How many is too many?

[trogers]

**Please read my new member profile so you will know that I did NOT choose meaties. Thanks.


Hello all! I am new to the chicken community. I am a 4th grade teacher & had the pleasure of hatching eggs in my classroom this past spring via our local 4H extension office. We had 4 chickens hatch on May 21st & it was soon very obvious that we had some meaties on our hands. After contacting Texas A&M about the mixup with our eggs (they were supposed to be white leghorns), my students & family quickly became attached to our sweet babies. Plans immediately commenced at my home for creating a coop/run for our chickens & I also added a gold sex link & black sex link to our flock. My husband constructed an awesome coop & run out of my daughter's old swing set and my chickens couldn't be more thrilled! I am also about to purchase 2 barred rock pullets to add to the family. This is an exciting new addiction! I had no clue chickens were so loving & entertaining. We are looking forward to fresh eggs in late fall & are going to begin composting soon, with our chickens' help!

 

[Folly's place]

Most Cornishx chicks aren't "comfortable" for more than a few weeks; two or maybe three months, max. They develop heart failure and severe tendon and joint problems very early. And scalded sternums from laying down all day next to the feeder, because it's too hard to get up and move around. Mary

 

[DoubleMM]

**Please read my new member profile so you will know that I did NOT choose meaties. Thanks.


Hello all! I am new to the chicken community. I am a 4th grade teacher & had the pleasure of hatching eggs in my classroom this past spring via our local 4H extension office. We had 4 chickens hatch on May 21st & it was soon very obvious that we had some meaties on our hands. After contacting Texas A&M about the mixup with our eggs (they were supposed to be white leghorns), my students & family quickly became attached to our sweet babies. Plans immediately commenced at my home for creating a coop/run for our chickens & I also added a gold sex link & black sex link to our flock. My husband constructed an awesome coop & run out of my daughter's old swing set and my chickens couldn't be more thrilled! I am also about to purchase 2 barred rock pullets to add to the family. This is an exciting new addiction! I had no clue chickens were so loving & entertaining. We are looking forward to fresh eggs in late fall & are going to begin composting soon, with our chickens' help!

While I can understand the affection to the chicks you hatched, as others have said the meaties most likely won't have a comfortable life.

Perhaps you could see about a swap. your cornish x for a for a couple of white layer chicks from a local farmer thru craiglist. (the old gold fish swap trick) your students wouldn't know the difference by next school year

 

[lomb chix]

I agree with those who suggest either swapping for chickens that are more appropriate for your situation, or processing them/having them processed. Some chickens make better pets than others. I am also new to chickens, and my first 2 from the feed store were incorrectly sexed and I found myself with cockerels. My gorgeous Cuckoo Marans was becoming obnoxious with his constant crowing, and it was causing me much stress. I know it's hard to place males, and I have always wanted to be closer to my food, so I made the very painful decision to process him at 12 weeks. I know that's early, but it was unbearable. I was a vet tech, so euthanasia is very familiar to me. I followed the great instructions in the Learning Center and watched several YouTube videos and was as ready as could be. Fortunately everything went as peacefully as possible. I was lucky to have a great friend who also was interested in processing, so we muddled through together. The support was fantastic. It was the right decision, the stress evaporated instantly, and he was the tastiest chicken I ever ate. We used every single part and made stocks, pate, and rillettes. You can taste the love. I loved him and miss him, but he definitely lived as long as he & I were comfortable. He had a great short life with sunshine and bugs. I have since ordered more meat chickens, on purpose, as I know I can love, honor, and cook, and they are not mutually exclusive. The most difficult part was making that decision. Good luck.

 

[keesmom]

While I can understand the affection to the chicks you hatched, as others have said the meaties most likely won't have a comfortable life.

Perhaps you could see about a swap. your cornish x for a for a couple of white layer chicks from a local farmer thru craiglist. (the old gold fish swap trick) your students wouldn't know the difference by next school year

DoubleMM has a good suggestion, to swap them for some white layers. White Rocks look quite similar.

You mention you are within city limits. Can you keep roosters?