megpieinyoureye
In the Brooder
- Jul 2, 2019
- 1
- 11
- 24
Hello folks!
My name is Meagan, and I am a first time chicken mom.
Overly excited, and a little over zealous, I acquired a mixed flock of eight birds before doing ANY actual research. My grandparents raised chickens for years, and my grandfather helped me put together a really nice coop, with a small yard underneath. Going by their experience and having my grandmother with me whilst I picked my flock, I felt very confident. Until about week 8 when it really hit me how bad I messed up. Let me explain. I acquired 2 black australorps, 2 small bantoms, 1 buff orpington, 1 amberlink and... 2 cornish x rock...
I knew the cornish x rock were meat birds
I just didn't understand the difference in diet and care they would need versus the rest of the flock, and I fear I have really gotten myself into a pickle.
We are at week 13, and I am preparing to harvest and process the 2 cornish rock, but wonder if I will even be able to eat them now. I have one hen and one rooster. The rooster has been a little lame from the start, but he is probably a hefty 13lbs, the hen, (whom is actually the sweetest of the flock, and I honestly will be a little sad to see her go) isn't ,too far behind him.
Developmentally, they put on weight quickly, but didn't seem too out of place with the ragtag group.
However, I have been feeding them the same as the rest of the flock, no extra protein, no nothing.. just 12hr access to Purina crumble daily, and fresh water of course.
I know they need to go, they are SO big, and if I don't do it, they will die naturally, I'm sure.
But have I wasted what efforts I did make?
Can I still eat them?
Please help!!
My name is Meagan, and I am a first time chicken mom.
Overly excited, and a little over zealous, I acquired a mixed flock of eight birds before doing ANY actual research. My grandparents raised chickens for years, and my grandfather helped me put together a really nice coop, with a small yard underneath. Going by their experience and having my grandmother with me whilst I picked my flock, I felt very confident. Until about week 8 when it really hit me how bad I messed up. Let me explain. I acquired 2 black australorps, 2 small bantoms, 1 buff orpington, 1 amberlink and... 2 cornish x rock...
I knew the cornish x rock were meat birds
I just didn't understand the difference in diet and care they would need versus the rest of the flock, and I fear I have really gotten myself into a pickle.
We are at week 13, and I am preparing to harvest and process the 2 cornish rock, but wonder if I will even be able to eat them now. I have one hen and one rooster. The rooster has been a little lame from the start, but he is probably a hefty 13lbs, the hen, (whom is actually the sweetest of the flock, and I honestly will be a little sad to see her go) isn't ,too far behind him.
Developmentally, they put on weight quickly, but didn't seem too out of place with the ragtag group.
However, I have been feeding them the same as the rest of the flock, no extra protein, no nothing.. just 12hr access to Purina crumble daily, and fresh water of course.
I know they need to go, they are SO big, and if I don't do it, they will die naturally, I'm sure.
But have I wasted what efforts I did make?
Can I still eat them?
Please help!!