First Run of Cornish Cross Meat Birds and Super Excited!

[dpenning]

Came back to read as my first batch of meaties will arrive next Friday. Temps here are low 70's for the high and upper 40's for the lows. How long do you think they will need a heat lamp in those temps? I'd like to put them directly outside but that will mean running an extension cord across the yard for them for a bit.

 

[duluthralphie]

Came back to read as my first batch of meaties will arrive next Friday. Temps here are low 70's for the high and upper 40's for the lows. How long do you think they will need a heat lamp in those temps? I'd like to put them directly outside but that will mean running an extension cord across the yard for them for a bit.

I would keep them under it for 2 weeks for sure, allowing them to get away from it if they want. by 4 weeks they will not need it at all.

 

[dpenning]

Thanks Ralphie! I'll post pics of the setup when I get it done.

 

[duluthralphie]

Sounds good, I like pictures!

 

[LindaB220]

Hey guys and girls, hope you missed me!!. I'm so ready to talk a spell. heh

I've been researching ways to get some income without a lot of outlay and have come across garden bed/ catfish pond. 2' high with a pond liner, about $65. 10x 15 bed with liner stapled to be watertight. The fingerlings are about $.60 ea and you can put over 100 in there. They will be 1# in five months. Freezer for the winter? Put plastic beer cases to float on top and add grow cup hydroponics $.35 ea. Lots of salads and veggies. The produce feeds the fish and the fish waste feed the garden. Win-win.

Ralph, I turned 69 yesterday. Feeling great. Recovering great from loss of Aimee. I'm planning on coming home for a while in a couple of months. I'll be visiting both places. I'm going to set up housekeeping in both. It's time I turned my attention back to chickens. I'll be able to get some again. Oh yeah. I have a pithing tool coming next week. It's from Britain where they are the bomb on this. It has a little cap I understand that you put on top of the chicken head. Open mouth and insert rod. Pull lever. Painlessly, killing the bird. It's supposed to let the feathers release naturally. I'll let you know how and if it works.
I've lost nine pounds since Jan 1. No dieting. Nada. Just using the Instant Pot pressure cooker I got myself for Christmas.

It cooks so quickly and keeps all the taste and vitamins. I can make bone broth in one hour. 3# bones, fish, chicken, pork or beef. Water. That's it. I made chicken bone broth for the first time recently and used one cup of the broth as the liquid for my beef stew. The taste was insane. I decided to open a restaurant. True story!! Talking to my daughter Jenny about how much money we could make on this great food, she stopped smiling after a while. Then said "Let's take a ride." So we did... to the ER. She told them " I'm a nurse and seeing signs of Manic Depressive Disorder with delusions of grandeur. " I smiled and took it. No arguing with the white coats. They had me tested and in therapy in a couple of days. Turns out, yes, I made the decision to bump down my depression medicine to the dose I had it before Aimees suicide. Wrong decision. Shouda waited for the Dr. It made me very happy and enthusiastic and "I'm gonna be rich".

Now, back to normal, I'm not going to be RICH, but the idea is sound and workable and I'm looking into it. Later. Too much on my plate for a while. Besides, who needs money? I'm starting with the catfish pond idea and going from there. If it works, okay.

 

[JRNash]

Linda,I'm so glad your doing better.
I've. learned that when things go rainbows and unicorns I'm having a manic phase. (bipolar) The meds get tiresome but it's the only way to function at an acceptable level(for me)
I look forward to hearing of your exploits to come with the the chickens and fish. Take things one day at a time,And success is yours!

 

[JRNash]

Work is sending me to Denver Colorado for two months. Gonna try and do a little chicken shopping while I'm that way Y'all take care,and keep posting.It makes the time alone less miserable.lol

 

[eviemethugh]

I think this is my first time posting in this thread, so, HI everybody! We just got our first set of 100 Cornish X from McMurray, after having probably every other broiler they offer. We decided to take the chance this summer, since it took 18 (gulp!) weeks to raise other meaties in two separate batches last summer. I'm excited to see if we can do 8 weeks and be DONE for the year. And so far (only 4/5 days in!) I am SO impressed. Not a single death, no pasty butt, they are happy and healthy. Straight out of the box they were the liveliest chicks I have ever seen. I almost feel like I am going to jinx myself by writing it down. I've read a lot about raising cornish cross, and am going to start in on at least a few pages of this thread. ha!

 

[duluthralphie]

I think this is my first time posting in this thread, so, HI everybody! We just got our first set of 100 Cornish X from McMurray, after having probably every other broiler they offer. We decided to take the chance this summer, since it took 18 (gulp!) weeks to raise other meaties in two separate batches last summer. I'm excited to see if we can do 8 weeks and be DONE for the year. And so far (only 4/5 days in!) I am SO impressed. Not a single death, no pasty butt, they are happy and healthy. Straight out of the box they were the liveliest chicks I have ever seen. I almost feel like I am going to jinx myself by writing it down. I've read a lot about raising cornish cross, and am going to start in on at least a few pages of this thread. ha!

JR have fun in Denver? Did you bring a gator sign with you?

Welcome to the thread...

Just remember to no over feed your birds. Let them have lots of exercise and free range if you can.


Food is and lack of exercise are your enemies when raising CX's. Go for 13 weeks not 8, You will get twice as big birds.

 

[JRNash]

Ralph I forgot all about the gator signs