First Run of Cornish Cross Meat Birds and Super Excited!

[JRNash]

Did not say CX I meant a buff orpington and a cochin of some kind.

You know,with that cement pond....a gator would make a nice pet

 

[JRNash]

the newest arrivals to
The Land of Nash Poultry.more dinosaurs

 

[JRNash]

I opened the top to the brooder to change the water and feed,one of the two olive eggers decided it was time scale the wall.I swear it looked me right in the eye,I said DON'T DO IT!! And of course IT DID!! Flew straight up and out and then ran UNDER the house.took a half hr to catch the little bugger.

 

[Birdinhand]

I am really having a good experience this year with using wood chips that have been sitting outside composting for a few years as bedding. I bagged them up during the dry season last summer so they are quite absorbent. I have my COBB 500 CX up off the ground in a second story run. last year I used pine shavings and it was kind of a nightmare to deal with them, expensive and large volume and they didn't break down into a nice compost in any reasonable time. the wood chips seem to be keeping things much dryer. the birds are pecking and scratching and apparently eating some of the "crumble" and it seems to be helping their droppings be more firm, less watery. the birds are remaining dry and clean. not sure if it's some kind of pro-biotic effect from the microbes in the breaking down wood or what but it's so much better. I'm finding it quite manageable to reach in with a glove and remove the clods that form on the surface, put them in a bucket and empty it into the insulated composter. the first batch of compost I've been making over the last month since they arrived is almost done, almost black earth already. the Jaraform composter tumbler really does hold in the heat and dramatically speed up the process and the CX droppings are like rocket fuel for the composting process. I'm really enjoying how this finally is seeming manageable, no longer a smelly mess and how the byproduct is some of the best compost money can buy for the garden.

 

[Dave C]

o

Dave,I hope your maran cross doesn't look like MINE

You and me both mate

 

[Turk Raphael]

Here are pics of my backyard. Where do you think would be the best place to put the chickens?

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Honestly, if I were so limited to space, I'd get my chickens from the market. Already with tongue-in-cheek, someone mentioned in the house and I'think, provided you have a very large house, that might be the best consideration. In fact, I have two Dominique cocks living in my summer kitchen but that space is where I have the set-up for my day-old chicks that have been hatched in an incubator and they are both in the same 12'X16' brooder in which they were raised and are to be kept there on a temp bases...however, they aren't any problem because the room is spacious and has the same functional appointments of any kitchen, including a large old freezer and an area to keep as many as 10 bags of pine shavings, as well as a very powerful wall-mounted exhaust/intake fan.

It is a labor-intensive situation to a n extent but since I'm on sabbaticle leave, I have the time to clean them weekly. I could keep as many as 10 cx chickens there for 8 to 10 weeks, and never have so much of a hint of the smell of chicken S##T anywhere in the main section of the house. Keep in mind, I live in a large old farm house and the floor was put in as brick by my grandpa who was a stone/brick contractor.

My point is, if you are set up for it, you COULD keep them inside and from what I see of property in question, it might be the best option.

 

[Turk Raphael]

Dave,I hope your maran cross doesn't look like MINE

Again, if that's a cock-bird, I'd love to own him.

 

[Fat Daddy]

Here are pics of my backyard. Where do you think would be the best place to put the chickens?

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You have a beautiful yard and pool. Chickens strolling thru, spreading a "rural ambience" on the patio would likely be hard to take after a while.... Since you dont really plan to butcher, and you dont want enough to keep your family in eggs. Have you considered Quail or Chukar? Both can be easily kept in pens that would hide nicely behind that fence. They are neat birds, kids love them and dont offend the folks next door..... I built several pens over the years for them and most were 30"x 8'.. This one is 30"x 10'. 20+ birds easily live long term in it....Wire floors let waste fall thru and up off the ground makes clean up easy too.... Just a thought, Good luck how ever you go....

 

[duluthralphie]

Honestly, if I were so limited to space, I'd get my chickens from the market. Already with tongue-in-cheek, someone mentioned in the house and I'think, provided you have a very large house, that might be the best consideration. In fact, I have two Dominique cocks living in my summer kitchen but that space is where I have the set-up for my day-old chicks that have been hatched in an incubator and they are both in the same 12'X16' brooder in which they were raised and are to be kept there on a temp bases...however, they aren't any problem because the room is spacious and has the same functional appointments of any kitchen, including a large old freezer and an area to keep as many as 10 bags of pine shavings, as well as a very powerful wall-mounted exhaust/intake fan.

It is a labor-intensive situation to a n extent but since I'm on sabbaticle leave, I have the time to clean them weekly. I could keep as many as 10 cx chickens there for 8 to 10 weeks, and never have so much of a hint of the smell of chicken S##T anywhere in the main section of the house. Keep in mind, I live in a large old farm house and the floor was put in as brick by my grandpa who was a stone/brick contractor.

My point is, if you are set up for it, you COULD keep them inside and from what I see of property in question, it might be the best option.

I wish I could give you 4 ovations on this.



BTW if you want a pet type chicken I have some Yokohama's they live quite well in a 4x6 cage. They are small and your city type friends can look at them like Zoo birds and be impressed with their tails all day long while sipping hot toddies by the pool...

 

[JRNash]

Again, if that's a cock-bird, I'd love to own him.

Its a hen.gonna breed her to a Malay if she last another 6 months