First Run of Cornish Cross Meat Birds and Super Excited!

[LindaB220]

Linda -- I've lost it in the thread -- you're getting eggs from, and considering crossing White Rock's on Cornish? Just trying to keep up with all the different ideas and discussions

Ralphie and Jessica, I did not free range the birds. I kept all the chicks on 16% feed from four weeks on and only ever allowed them to eat during daylight hours (even in the brooder). They were confined with what I learned (my first attempt, I learned as I went) was too small a space. What ended up as 41 birds were in a three foot long run with about the same indoor 'coop' area. We processed late and next year I think I would allow any I intend to process to really pile on the food two weeks prior to. They were quite a bit small for my liking when we processed in late September. But about two weeks before they did go in, we moved them out of the chick area into the other half of the coop in the picture above. Six moved over to where those three are -- the ones we intended to keep.

That coop is five foot wide, and the run is 14 feet long. The ones bound for butchering moved up to 20% feed, until the day of. The six we held back are still currently on 16% layer crumbles. I severely ration their food (at the vet's demand. lol!) The three of them get 1/2 gallon of feed in the morning. When it's gone, it's gone, until the next morning. They aren't quite cleaning up the feeder, but what's being left behind is the same amount that was being left behind when they were allowed a full gallon of food daily.

The vet actually recommended I cut more and consider feeding them all scratch on the ground. I've not adapted that yet. Mainly because of the weather now; we're damp, and that's a dirt floor, (the picture is greener because the camera kept trying to focus on the wire on the walls.) and picking scratch out of the mud just doesn't sound appealing for The Girls.

Thanks for the compliments though! I am pretty fond of them, though Lucy was my gal, and I've tried to distance a bit since we started having a few losses.

We intended to cross these gals with a Buckeye, by the way, and get some large birds as our 'production stock' and cross them back to the Buckeyes using that second generation as our meaties. Given The Girls hate Jerry and Ben is in rehab, that may or may not happen. Laugh!

Yes, these hens are 15 mo. old. Breeders for the CX. They will be fine. But the guy I've bought all my White Rocks from did the same thing with Cobb 500 and did not like the long grow out. I'm in no hurry and maybe will try a few to see. The rooster is BIG and these girls are at least 8-10 lbs.

 

[duluthralphie]

Not the same at ALL!!! Miller Lite- beerish flavored water... mmmm.

WOW So judgmental!

If you think Miller lite is bearish flavored water, What do you think of my Michelob Ultra light?

On heavy days I go for Corona....

 

[LindaB220]

WOW So judgmental!

If you think Miller lite is bearish flavored water, What do you think of my Michelob Ultra light?

On heavy days I go for Corona....

How about the Miller 55. That's calories. I bought a case when I heard about it and still have 1/2 or more left. Wretched. It's like a lite beer that's been sitting for a while in a glass of ice. So watered down, I don't even bother with them. I forget I had them.

 

[duluthralphie]

Linda -- I've lost it in the thread -- you're getting eggs from, and considering crossing White Rock's on Cornish? Just trying to keep up with all the different ideas and discussions

Ralphie and Jessica, I did not free range the birds. I kept all the chicks on 16% feed from four weeks on and only ever allowed them to eat during daylight hours (even in the brooder). They were confined with what I learned (my first attempt, I learned as I went) was too small a space. What ended up as 41 birds were in a three foot long run with about the same indoor 'coop' area. We processed late and next year I think I would allow any I intend to process to really pile on the food two weeks prior to. They were quite a bit small for my liking when we processed in late September. But about two weeks before they did go in, we moved them out of the chick area into the other half of the coop in the picture above. Six moved over to where those three are -- the ones we intended to keep.

That coop is five foot wide, and the run is 14 feet long. The ones bound for butchering moved up to 20% feed, until the day of. The six we held back are still currently on 16% layer crumbles. I severely ration their food (at the vet's demand. lol!) The three of them get 1/2 gallon of feed in the morning. When it's gone, it's gone, until the next morning. They aren't quite cleaning up the feeder, but what's being left behind is the same amount that was being left behind when they were allowed a full gallon of food daily.

The vet actually recommended I cut more and consider feeding them all scratch on the ground. I've not adapted that yet. Mainly because of the weather now; we're damp, and that's a dirt floor, (the picture is greener because the camera kept trying to focus on the wire on the walls.) and picking scratch out of the mud just doesn't sound appealing for The Girls.

Thanks for the compliments though! I am pretty fond of them, though Lucy was my gal, and I've tried to distance a bit since we started having a few losses.

We intended to cross these gals with a Buckeye, by the way, and get some large birds as our 'production stock' and cross them back to the Buckeyes using that second generation as our meaties. Given The Girls hate Jerry and Ben is in rehab, that may or may not happen. Laugh!

For the first couple weeks mine get all the food they can eat in 15 minutes. Twice a day. However I had them outside at one week and free ranging within 10-11 days.

Right now my CX's get to eat with my DPs with the exception of layer mash. I keep that in a coop 24/7 for the DP's.

The CX's get only scratch and corn I throw on the ground for them. Occasionally I give the four about 2 cups of layer mash, if they are faster than the turkeys , on the ground.

I will cut their food down in the spring when the weather warms up. I will add oyster shells then.


Because of the problems I had with my first batch, I really cut down the amount on this batch. And of course this is a good excuse to post a picture of Bert!

