First Run of Cornish Cross Meat Birds and Super Excited!

[LindaB220]

Rick has passed.

I now have two roosters, neither of which I feel any attachment to, or that are in any way, shape or form likable.

I am going to have to find a Dixie rainbow or Jersey Giant rooster now...

There must be some universal rule the more you like a bird the better the chances it will die.


In truly human like actions, I found him lying dead on the coop floor with his woman picking his bones clean.........( I stopped her, us guys gotta stick together even in death.)

Ralph wasn't he a CX? That should be your answer. Find one that will live past the first few months. I know you will miss him. They are very lovable. Try a White Plymouth Rock. They are docile and so special. Mine even lets me pet him. Amazing.

 

[LindaB220]

Well, Ralph I see the computer has eaten my condolences to you. So I'll do it again. Wasn't he a CX. There is your answer. Find a rooster that is long lived and maybe even try a White Plymouth Rock. They are docile and so lovable. Mine will let me pet him.

For my laying hens I'm thinking of these: She is saving me some for after payday.

18+ blue hatching eggs. Bidding starts at $10 plus $18 shipping. Auction ends at 8:00am CST Wednesday and immediate PayPal is due as they will need to be mailed tomorrow. I recommend only Southern or Western States bid because of the mess up North, bless y'all's hearts. Hoping everyone up there stays safe as well as your chickens.
These will be either blue eggers or olive eggers. The hens are all crested and are a cross of Sulmtaler x Legbar and one hen is a splash, the other 8 are partridge. They all lay an egg every day, they lay better than my Leghorns! The hens are large like a Sulmtaler though, about 7 lbs.
They had been free ranging until last week when they went into breeder pens. They are currently covered by two Sulmtaler roosters, and the splash is covered by a splash rooster, but were previously free ranging with Australorp, New Hampshire, Sulmtaler x Legbar, and Splash Sulmtaler x Legbar and Leghorn roosters, so there is still a chance of some mixes.
I double box and bubble wrap. I don't have any heat packs.

12 hours left on this auction $10 current bid by alisar

 

[duluthralphie]

Rick was a Dixie Rainbow. Behind the turkey here,,




His younger days on these two

 

[LindaB220]

Rick was a Dixie Rainbow. Behind the turkey here,,




His younger days on these two

Very nice looking bird, but Ralph. He's just like the CX. Not gonna live past a few months. Hybrid. How old were both of your roosters when they died. Under a year?

 

[lazy gardener]

Not so much like a CXR. I held over a Pioneer (alias Dixie Rainbow) pullet last summer. she's a good layer, a bit bigger than my largest hens.

 

[LindaB220]

Not so much like a CXR. I held over a Pioneer (alias Dixie Rainbow) pullet last summer. she's a good layer, a bit bigger than my largest hens.

The thing I was concerned about is his attachment to the birds. If buying hybrids means they only live one year versus 6 or 7 like some, why not get the long livers. No offense to the Rainbows, I see the lure of them. Beautiful

 

[duluthralphie]

The rainbow is really nothing like the CX's. They are taller but much skinner, with smaller breasts. my CX"s are three times the sixe of Rick and 2 months younger.

I have several Rainbow pullets and they are doing fine. I really think Rick's need to be on the top roost killed him. He jumped down and broke his foot, ankle or leg and some infection or something got him. Next year I will make a bachelors pad and keep more roosters over winter, just keep them out of the hen houses.

When I look at Ernie and Nameless ( my other two roosters) they are not all that much smaller than Rick was. Nameless is, well, I am not sure, either a production red, RIR or some other redish mutt. Ernie is a black Australorp.

I am going to be getting 2 EE roosters from a fellow on the Minnesota thread, he says he might have a chantacler also, so I will get some breeding choices. I am researching the Chantaclers to see if they are what I want. I do like that they are cold hardy, when I read the reviews the bad ones come mainly from down south. Heat seems to kill them.

 

[mountain mom]

The rainbow is really nothing like the CX's. They are taller but much skinner, with smaller breasts. my CX"s are three times the sixe of Rick and 2 months younger.

I have several Rainbow pullets and they are doing fine. I really think Rick's need to be on the top roost killed him. He jumped down and broke his foot, ankle or leg and some infection or something got him. Next year I will make a bachelors pad and keep more roosters over winter, just keep them out of the hen houses.

When I look at Ernie and Nameless ( my other two roosters) they are not all that much smaller than Rick was. Nameless is, well, I am not sure, either a production red, RIR or some other redish mutt. Ernie is a black Australorp.

I am going to be getting 2 EE roosters from a fellow on the Minnesota thread, he says he might have a chantacler also, so I will get some breeding choices. I am researching the Chantaclers to see if they are what I want. I do like that they are cold hardy, when I read the reviews the bad ones come mainly from down south. Heat seems to kill them.

My Dixie is one of my sweetest gals... and I don't think they have a short lifespan. She is pushing on a year with not a single concern.

Have you considered a Russian Orloff? They were one of the first birds I wanted... just couldn't get my hands on one. Super cold hardy, very mild mannered and friendly. The EE roos should also be nice birds.
Another to think of is a Salmon Faverolles rooster. My salmon lady is the only one still laying right now, she is beautiful (the one in my avatar) and I hear the roos are incredibly nice to the ladies.
I would also consider a Wyandotte of some sort. They have a rose comb so the frostbite will be less of an issue. Both my Wyandotte gals are very friendly (not seeking as many scratches as the rest) and very savvy.
The Chantacler would be great by the sounds of them... perfect for your climate! It seems like they are also hard to get your hands on.

I wonder if you are wanting a slightly more aggressive roo to come in for the upset? Or are you looking for a couple nice boys like you had?

 

[mountain mom]

WOOHOO!

We are getting eggs from 3 birds now!! They are the only 3 that didn't molt.
Clyde, was broody for a couple of weeks, so she stopped laying. But today one of her tiny whiteish eggs was in the nest box.
Kokanee just took a break for a few weeks (before I figured out the dang light timer) and started right back up once she was getting enough light.
And today there was another new egg is the nest box! Sparrow laid one of her tan (it almost has a purpleish undertone) with white speckles eggs!

If you couldn't tell, I am excited!!! I have missed having our delicious eggs from the gals.

 

[duluthralphie]

Grats on your eggs..


Clyde does not seem to be a proper name for an egg layer.. IMHO

I do not mind a mildly aggressive rooster to rule the whole flock. If he was overly active upon my girls, a hunting accident could be arranged. I really plan to get more pens made and have several sub-flocks which will make controlling them easier.

There are so many breeds do chose from. I actually wanted and still want some Dominique's, I like the barred look. But then I like the EE look too, and Ernie is a handsome boy (black Australorp).

Ethel is becoming very chatty, when my wife goes out she runs to her and carries on a conversation, it is funny to watch, I have no idea what Ethel, or my wife for that matter is saying most the time, but Ethel stares at my wife clicks and purrs and chats turning her head like she is really telling her a good piece of gossip. I think You will like the babies you get from her eggs MM.

ON the plus side JJ has had enough with the nonsense from the young jakes. He now follows me and "protects" me from the jakes, if one make a rush or movement towards me he puts him down, So glad to see he is ruling again.

I plan to get a picture of Bert taken and posted today, He has really turned into a handsome young man. He has just a touch of frostbite on the back of his comb. His comb has gotten huge. He is crowing but sounds like a 13 year old boy singing, lots of screeching involved and missed notes.

I had expected 2-3 years or more from Rick, but like they say, "poop happens" I believe that is a direct quote from Forrest Gump.