of incubating a large number of eggs. In the case of the silkie, for those who don't know, it is the total pressure on the breast nerve ends that sets them off. I have done that many times quite successfully. I have even had silkies that would go broody in as little as 24 to 30 hours once given quiet privacy and a nest with the egg threshold for that particular bird. The trick is to band the birds and record the number of eggs that seems to set each of them to broodiness. This principal likely works for those breeds of chicken which have a propensity to broodiness. Again I cannot say for sure but it certainly makes sense. It is situations like this that makes our group mutually beneficial. So what say you folks who have repeatable experience in this realm with turkeys and various chicken breeds other than silkies?
Sincerely submitted,
Neal, the Zooman