How do you get them to forage?

[Buster52]

My standard Cornish stand at the front of the tractor in anticipation as I get ready to move their tractor, then go crazy when I actually do. They look like a bunch of wild kids in a candy store. And I feed them 24/7.

So, I'd second the suggestion that you might want to consider a different breed of bird.

 

[egghunter]

This is my first year with the Cornish X's, and I see the same thing. They generally don't do much foraging. They actually rarely even leave the open coop all day long, (Coop potatoes is a great description).
It's all a learning experience. Next spring I will go back to raising my Buff O's and Australorps. If I ever do Cornish X's again, it will be with a tractor set-up, as the mess in the coop with less active chickens gets to be too much for me.

 

[cassie]

Quote:
We raise a couple batches of Cornish X a year and we don't find them messy at all. We raise them 25 at a time in a 12 x 12 box stall bedded with shavings. We do not clean the stall until they are all processed. We just add shavings as necessary and the pen never gets wet and stinky. Hope this helps.

 

[Cindy2348]

A couple of them looked like they were pecking at the grass today. Hopefully they will get the hang of it.

 

[egghunter]

It seems I spoke too soon...
Went out tonight to close up the coop and had about 15 CX's out foraging. At almost 6 weeks old, I guess they just decided it was time to try it out.

 

[Cindy2348]

Some of mine have seem to have started. They are at least out walking around looking intersested.

 

[jafo]

Quote:
I LIKE that !!! COOP POTATO !!!

Anything can be taught to do stuff, I may stand to be corrected but diggin' and scratchin' comes normal to any chicken. is there such a thing as feeding to much? what about "treats". I buy meal worms, crickets, yogurt, anything, Ever try some scratch feed in the run?

 

[Clay In Iowa]

Quote:
Move their feeder as far as you want them to go and then only put a little feed in it... let them see you do it. They will have move if they want to eat. On the way they will find other interesting things to peck at. Even if they go straight for the feeder they will eat every thing pretty fast and then be forced to look for other things to keep their bellies from grumbling.

 

[boaz]

Good suggestions. We have some dual purpose birds but no meat bird types. I am assuming that you want to process. One question that I am curious about for meat birds, is there any difference in the quality/quantity of the meat between those that forage and those that eat a commercial feed in essentially a coop/fixed setting?

 

[kingmt]

I don't feed my meaties all the time because I can't afford it but they still grow faster then a standard bird. I like the taste of the pastured bird also & hate the taste of the store bought birds so I'm thinking the grass & bugs they eat isn't only cheaper but makes them taste better.

I always thought I hated chicken until I raised some for my family & since I eat what me wife has prepared I found out that these are very tasty animals.