First Run of Cornish Cross Meat Birds and Super Excited!

[JessicaThistle]

So, I have been missing in action! This is my busiest time of year already and then I added hundreds of chickens to it! Then my hard drive crashed and I had to replace my computer. Then many of my print customers decided they needed stuff. So I am now back with you all with some exciting news.

Ralph: Bert Jr is amazing!!

My chicks are growing so fast! Unfortunately, I had a coccidosis outbreak and lost a few but was quick enough at identifying the problem and medication was on board that it wasn't as bad as it could have been. We have all of the components to build their chicken tractor and hubby just needs to get it built. Within a month or so we should have it built and be ready to move them to pasture.

My oldest batch are about to be sold off as they are not laying well anymore. I posted a craig's ad and got 4 responses so quick and I wasn't even quite ready to pack them off yet. I was shocked at the response!! So send off is in the works.

So as soon as the pullets move off to pasture we will replace them with our first batch of ducks! I know this makes Ralphie cringe but I have a market for duck eggs that pays better than chicken eggs! I have to do what I have to do.

Nash: Your ducks are lovely.
Double Kindness: You are adorable and so are your ducks. We will be getting khaki campbells and some runners in our batch.

 

[duluthralphie]

I looked back at my order to Hoover hatchery.

It is my error not theirs. I ordered 70 hens. I got 74 hens. I remembered I did it thinking I would get 3-4 roosters in a group of 70, no one could sex them all correctly. I was wrong. They are very good at their sexing job. Stupid me.

 

[JRNash]

My ducks are geese Jessica.lol

 

[Double Kindness]

I'm getting excited!!! My chicks ship tomorrow!!!

I went and got pine shavings last night and sceatch for the ducks. They eat so much if I don't give them scratch in their water.

I'm also worming, dusting for lice/mites today. Yay. I cleaned out pens yesterday, going to re-do the pens and coops again today after dusting. Yes I found lice on one of my chickens so I'm going a bit overboard. I might as well right before I get 75 chicks.

I'm stressing out. I've never had that many chicks at once. I think maybe 30 at once, but not 75. Same difference though? Plus my 2nd time with shipped chicks.

 

[JRNash]

I was going to order from hoover but by the time they add shipping charges welps beat their price on a 50chick order

 

[Double Kindness]

Mt healthy was $126 for 50 cx broiler cocjrels and 25 misc rooster breeds shipped. I thought it was a pretty good deal.

 

[Double Kindness]

Ok.. I found pictures of my last batch of meaties

 

[JRNash]

Look good

 

[JessicaThistle]

Blah...ducks/geese, not much difference, they both waddle.

Ralph; I suspect that your chickens may not be as ginormous as the last group if they are all hens. Unless you raise them even longer maybe?

DK: You'll be okay. 75 is nothing, I do over 400 at a time. I have decided that the addition of more chicks just means more food, water and bedding. If you can afford to, get an automatic watering bowl for when they are several weeks old, if you don't have one already. That saves time on daily hauling of water. For food consider building a feeder than can hold multiple sacks of food to save hauling food every day. My poor hubby hauled so much food and water everyday when we first started that the auto feed and water has made life simple. Now we just go in swish the water bowls and throw straw around. It's saved so much time!

I'm getting excited!!! My chicks ship tomorrow!!!

I went and got pine shavings last night and sceatch for the ducks. They eat so much if I don't give them scratch in their water.

I'm also worming, dusting for lice/mites today. Yay. I cleaned out pens yesterday, going to re-do the pens and coops again today after dusting. Yes I found lice on one of my chickens so I'm going a bit overboard. I might as well right before I get 75 chicks.

I'm stressing out. I've never had that many chicks at once. I think maybe 30 at once, but not 75. Same difference though? Plus my 2nd time with shipped chicks.

 

[daskhan]

So this just in I Ordered 6 cx and 6 jersey giants today so I can start on my hyper bird programme cx x jersey giant x rir unless anyone thinks I should just use Dominique's instead of cx