First Run of Cornish Cross Meat Birds and Super Excited!

[duluthralphie]

I have started a thread for those of us that want to crossbreed.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-dubious-parentage-thread-mutts#post_14716137


There are so many purist that talk about breeds and which is best and why, yet most of us, I think raise mutts. The thread is for us mutt breeders, heck who knows we may stumble across the perfect chicken and start the next great breed.





Jessica I am not trying to take anyone from this thread, it will always be my home, I am just trying to get those that like mutts in one place to talk, those that think CX's are short lived, lazy birds and would never lower themselves to talking about CX's in loving terms.

It is amazing how many still look at CX's that way.

 

[JessicaThistle]

So, here I am back after just a handful of days...and I read through 6 pages to get here.....and Ralph is stealing my peeps. ACK!

Sorry you lost your rooster Ralph. I have two beautiful boys that need a new home. I truly wish you were close by because you would adore these boys. Do you want to buy them a plain ticket?

So there has been talk of squirrels - our neighborhood squirrels love to taunt my dog, but, knock on wood, they don't eat my chicken feed. However, I would not be so tolerant of them if they start.

Rabies shots - shudder.

CX - love them no matter what. I adore my Sunny. I adore the freezer full of Sunny's ahem...family? But really, I love Sunny. I couldn't find her today. Looked all over, but by bedtime aka feeding time, she arrived.

Hybrids - I now own apx 600 and have 300 more coming in a couple weeks. I have Cinnamon Queens (aka Rhode Island Sex-links) coming. I need to be ready to rotate out my oldest layers as they are at 2 1/2 yrs old. Funny that they still lay as much as the 1 1/2 yr olds though. We won't be too hasty!

On the Egg Biz
As I just said, 300 babies coming soon....

Day after day collecting, washing and packaging eggs.
Feeding and caring for the current 600 ladies, also trying to make their way of life and health improved at their current location.
Prepare Egg Room - thank goodness for kid that grew up and moved out!
Painted egg room and need to lay floor tomorrow maybe.
Trying to locate (affordable) refrigeration and stainless steel sink/counter system for egg room.
We found 2 (TWO) people with pasture that will let us put our planned mobile units!!!!!!!
We found an additional egg supplier willing to follow our feed and care practices to help us fill our orders! I cannot produce enough eggs to fill order for my existing customers! I need you all to bring your flocks and move closer to me!!
We found our first large trailer to build our first mobile unit on.

All in all, alot accomplished in one week and enough egg money made to make a payment to the now previous owner. WIN!

Going full speed into a new week. I will check in with new excitement as I can.

 

[duluthralphie]

That all sounds so cool and exciting, I wish it was me, except for the work and money at risk,,

I have gotten fat and lay in my old age.. but 600 birds would be a dream!

 

[dpenning]

On the Egg Biz
As I just said, 300 babies coming soon....

Day after day collecting, washing and packaging eggs.
Feeding and caring for the current 600 ladies, also trying to make their way of life and health improved at their current location.
Prepare Egg Room - thank goodness for kid that grew up and moved out!
Painted egg room and need to lay floor tomorrow maybe.
Trying to locate (affordable) refrigeration and stainless steel sink/counter system for egg room.
We found 2 (TWO) people with pasture that will let us put our planned mobile units!!!!!!!
We found an additional egg supplier willing to follow our feed and care practices to help us fill our orders! I cannot produce enough eggs to fill order for my existing customers! I need you all to bring your flocks and move closer to me!!
We found our first large trailer to build our first mobile unit on.

All in all, alot accomplished in one week and enough egg money made to make a payment to the now previous owner. WIN!

Going full speed into a new week. I will check in with new excitement as I can.

This is going to be an amazing journey Jessica, thank you for sharing it with us. It sounds like a tremendous amount of work, not sure how you get a moment to get online! I would LOVE to move to Oregon from Texas. Don't think my five girls could help much though.

 

[duluthralphie]

I want babies!

I want the CX's to lay eggs!

I want spring to come soon so I can incubate!

 

[mountain mom]

Jessica- Sounds like you took off running! I am a bit jealous... and inspired! There is a local (mind you, "town" only has a liquor store, post office and small grocery store, and a couple of local eateries) coffee shop that also bakes pie and has soup and sandwiches. They are all fancy shmancy and only use fair trade, local, organic, etc. I am thinking of proposing to them to use my eggs and some of the next round of meaties...
Of course, I will have to start going in there and buying overpriced coffee more often so they have an idea who I am. I will also have to get more chickens. Dang.

