First Run of Cornish Cross Meat Birds and Super Excited!

[dpenning]

PHASE TWO COMPLETE!!



For those of you that don't know, this is our chicken tractor for the hens that we purchased with our egg business. It is complete and on pasture. We are renting pasture from someone in our town that is just a couple miles away. Far cry from the 50 minutes one way that I have been travelling every day since January. We have at least 15 acres to move them around on!

The girls come home tomorrow!! (Saturday) Woohoo! Be prepared for video and pictures of that!

Video of the tractor is uploading and will post here in a bit.....
Here it is on the super quick!

That is awesome Jessica! Can't wait to see it in action. Amazing design and construction. Congratulations.

 

[duluthralphie]

Jessica that is a super tractor.

I have a question though, do they free range around the tractor. Is the tractor a coop on wheels where the poop drops to the ground and when it gets too much poop?


Or do they actually stay in an enclosure all day?

The nests are fantastic, what a way to stop nest sleepers!



Now more creamette pictures, this one was hatched over night.











BTW those are my DW's fingers and not mine,

 

[Morrigan]

Ralphie -- the pictures are adorable.

Jessice -- really an awesome set-up. I had the same question as Ralpie.

ETA: One of my CX rooster is crowing. And, it's a good, loud crow too. This is the tough part for me. Just as I start getting really attached, it's time to process.

 

[holm25]

That is an awesome tractor!!!

Ralph those babies r so cute!!

 

[JessicaThistle]

The whole coop unit is built on a 24 foot trailer. There is wire for the "floor" of the coop. Alot of poop should go through to the ground but we will most likely have to scrape built up areas on a regular basis. There is 300+ feet of electric fence giving them an area of 6400 square feet around the chicken tractor for safe free ranging. I don't think that you can see the fence in the photo because it is green.

I LOVE the pics of those baby chicks!! They are adorable!

 

[mountain mom]

Jessica- AWESOME tractor! It is so cool. I hope you are having fun on your chicken drive today.

Ralphie- Love the babies! So stinkin cute.
I have a bone to pick with you though... you didn't fully make me aware to the extra awesomeness of baby turkeys. I know JJ and Ethel are exceptional, but I didn't expect all turkeys to be so great.
I. Am. In. Love.

So, yes, I bought turkeys yesterday. I have no self control and am too impatient. I cannot get over how cute they are! Their little personalities are so sweet!!!
I came home with 3. 2 for keeps, one for Thanksgiving.
1 Blue Slate
1 Chocolate
1 BBB


Meet Tomahawk and Banshee. They will potentially have lavender babies!
I have ordered a new plaque. It now reads, "Crazy Poultry Lady"

 

[duluthralphie]

Jessica- AWESOME tractor! It is so cool. I hope you are having fun on your chicken drive today.

Ralphie- Love the babies! So stinkin cute.
I have a bone to pick with you though... you didn't fully make me aware to the extra awesomeness of baby turkeys. I know JJ and Ethel are exceptional, but I didn't expect all turkeys to be so great.
I. Am. In. Love.

So, yes, I bought turkeys yesterday. I have no self control and am too impatient. I cannot get over how cute they are! Their little personalities are so sweet!!!
I came home with 3. 2 for keeps, one for Thanksgiving.
1 Blue Slate
1 Chocolate
1 BBB


Meet Tomahawk and Banshee. They will potentially have lavender babies!
I have ordered a new plaque. It now reads, "Crazy Poultry Lady"

OH I suppose I should tell you, Turkey babies are not like chicks. Turkey babies want to interact with you all the time. If you put your hand in the "brooder" they will come running to you. They are dumber than a box of rocks but friendly.

I ended up with 3 turkeys and 3 creamettes. Two of the babies are JJ's and one is the other turkey, it is a slate I think, could be a splash but does not seem dark enough.


I had 5 eggs at full term and the chicks died in the shells, I may have to change things.

 

[mountain mom]

OH I suppose I should tell you, Turkey babies are not like chicks. Turkey babies want to interact with you all the time. If you put your hand in the "brooder" they will come running to you. They are dumber than a box of rocks but friendly.

I ended up with 3 turkeys and 3 creamettes. Two of the babies are JJ's and one is the other turkey, it is a slate I think, could be a splash but does not seem dark enough.


I had 5 eggs at full term and the chicks died in the shells, I may have to change things.

They are so funny! One got his leg in the water... couldn't figure out how to lift his foot high enough to get it out. Funny stuff.

We put the two keepers under the crazy broody last night. She accepted them and was doting on them... until I picked one up and snuggled it. Then she started pecking at them and wouldn't let them back under the wing. Oh well, I am LOVING them in the house.
I had the tv on all night because the BBB was inside still and would cry when it was too quiet. I was tempted to snuggle him all night.

Meaties are still great... getting so big! I will post pics tomorrow.

Congrats on the babies you got!!! Weird about the 5 eggs though. Wonder what happened. Mine were not quite that developed.

 

[JessicaThistle]

PHASE 3 COMPLETE!!

Unfortunately, the Chicken Wrangler that I thought I had hired did not show up. What a good deal I offered for one day of work too. .

But all of the chickens are now at their new home. We even brought home the 8 pullets that were supposed to stay. The man we "bought the farm" from decided that he wanted to take a break and not keep the 25 chickens that were to remain in the agreement.

I am so exhausted that I do not have the energy to post the videos and pics tonight. It is after 10 and we just got home from tucking them all in a little bit ago. Time for my cocktail, a turkey sandwich and bed!!

 

[holm25]

I'm sure those hens r happy that they will be able to get out and forage now. Good job!