Homesteaders

[rancher hicks]

I should add I just scrubbed the bathroom floor as well. Going to skip washing the dog, I don't want to reclean my floors and add another load of laundry just for towels. I feel proud enough to post pictures of my house.

I would love a reality check at my house, this is the way Hubby was raised so I think he is stuck. The kids had chores, but that lasted until Daddy said they didn't need to do them all the time.

Well if that's the case then leave the chores for Daddy. DW would get upset but if she she want's to play nanny to grown kids then that's up to her. I wouldn't mind so much if on mother's day she got treated better.

Trouble is we won't be around forever and they need to stand on their own two feet. Some kids though are stubborn and will have to live with the bed they make or don't make whichever is the case.

 

[KlopKlop]

I accidentally got 4 cornish x over the winter. I was not happy with them, but in their defense it was winter and they were often confined to the barn. I was hoping to get at least one cornish x to keep, we will see.
Yes I know the heritage birds are smaller, I am looking at this as a test run to see how much smaller, and if this is something I can accept. DH wants me to go just with the cornish x but am hoping I can convince him this will work better in the long run.
I will look at the dixie rainbows, are they a white bird? I did want to limit my white birds, thinking they would fair better pastured (white shows up well in a green field)
I did plan on spreading them out, was thinking I could comfortably raise 20 at a time.

No they are colored and almost everyone will be unique in its patterns. They are barred and have reds, Browns, oranges, and blacks mixed in. I get mine from Hoovers in Iowa. They are a good middle ground between hybrids like Cornish cross or red Rangers and true heritage breeds like dark Cornish or jersey Giants. Dixie Rainbows were developed 10-12 years ago from what I have learned and the breed has been stabilizing since then.

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

No they are colored and almost everyone will be unique in its patterns. They are barred and have reds, Browns, oranges, and blacks mixed in. I get mine from Hoovers in Iowa. They are a good middle ground between hybrids like Cornish cross or red Rangers and true heritage breeds like dark Cornish or jersey Giants. Dixie Rainbows were developed 10-12 years ago from what I have learned and the breed has been stabilizing since then.

That sounds perfect, I will look into them. Thanks also for the hatchery name, Iowa is not terribly far from here.

 

[KlopKlop]

That sounds perfect, I will look into them. Thanks also for the hatchery name, Iowa is not terribly far from here.

I think they are offering free shipping this year too. If you do order CXs too I recommend theirs too. Each hatchery has their own 'blend' and the ones from Hoovers are the best I've had. I attribute my 100% survival to good genetics.

 

[KlopKlop]

I should also say that I intend to cross my Dixie rooster over my CX hen this spring to see what happens

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

I should also say that I intend to cross my Dixie rooster over my CX hen this spring to see what happens

I would be very interested in your results. I have a Barr rock Rooster, was told they are considered a duel purpose bird so thought he would make an interesting breeder.

 

[KlopKlop]

I would be very interested in your results. I have a Barr rock Rooster, was told they are considered a duel purpose bird so thought he would make an interesting breeder.

Duluth ralphie who posts on here on occasion has done this cross. The first generation went well per his explanation but it sounds like the first gen (f1) rooster is having issues with fertility when he is trying to breed back to CX hens. That could be due to the season/weather but it's hard to know. I'm sure he will weigh in. He loved talking about his 'toads' as he calls them

 

[Beekissed]

Quote:
I can rest your fears about that...I've free ranged white breeds for 40 yrs now, right alongside their more natural colored flock mates and I've never had a single white bird taken by a predator. The only birds I've ever lost to predators in 40 yrs have been barred pattern birds....and those were ranging side by side with their white hatch mates~same size and age~when they were taken.

That white birds are more in danger on free range is just an oft told tale without any basis in fact. Just because we can see them better doesn't mean that's what the predator chooses...they are more likely to choose birds that share the same patterns as their natural prey.

 

[duluthralphie]

Yep, Nothing I love more than my Toads.

As Kloppers says I like talking about them. Here is Bert Jr. he is the result of a rainbow CX cross.










I do everything the hatcheries tell you not to do when raising CX's. I force them to free range or starve. I feed them after day 2 whatever they can eat in 15 minutes twice a day. That is all! If you put feed in front of them for 12 hours a day you will raise lazy slobbish birds. I also feed them a low protein feed, 14-15%. I had the guy at the feed mill come unglued when he found out I was feeding them such low protein.

He claimed they would have weak legs and bones and be sickly. He is and was wrong. I have some CX hens nearly a year old now laying an egg a day almost everyday. My problem is the eggs are not fertile. I lost my back up rooster to an owl about 2 months ago. So I am screwed for going ahead on this. Unless I can kidnap Conrad! I am hoping it is just seasonal infertility.


I also have one full sister of Bert Jr. She is doing great and a reliable layer. By breeding back to the rainbows you get a cx with a larger leg and thigh than the CX itself has without giving up much breast meat.

That said, if I do not get the next generation to breed I am done with the crosses and buying from Hoover again. BTW Hoover gets their eggs from some place in Arkansas as I recall. They have great CX's as long as you do not over feed them. My first batch I raised like they said, I had heart and leg problems, I have never had that the way I raise them..



And as Kloppers says they are sweet luvable birds that want to be held and visited with.

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

I can rest your fears about that...I've free ranged white breeds for 40 yrs now, right alongside their more natural colored flock mates and I've never had a single white bird taken by a predator.   The only birds I've ever lost to predators in 40 yrs have been barred pattern birds....and those were ranging side by side with their white hatch mates~same size and age~when they were taken. 

That white birds are more in danger on free range is just an oft told tale without any basis in fact.  Just because we can see them better doesn't mean that's what the predator chooses...they are more likely to choose birds that share the same patterns as their natural prey. 

Well I will get to test that theory in person. we will have alot of cornish x out there, I agreed to 20. Along with the reds. Hoping it does hold true, I hate to lose too many birds.