These are the musings that keep me up at night. As well as the dang coyotes that make such a ruckus.

Ralph- I see you have finally accepted the fact your babies are no longer babies. I am so interested to hear of your hatching and own meatie line.

I think I am going to put up a permanent coop area for my next round of meatballs. Where I want to put it, I will have to carry the slop and water much further, but I think they would be happy there. Or maybe a tractor.
Last round went in the "garden" area that was already fenced in (the hail ate my garden in July). But this summer I want to have the garden and first round of meaties going at the same time.
Just not sure the best plan.

 

[duluthralphie]

MM.. They are babies!

I call them babies, when I tell my wife the babies did so and so, she know exactly which birds I mean.

I am excited for them to lay eggs though I doubt it will be soon. They have made no indication they will. Their combs are pale pink.

You might want to cover your garden with a bird net, it might be cheaper than building the CX's a new coop or tractor. I paid 27 bucks for my last net. ( the one covering the "yard" at the Guinea Gulag.)


There is a cure for baying Coyotes. Of course every time I mention the cure some PETA type jumps on me and I get in trouble.


My dogs are outside cleaning up the excess poop on the ground right now, as soon as they get done with their job, I am going to bring the babies a treat.


I just made them a bag of popcorn, they love it!


BTW the whole time it was popping, I had to put up with crap from my spousal unit. She says people do not feed chickens popcorn? I say she is wrong.


I am a people and I feed them popcorn, Do any of you feed yours popcorn?

 

[eatwhatyougrow]

Quote:
I'm not down grading the CX's. I love them. Just a fact. They don't as long as other chickens. All hybrids are subject to health issues. My ISA Brown's that I want to buy for eggs still will only live for a couple of years. All that fabulous egg production does a number on their innerds. Australorps live long. White Rocks. a bunch. If Ralph wants a rooster that will last, he needs to go looking in another place. BUT the fact is, hybrid seems to be the wave of the future. You know that your birds aren't going to last as long and adjust to the situation.

I have some isa browns 4 years old still laying not as great as the first couple years but still going I also havr some leghornd that I z m on my 3 generation of I hatch them out every othrr year from stock I got 6 years ago and I still have one of the original hens who still gives me s couple eggs a week so I think it really depends on your flock your management of said flock and breeding to thr atributes you want. And contary to what you see you can mate your hybrids and get birds might only get 1/4 or 1/2 with same qualities but you can use breeding to get those traits you desire but it takes time money and patience and knowing unless you have the start up capitol you can't compete with multi billion dollar corps but for many its about being self suffient and that is attainable if you have a plan

 

[LindaB220]

Quote:
Love ya girl, we'll nevah, nevah leave this site. Too much like family. You know, the kind of family that really likes chickens. I don't have that down here so I must go virtual to have my own chicken family. Putting off buying all eggs and chicks until after the knee surgery at the end of the month. Who knows how long that will take. PITA. Totally. Putting the computer in the shop shortly so I'll be out of pocket. Don't forget me. Jessica, you are so inspiring!! Makes me want to do more. Of course, you are young and can actually do it. It all started with, "I'd like to get some CX's and raise and few". ha.

 

[mountain mom]

MM.. They are babies!

I call them babies, when I tell my wife the babies did so and so, she know exactly which birds I mean.

I am excited for them to lay eggs though I doubt it will be soon. They have made no indication they will. Their combs are pale pink.

You might want to cover your garden with a bird net, it might be cheaper than building the CX's a new coop or tractor. I paid 27 bucks for my last net. ( the one covering the "yard" at the Guinea Gulag.)


There is a cure for baying Coyotes. Of course every time I mention the cure some PETA type jumps on me and I get in trouble.


My dogs are outside cleaning up the excess poop on the ground right now, as soon as they get done with their job, I am going to bring the babies a treat.


I just made them a bag of popcorn, they love it!


BTW the whole time it was popping, I had to put up with crap from my spousal unit. She says people do not feed chickens popcorn? I say she is wrong.


I am a people and I feed them popcorn, Do any of you feed yours popcorn?

Pearl has a bright red comb! No squatting, but red comb and wattles.

I make my gals popcorn all the time! They LOVE it. They also like the unpopped kernels. But I don't know how good it is for them to grub that down.
For Christmas, the kids and I make popcorn and cranberry strings for the chickens. Their coop looked kinda pretty and they had a hay day eating the decorations!