First Run of Cornish Cross Meat Birds and Super Excited!

[mountain mom]

Hilarious Ralphie!! I think since it is so cold in Minnesota, you should get the meatballs some sweaters and scarfs

 

[KCMOLisa]

Quote:
I'm with you, Ralphie! Why do they have to be so hilarious and spunky? I need to know who I can complain to. I was led to believe that I would be so sick of these filthy, disgusting, fat pig, stupid poop machines by 8 weeks that I would gleefully process them without remorse. I have been lied to!! Meatballs are awesome! I have one that jumps on my foot and rides around everywhere I go. Another one always walks in between my legs so he can grab any crickets that I stir up as I walk. I love watching them all fly/run/waddle all over the place. Next week is going to be sucky for me for sure!

For Christmas, you should definitely hand-knit them these chicken sweaters I found on Etsy!

You will have to make them yourself because I don't think she makes XXXL!

 

[laseterlass]

I am doing them for the first time in a fabric greenhouse in my backyard in Anchorage Ak. At 5 weeks they average 3.25 lbs. I tried free ranging but they would not leave the house. They eatnon GMO organic scratch and peck and curdled goats milk.

My silkies are very jealous. 13 of them straight run from Cackle. They eat that feeder at noon 3 and 6 after having the same amount in a quart of milk for breakfast at 9am.

 

[laseterlass]

Jessica, This is a handy little device to help with the cleaning of the inside of the cavity. I wish I could take credit for inventing it. I cannot, my wife brought this idea home from a work mate who has chickens also. It really does a good job and is way easier on the hands.....

my husband will love this

 

[duluthralphie]

my husband will love this

It is cuter than it is practical!

I was disappointed in it's performance. I might have used it wrong, but I had lungs everywhere.

I believed my wife and her work mate when they said it would be the cat's meow...She lied to me ...again!

 

[KCMOLisa]

They look great, Laseterlass! Mine are from Cackle too. Are you using the soy-free feed? I was thinking of trying it, but I have read a lot of people can't get them to put weight on with it. Yours look great though.

 

[JessicaThistle]

Ralph - I started with the ziploc vacuum bags too. Sealing the first 8 took an eternity and they didn't seal completely. That's when I sprung for the bags from Nadya's. I did my last 24 in less than an hour and I didn't start with them all bagged up. It's looking like I'll have my spring batch tucked in the freezer before you get your group off to camp at this rate. Lol! You may need to build them a wing on your house. And yes, sweaters are definitely an order for those chickens!

I KNEW the bottle brush on the drill was going to be a lung flinging situation! HAHA! Did I or did I not say I could see me wearing alot of lungs if I tried that? Thankfully, I didn't try it. You were set up!

Mountain Mom and all this may apply to - Essential grocery list for processing day. 1. Vodka, 2. Mixer (or not, drinking straight may be acceptable for some), 3. Steak - Ribeye is good! Drink away the pain and there is no way you will want to eat chicken that night after shoving your hand up chicken butts for an afternoon. Sorry for the graphics but hey, I calls 'em as I sees 'em!!

 

[duluthralphie]

I think 4 hours of the 8 we spent processing chickens was vacuum packing. I have 100 bags coming now!

I found I could stop the leaking bags by placing a folded absorbent paper towel just inside the place I planned to seal, all the way across the bag. It absorbs the moisture before the moisture can screw up the seal.

I think my CX's will be cute in their little sweaters. I am thinking pink for the Girls and blue and green for the boys.

I might have to enlarge the "chicken doors" in my tractor/brooder system. I have some that have to get down on their knees to crawl in! They are getting huge. I really do not mind them growing a little longer. I love roasted/baked chicken. The one we ate Saturday was so good! The one Saturday fed 6 of us and we had left overs. I think some will feed 8-10. I may even have one for thanksgiving and sell my turkeys instead of eating them.


You are so right on steak for supper after cleaning birds. It takes me about 3 days before I am willing to eat chicken.


I had 23 CX's when I took the one out and ate him. I count my chickens every couple days when they go into the tractor at night. The day after I processed him, I counted 23... I figured I had just miscounted. It is hard to count them when they are so active. ( I know the non-CX fans will not understand how active they are) I counted a couple times a few days in a row and got 23...It was a puzzle.

I even asked my wife how many CX's we had left. She said should be 22. I told her I got 23 and she said oh we probably miscounted. She went out and counted and we had 23.

The CX's have a little maze they have to run to get into the tractor. They have to go into a 4x4 brooder then make a left turn, 90 degrees and go out another door to get into the tractor. I was watching them go through the door and I thought to myself, "Wow, that is sure a skinny chicken!" as one went inside. Then I saw it. It had green legs!

I have only 2 pure white non-CX birds. One is a white rock the other is a Easter egger. The Easter egger has found she gets extra food and sleeps in a warmer place if she sneaks in with the CX's! She is the bottom of the pecking order and as such does not have a great life with the other chickens. The CX's are so docile there is no noticeable pecking order. I may let her live with the 4 cx's I am keeping over winter, she is one of my favorite chickens, she is so nice but timid. I wonder if I cross a CX rooster with a EE hen will I still get a frog?

 

[mountain mom]

Steak and vodka, check!

I am pretty sure my mixer will continue to collect dust on butchering day. Depending on how strong of a libation will be needed, I'm usually a vodka tonic or martini type of gal.

Ralphie- I was going to try that lung cleaner... agreed with Jessica that it might fling lungs everywhere... but was willing to try it out because the lungs are hands down the grossest part! I am SO GLAD you let us know it is a mess. HA! I am cracking up over here!
I've ordered an inexpensive submersible water heater for the gals. My husband and I don't agree on how well it will work with the poultry nipples, so we will see. I have a feeling I will be hauling water. If for no other reason than my gals really love drinking out of a bucket. Silly chickens.
Your EE is a smart one! You should let her hang with the CX for the winter, just be sure to get her a sweater too so she doesn't feel left out

 

[KCMOLisa]

I'll be having my steak and vodka on Thursday. That is officially camp day (aka doomsday). Mountain mom, I don't remember how old yours are. When are you sending them to freezer camp?

I'm sad, but already excited about making changes and getting another batch of meatballs in the spring. I'm also nervous about processing. I have watched a lot of videos and read through some processing threads, but I am not sure how 24 chickens is going to be with just my brother and I (neither of us have any experience). What did you guys do about withholding feed? I feel so bad not feeding them for an extended time because I know they are going to be starving and acting like maniacs without food.

Here's a pic I took of one yesterday. She was just hanging out with me on the porch while I read my book. I can't believe they can go from fuzzy yellow butterballs to full grown chickens in less than two months.