First Run of Cornish Cross Meat Birds and Super Excited!

[abbevilleoz]

that is a picture just now taken of my cx that cackle sent to me on 8-17. Growing good and very healthy.

They do look healthy and big and not even a month old!

 

[Chicken girl 15]

They do look healthy and big and not even a month old!

blue seal brand turkey starter.they will get that until 5 weeks then they will get a 50/50 mix of that and whole oats (also blue seal brand). Plus they free range, well about as much as a cx will, all day with free access to feed and water.

 

[abbevilleoz]

blue seal brand turkey starter.they will get that until 5 weeks then they will get a 50/50 mix of that and whole oats (also blue seal brand). Plus they free range, well about as much as a cx will, all day with free access to feed and water.

I've got Purina Gamefowl Startena to start with and then to Flock Raiser. Mine will be in a tractor and free range once they're out of the brooder. I'm thinking about pulling their feed 12 hours at night.

 

[lpatelski]

Hi! We're getting our first run of CXs next week. 25 from Cackle Hatchery. What's the consensus on medicated starter for broiler chicks?

Did you pay to have your chicks vaccinated against coccidia? If so, feeding a medicated feed will render your coccidia vaccine null and void.
If your chicks are not vaccinated for coccidia and going(eventually) on the ground were you have raised other chickens; you might have coccidia issues. Then I would err on the medicated side until they can handle the nasty parasites.

This is just my opinion.

 

[abbevilleoz]

Did you pay to have your chicks vaccinated against coccidia? If so, feeding a medicated feed will render your coccidia vaccine null and void.
If your chicks are not vaccinated for coccidia and going(eventually) on the ground were you have raised other chickens; you might have coccidia issues. Then I would err on the medicated side until they can handle the nasty parasites.

This is just my opinion. 

That's basically what the Purina "expert" emailed me. No, I didn't get the coccidiosis vax. I was trying to stay as chemical free as possible but I don't want to loose chicks either. We usually hatch our own chicks or buy from a local breeder so this is the first time we've got chicks in the mail.

 

[abbevilleoz]

That's basically what the Purina expert emailed me. No, I didn't get the coccidiosis vax. I was trying to stay as chemical free as possible but I don't want to loose chicks either. We usually hatch our own chicks or buy from a local breeder so this is the first time we've got chicks in the mail.

 

[Chicken girl 15]

That's basically what the Purina "expert" emailed me. No, I didn't get the coccidiosis vax. I was trying to stay as chemical free as possible but I don't want to loose chicks either. We usually hatch our own chicks or buy from a local breeder so this is the first time we've got chicks in the mail.

I don't use medicated feed or get my birds vaccinated and have never lost a bird from anything other than dumb luck. It's all a matter of chance while raising your own meat. The best advice I can give is get every opinion you can and pick through to make the plan that is best for you.

With my family is would rather stay chemical free so if on occasion we have a loss due to illness I see it as ok. However I have children with medical problems so I feel adding in extra medication is a bad idea. Hence the home grown foods. You have to do what you feel comfortable with. I see no reason not to use medicated feed other than personal preference. I also see no reason to feed non medicated feed other than preference. I have never lost a bird from illness and I have raised upwards of 200. We eat the eggs and the meat. I stew up the rotten tempered cockerels and old hens who stop laying so again , it's all personal choice.

I have also talked to folks who have lost 200-300 birds from 1 nasty illness or another even though they vaccinated or used medicated feed. On the same note I have known some to never vaccinate and loose and entire flock.

As stated before I'm not a professional poultry farmer, I raise for my family and friends so by no means is what I say the best way to go. Your flock has to be raised how you feel comfortable. There is a saying "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". That's why I'm feeding chemical free to my family (including the furry 10 and the feathered 152) .

I apologize for the long winded explanation.

 

[Dave C]

They look tasty

 

[Chicken girl 15]

They look tasty

they will be. So tender and tasty.

 

[JRNash]

Put one of the slow grow cx in with the Cx. The Cx rooster is most definitely interested,I believe Ralph may be right about him surprising me. Another suprise was how much bigger the Cx are compared to the Scx. I'd never noticed until they were together. Figured he wouldn't squash the life out of the Scx. When I finish this job I'm going to get a little more involved in setting up some dates for the Cx