First Run of Cornish Cross Meat Birds and Super Excited!

[JessicaThistle]

I wouldn't follow the chart either. I also want to have happy, healthy birds, not lazy stuffed covered in poo ones.

What is your goal? Meaning when do you want to process and how big do you want your chickens to be? My goal is to process at 8-9 weeks and have 5 pounds birds.

According to my data for my chicks at 3 weeks old, they averaged 1-1/2 pounds. At 3 weeks I move mine outside to free range so they never align with that chart after 3 weeks. That's when I actually start measuring the feed and feeding 4 times per day. I feed them enough that they can eat in 10 minutes. Then they go and free range.

 

[mountain mom]

I wouldn't follow the chart either. I also want to have happy, healthy birds, not lazy stuffed covered in poo ones.

What is your goal? Meaning when do you want to process and how big do you want your chickens to be? My goal is to process at 8-9 weeks and have 5 pounds birds.

According to my data for my chicks at 3 weeks old, they averaged 1-1/2 pounds. At 3 weeks I move mine outside to free range so they never align with that chart after 3 weeks. That's when I actually start measuring the feed and feeding 4 times per day. I feed them enough that they can eat in 10 minutes. Then they go and free range.

I also feed mine enough for them to finish in 10-15 minutes, twice a day, and they free range the rest of the time. They are so happy and spunky, and really love going after little bugs that the big chickens don't deem worth their time to eat!

 

[duluthralphie]

Guess who has not processed any more CX's yet.......

I wonder if I can keep them all over the winter on 2 bags of feed...





Fat little meatballs should not be so luvable!

 

[Double Kindness]

Oh ralphie.. I kinda know what you mean. Until I saw some slw picking on a muscovy hen.. then I thought, well, freezer camp is coming soon. And then I will have many less chickens and ducks. But then I will start to have baby bunnies around then. Too much cuteness!

 

[KCMOLisa]

I'm going to end up doing mine before you get yours done, Ralphie! And yours were already 5-6 weeks old before I even got mine!

I had to do an emergency chicken tractor evacuation today. The rain has been horrible here lately, and my yard finally couldn't absorb any more water today. I have an inch of standing water almost throughout the whole yard. The roof of the chicken tractor with a tarp over it has actually been holding up and the meatballs have been dry, but today the water started running across the ground like a river and their tractor got flooded. I went out there and they were all standing in water! Ugh! I have a 12x12 screened in building with a concrete floor and a metal roof, so I moved them in there. It's not the best option, but at least it's dry. It's not predator safe, but I'm going to put my movable electric fence around it tonight and hope for the best. If we can make it through the next 2 days, it looks like the weather is going to be nice until processing day. I can't wait for it to dry out. I have been covered in mud for days!

 

[duluthralphie]

I'm going to end up doing mine before you get yours done, Ralphie! And yours were already 5-6 weeks old before I even got mine!

I had to do an emergency chicken tractor evacuation today. The rain has been horrible here lately, and my yard finally couldn't absorb any more water today. I have an inch of standing water almost throughout the whole yard. The roof of the chicken tractor with a tarp over it has actually been holding up and the meatballs have been dry, but today the water started running across the ground like a river and their tractor got flooded. I went out there and they were all standing in water! Ugh! I have a 12x12 screened in building with a concrete floor and a metal roof, so I moved them in there. It's not the best option, but at least it's dry. It's not predator safe, but I'm going to put my movable electric fence around it tonight and hope for the best. If we can make it through the next 2 days, it looks like the weather is going to be nice until processing day. I can't wait for it to dry out. I have been covered in mud for days!

You probably will do yours before I do mine. However, I am not in a hurry at all. mine are so healthy and really putting on the weight now.

The one we ate on Saturday evening was so huge and tender. We baked him, he fed six of us, the juices just ran out and the flavor was perfect. My spousal unit and I made chicken pot pie the next day out of him. I really liked his taste! It was way better than turkey!

BUT the first day one of mine looks sick, they are all going to freezer camp. I gave my kids a 1/4 beef and a bunch of chickens, so the camp has room for more campers now. I may need to buy another freezer before snow flies, for all of them.

 

[mountain mom]

We are so excited... and also sort of dreading... camp day. We are thrilled at the prospect of all the delicious chicken, and sad because these dang birds are so hilarious and easy to love! Yesterday they learned how to fly to the roof of their coop (the low end is 3 feet off the ground) and from the roof over the fence that separates them from the big girls. They LOVE hanging with the big chickens.
Our first round of Freedom Rangers were not as interesting to watch. They were regular ole chickens, but seemed to lack chicken personality. They did taste good though. I will let you all know how our CX stack up!
We have discovered our secret nest layer. Kiedis. She flies in and hangs out with them, mothers them, and has started laying in their coop. She lets them sit on her back and hitch a ride. I think she was the one who made a secret nest earlier this fall. I am a bit sad for her when butcher day happens, I think she will miss them. I think we will all miss them. Good thing for vodka, right Jessica?

I know I will need to imbibe on butcher day!
My biggest concern is honestly the weather holding out! That freezing cold hose water won't feel too nice if it is snowing...

 

[mountain mom]

On a different note, how does everyone keep their water from freezing in the winter? This will be our first winter with chickens, I have a 5 gallon bucket with poultry nipples. I'm considering getting an aquarium heater for it and running electricity.
Or just the good ole fashioned, take water down in the morning. That's what we did for our horses when I was a kid.

 

[duluthralphie]

I admit it !

I am a softy My CX's may die of old age before I send them to camp. My wife is going to kill me. This could be my last post. I went and bought another 6 bags of chicken feed. That should keep the meatballs happy for another 5 weeks. I have an excuse though for not sending them to camp now. I ordered some shrink wrap chicken bags, so it is Jessica's fault!

I had been using the Ziploc vacuum seal bags but they are expensive and take a long time to do. Also the chickens do not look as good in them as they do in poultry bags. I will still use the Ziploc for those we keep, but those I sell will get the other bags..


Does anyone know what I should get the meatballs for Christmas, the ways things are going they will still all be here then.

 

[duluthralphie]

On a different note, how does everyone keep their water from freezing in the winter? This will be our first winter with chickens, I have a 5 gallon bucket with poultry nipples. I'm considering getting an aquarium heater for it and running electricity.
Or just the good ole fashioned, take water down in the morning. That's what we did for our horses when I was a kid.

I am going to try a heater for the steel fount. I know they are for outdoor use, but I am going to risk it and put it inside. They are only good for -10 degrees F. That is a warm spring day for us. I know of a guy up here that just makes his chickens eat snow, BUT that is not for me. Why waste all that food energy melting snow?

I am crowding my coop over winter to raise the temp inside too.

If all else fails I will be carrying water every day.