First Run of Cornish Cross Meat Birds and Super Excited!

[Morrigan]

This year's batch had two with black dots on them. It looks like one may be growing out one black feather where one of the dots was.

On a down note, one of my CX is doing poorly. It is a lot smaller than the rest, and this morning I noticed he/she wasn't eating at all. When I examined it, it felt like perhaps the crop was getting impacted. It wasn't super hard, but I could feel some long fiber-like strands, which made me wonder if it had eaten some of the straw bedding, or perhaps got into something string-like in the yard. I massaged the crop as best as I could to try to break it up. I'm going to check on it again in a few hours, but I'm not very optimistic. It takes a lot to put these birds off their food. Rats. It seems like no matter how hard I try to make everything perfect, I always lose a couple birds.

 

[JRNash]

Sorry to hear that Morrigan. I was wondering if you had turned yours out yet. I still have mine in the brooder pen. I didn't really want to turn them loose till they are fully feathered

 

[Morrigan]

Sorry to hear that Morrigan. I was wondering if you had turned yours out yet. I still have mine in the brooder pen. I didn't really want to turn them loose till they are fully feathered

I'm putting them back inside the shed at night, but I've stopped using the heat lamp. It's 55 to 60 degrees at night, and 90 degrees out in the daytime, so I'm not worried about them being cold.

The weakling at least came running with the rest at noon today when I threw out the sprouted wheat and seeds. I'm not sure how much it ate, but it was at least interested. Fingers crossed.

 

[JRNash]

Temps sound like here in Southeast Texas. Don't think we are getting that cool at night though. Hope your weak one comes around. I still have the light on, but they have plenty of room to get away from it. Still waiting for some pictures.

 

[Morrigan]

They are 25 days old today and kind of in their raggedy stage as their feathers are coming in.

 

[JRNash]

They look great!! There is a huge size and developmental difference. That was expected though. I think yours are little ahead of mine in the feathers also. Oh,i just had a barred rock hatch!!

 

[JRNash]

I can spot your roosters from here.lol where did you say you got yours from?

 

[JRNash]

Makes me miss Trixie.(chupy cobbler attack) I'm always amazed at the size of the feet and shanks in the CX

 

[JRNash]

for Ralph

 

[JRNash]

went out and turned the brooder light off. Suprised a red tailed hawk who is getting just a little too comfortable hanging around. He normally keeps agood distance away.Today he was 10ft outside the chicken pen. He flew into a tree beside the pen and continued to watch so I pegged his feathered. Butt with a dirt clod. Hope he got the message.Id hate to shoot him but I can not afford anymore losses right now