 

[Morrigan]

Linda -- I've lost it in the thread -- you're getting eggs from, and considering crossing White Rock's on Cornish? Just trying to keep up with all the different ideas and discussions

Ralphie and Jessica, I did not free range the birds. I kept all the chicks on 16% feed from four weeks on and only ever allowed them to eat during daylight hours (even in the brooder). They were confined with what I learned (my first attempt, I learned as I went) was too small a space. What ended up as 41 birds were in a three foot long run with about the same indoor 'coop' area. We processed late and next year I think I would allow any I intend to process to really pile on the food two weeks prior to. They were quite a bit small for my liking when we processed in late September. But about two weeks before they did go in, we moved them out of the chick area into the other half of the coop in the picture above. Six moved over to where those three are -- the ones we intended to keep.

That coop is five foot wide, and the run is 14 feet long. The ones bound for butchering moved up to 20% feed, until the day of. The six we held back are still currently on 16% layer crumbles. I severely ration their food (at the vet's demand. lol!) The three of them get 1/2 gallon of feed in the morning. When it's gone, it's gone, until the next morning. They aren't quite cleaning up the feeder, but what's being left behind is the same amount that was being left behind when they were allowed a full gallon of food daily.

The vet actually recommended I cut more and consider feeding them all scratch on the ground. I've not adapted that yet. Mainly because of the weather now; we're damp, and that's a dirt floor, (the picture is greener because the camera kept trying to focus on the wire on the walls.) and picking scratch out of the mud just doesn't sound appealing for The Girls.

Thanks for the compliments though! I am pretty fond of them, though Lucy was my gal, and I've tried to distance a bit since we started having a few losses.

We intended to cross these gals with a Buckeye, by the way, and get some large birds as our 'production stock' and cross them back to the Buckeyes using that second generation as our meaties. Given The Girls hate Jerry and Ben is in rehab, that may or may not happen. Laugh!

It's all a learning process, isn't it.

For what its worth, here was my strategy for keeping their food down, and exercise up. After 2 1/2 weeks, I limited them to 3 small meals a day -- 7 a.m., noon and 4:30. I put enough in there just to fill their crops (10-15 minutes eating), but no more. First thing in the morning, before I dropped their feed, I also would scatter some vegetable scraps and sprouted wheat around their yard. I also usually tossed them of few more scraps around 2 or 3. Not much, but enough to motivate them to move.

They learned quick. Every morning when they saw me leave the house, they'd come flooding down the yard to wait at the fence line for me, and then would run-waddle all over the yard to get at the scraps I threw in there. I threw the scraps/wheat right there on the dirt, which became mud after it rained. They didn't seem to mind it, and no harm seemed to come of it. I know that chickens need to eat some amount of dirt/rock anyway for grit.

I noted that once their crops were full, they just wanted to lay around for a couple of hours, but after that, they would move around the yard pretty normally, usually hunting for any scraps or wheat they had missed the first time. I think that if I had just left food in their tray for the day, they would have just lumbered right back over to it and filled up immediately again.

Good luck with your surviving CX. They look beautiful.

 

[Morrigan]

For the first couple weeks mine get all the food they can eat in 15 minutes. Twice a day. However I had them outside at one week and free ranging within 10-11 days.

Right now my CX's get to eat with my DPs with the exception of layer mash. I keep that in a coop 24/7 for the DP's.

The CX's get only scratch and corn I throw on the ground for them. Occasionally I give the four about 2 cups of layer mash, if they are faster than the turkeys , on the ground.

I will cut their food down in the spring when the weather warms up. I will add oyster shells then.


Because of the problems I had with my first batch, I really cut down the amount on this batch. And of course this is a good excuse to post a picture of Bert!

Can't post to many pictures of Bert, the handsome boy!

 

[duluthralphie]

Can't post to many pictures of Bert, the handsome boy!

I am so glad to see you agree!



Bert with his harem a turkey and a couple guineas!


Bert as a baby:


He is the one with the cute lil smile!

 

[JessicaThistle]

Sheesh, I wasn't here all day and look what happens. So I read and promptly forgot almost everything that I wanted to respond to.

About Sunny: yes we are waiting for eggs! She squatted for my husband today too, so maybe we will see one soon? She's 18 weeks, younger than Ralph's and Fyremelody's, but she's squatting! The silkie's estrogen (or whatever hen hormone responsible) must be wearing off on her.

I was so excited to get 6 eggs today! I have been averaging 3 per day lately, while my silkies, EE's and two recovering broodies took breaks. Today, I had a lovely silkie egg and a beautiful blue egg along with my brown ones. Such a gift!

Eggs are coveted around here too. Someone asked me if they could buy 4 dozen. I have 4 dozen but that's all that I have. I couldn't possibly sell out so I don't have eggs for myself!

Ralph: I knew of the broomstick method from reading here on BYC about how to cull chickens. I however, couldn't do it. Besides, much like your dw, I wouldn't want to mess up my transportation.

Linda: I don't know how you could try the broomstick method and just use beer for medication. You are one tough cookie Linda. I needed vodka just to recover from reading your story! Haha!

I LOVE, LOVE the pics of pardoned CX. It is wonderful that we are the few that are letting some actually live a life. I love watching Sunny waddle around. I strictly control how much feed my cx eat and free range them. Currently Sunny gets fed once per day. I put enough in the feeder at night that she and the silkies get dinner and a light breakfast. Then they are free all day to forage for whatever goodies they can find. I think that is helping Sunny to not keep growing. I slowed her feeding down after I saw her limping a bit. Now she seems to have shaken that off and is doing fine. I do throw scratch out on the ground when they get closed in at night. It gives them something to do for an hour or two as I have a light on until 8 pm in the runs. It is keeping them all active for a little bit longer.

 

[duluthralphie]

I found this very early picture of Bert. You can see from the start he was special:




Cute isn't he?

 

[JessicaThistle]

I found this very early picture of Bert. You can see from the start he was special:




Cute isn't he?