First Run of Cornish Cross Meat Birds and Super Excited!

[JRNash]

I took Trixie and a friend out of the pen and let them play in the front yard.

 

[JRNash]

The friend.

 

[JRNash]

Trixie chillin

 

[JRNash]

I was reading through some of the threads about the CX's And I have to say most are dead wrong IMO. They are more active than my heritage breeds. And they are NOT dirty. If you place any animal in too close of confinement and overfeed you are going to have health issues.Now the comments about the personality of these birds is spot on. So far they are extremely friendly. At what age do Cx start producing eggs?

 

[JessicaThistle]

Yes, CX hens have spur bumps. Sunny had a giant spur on her right leg and just a bump on her left. I posted in the thread when Sunny laid her first egg. I think she was 16-18 weeks old or something like that but I can't remember exactly.

 

[JRNash]

Trixie it is

 

[duluthralphie]

I have not had a death since the packing peanuts died the first couple days. Which is when I expect them... BUT


I killed a meatball and feel like a big juicy ball of poop.

when feeding them tonight I decided to raise the heat lamp. They really do not even need it now but I wanted them to keep warm if it got cold...

DUMB me, while screwing with the light height I bumped the cover into the pen and it hit a baby. I was afraid I had hurt more, but only one died.

It is a problem I need to fix, I love my pens I need to work on the covers and heat lights some how.

I feel like crying like a little girl... ( no sexist remark intended)

Well crap, Time to go verbally beat and berate myself for the night.

 

[holm25]

I'm sorry Ralph!! That's horrible! It happens.

 

[podgal]

Camp day today. 10 weeks old. Ordered 20, got 21, lost 1 at about 8 weeks and dispatched one for dinner at 9 weeks. Lowest weight was exactly 5 lbs. Biggest boy topped the scales at 7.5 lbs!! Avg was 6. Heat shrink wrapped 10 of the whole birds and cut up the rest. I'm so very pleased with the results. Sold 8 of them to recoup some of the cost making mine almost free. Had one for dinner and it was the best ever. I've spent a lot of time snooping this forum, taking in the info and enjoying the banter. Thanks all for making my first run a success. Delawares, dark cornish, white rock and jersey giants next processing in Nov.

 

[duluthralphie]

Camp day today. 10 weeks old. Ordered 20, got 21, lost 1 at about 8 weeks and dispatched one for dinner at 9 weeks. Lowest weight was exactly 5 lbs. Biggest boy topped the scales at 7.5 lbs!! Avg was 6. Heat shrink wrapped 10 of the whole birds and cut up the rest. I'm so very pleased with the results. Sold 8 of them to recoup some of the cost making mine almost free. Had one for dinner and it was the best ever. I've spent a lot of time snooping this forum, taking in the info and enjoying the banter. Thanks all for making my first run a success. Delawares, dark cornish, white rock and jersey giants next processing in Nov.

I am glad it went so well and you are happy!

Only losing one is amazing, let's toast on that!

(raising mikes and taking a swig)..

Can you give a quick over view of how you raised them, so we do not have to go back and find it... I am always curious when someone does as well as you did.


Thanks Holm, it does happen, but it is still sad. It is funny how these little monster we will be eating in a few weeks can tug at heart strings.


ON the toad front. They are huge! I am going to have to move them out from the other birds I am afraid. I seldom see them eating but WOW the size of them. I think I will move them to the CX pen soon and let them live there. That means another coop/tractor to lock at night. But they are getting so big I am starting to worry about the ascites, leg and heart problems of the CXs. They still run, fast and seem lively, but in the heat they sit and pant. Today one was on a roost 3 ft in the air, Which scared me, luckily she let me put her down, and another was hiding under the ramp to the coop in the cool sand.

I would hate to have them die, I really want Bert's Genes to live on.


I was told on the Minnesota thread, if you freeze the birds and thaw them that does the same as resting them. I have no reason to doubt it. I think I will try it next time. It makes sense, as a freshly caught shark is hardly edible but one that has been frozen and thawed is great. I see a resemblance between sharks and CX's.