First Run of Cornish Cross Meat Birds and Super Excited!

[JRNash]

I also believe the broiler industry has discouraged people from TRYING to raise these birds in a manor inconsistent with their intended purposes.

 

[JRNash]

If those new to the thread take the time to read it from the start their is a wealth of information. Everyone has had mixed results at the start. The people with the best success build on the positive results that others have had. Its a learning game. You have to have a plan and a clear goal. I'm pursuing a home grown type broiler that will process by 10 to 12 weeks.

 

[Birdinhand]

I do the same as Ralphie except I feed fermented feed (Ralphie's favorite

) mine were from townline hatchery in MI bought at Big R.
I turn mine out at daylight to free range. If I feed them then they will not go look for food and just lay around. 1st feeding is sometime between 9 and noon for 15-20 min.... if I know I need to lock them up to go somewhere I give them 5-10 at 9 am and another 5-10 mins when I want to lock them up (usually around 4 pm)...When I get back I turn them out again... Then about dusk I feed them 15-20 min. and its off to bed with fullish crops.

if I could only free range my flock it would be another story. it was the clerk at city hall that specifically told me there was no limit to how many chickens I could have under 6 months old. That said, if I let 35 chickens run in my back yard my neighbor would call me into the city in a heart beat and from what I can gather, once an inspector comes around answering to a complaint, their tendency is to find problems, be they of a subjective manner, like smell, to curtail activity. it would be my luck that they'd change the code so that the limit is 6 birds, regardless of age and I just don't want to rock that boat.

 

[JRNash]

I've already culled more than a few breeds from the experiment.Right now I've got two incubators with Saipan Roosters over the slow grow broilers,barred rocks,silver dorking,Jersey Giant and even an easter egger.lol If I DON'T like the results the Saipan will be placed in separate breeding pens and I will try a different breed of rooster. Most likely a SOP Dark Cornish
(Because I like them

 

[JRNash]

I'm outside the city limits. My neighbors DO NOT bother me. I tend to react violently to people sticking their noses in my business.

 

[Molpet]

if I could only free range my flock it would be another story. it was the clerk at city hall that specifically told me there was no limit to how many chickens I could have under 6 months old. That said, if I let 35 chickens run in my back yard my neighbor would call me into the city in a heart beat and from what I can gather, once an inspector comes around answering to a complaint, their tendency is to find problems, be they of a subjective manner, like smell, to curtail activity. it would be my luck that they'd change the code so that the limit is 6 birds, regardless of age and I just don't want to rock that boat.

do you have a big enough yard to have several chicken tractors you could move? if not, still restricting their feed to 2 -20 min feedings make a healthier bird.

 

[JRNash]

It bothers me to no end knowing that some of you are unable to have livestock. I'm in the camp that believes it's imperative to be able to sustain your family(and friends)in the event that the system we have now breaks down.Most people do not have a clue what it takes to survive.

 

[Birdinhand]

do you have a big enough yard to have several chicken tractors you could move? if not, still restricting their feed to 2 -20 min feedings make a healthier bird.

I live on a steep slope that I have worked hard over the years to carve out terraces (the coop is on one of the terraces) on. it would be difficult to make a tractor work but i am still thinking of ways to make it work, like fencing, but we have cayotes and coons and dogs and bald eagles... the one time I asked the city about landscaping, they asked where I lived, then looked on a map and said, oh, it looks like you may live on a "special slope", we'd need to come inspect the slope before determining if the usual restrictions apply or if we'd need to add new ones. I told them to "never mind" and quietly exited city hall. I now have a "don't ask don't tell, don't piss off the neighbors" sort of policy.

 

[JRNash]

Its better to beg forgiveness than ask permission

 

[Molpet]

I live on a steep slope that I have worked hard over the years to carve out terraces (the coop is on one of the terraces) on. it would be difficult to make a tractor work but i am still thinking of ways to make it work, like fencing, but we have cayotes and coons and dogs and bald eagles... the one time I asked the city about landscaping, they asked where I lived, then looked on a map and said, oh, it looks like you may live on a "special slope", we'd need to come inspect the slope before determining if the usual restrictions apply or if we'd need to add new ones. I told them to "never mind" and quietly exited city hall. I now have a "don't ask don't tell, don't piss off the neighbors" sort of policy.

yeah that makes it harder.. I have a slope that used to be dog runs and the drainage is great , but the fences need new posts and such . goes up 6 feet in a 30 ft run.. I would not want to drag a tractor up that.
I live upstream/next to a forest preserve and downstream from a wildlife rehabber... 2 creeks and everything follows the creeks....I have a good dog that so far has kept critters away. Him and the cat got 2 weasels last year...But they are getting old.
Still 2 feedings instead of 12/12 seems to make a healthier bird... adds a couple of weeks but way before 6 months.