Is anyone else raising fall broilers? Our chicks came today: 8/18

[Boichik86]

I have a correction to make; I ordered from purely poultry not meyer, they arrived at 10:30 today, none dead and 2 extra! A couple have tan heads or wings, I'm hoping for a surprise breed! I'll post pics soon!

 

[SIMZ]

Congrats on your new babies! What breed are they?

 

[Boichik86]

They are Cornish X Rock hybrid broilers. They were born, er..hatched on 9/18. They had their first day free ranging today! they are 5 days old now, and I figured if I want to save on feed, they had better learn to rustle up some of their own grub, literally. I've heard that they do better the younger you put them out, as far as free ranging goes. They had run-ins with butterflies that were just a few feet out of range, though it didn't stop one of them from snapping at the air, vaguely in its direction. Another chick valiantly defended itself from a curious hornet, with a sharp peck to the head. I think there is hope for gainful free ranging! I can't wait to get pics up!

 

[SIMZ]

it's always been my experience that the sooner they get out there the more active they'll be. Just make sure it's warm enough until they're feathered or they may end up chilling and dying.

My current batch started when it was HOT, so they were able to get outside from about 1 week on. They'll still lay in the coop for most of the day if I don't shut them out, but for the most part they all forage in the mornings and evenings. They were slamming against the door to be let out this morning. lol

 

[Black wallnut]

I ordered 25 Cornish x from Murry Mcmurry for delivery Oct 8th week. Looking forward to having larger chickens come harvest time.The mixed flock I started with last spring had a bunch of smallish birds.

 

[chicken pickin]

I raised a late summer/early fall batch. We got 31 on 8/13. 2 chicks didn't make the shipment so we have 29 huge birds we grew out. Today is processing day for them, we will start in a few hours when our family gets out of work for their helping hands. We fully free ranged our birds, same as last years batch. They slept in a tractor at night that we moved daily. Late Aug-early oct is my fav time to raise them. They are 7weeks 5days old.

Here are pics from this morning

 

[Boichik86]

They look marvelous! I applaud you in free ranging them as much as possible! Not at all the obese, spradle-leggd, sluggish, poop coated, angel winged, monstrosities, described by some. I hope mine turn out half as nice! This is my first time raising broilers. I have cornish x rock, a few have been lost to spradle-leg, chills, failure to grow/thrive, but the majority are still alive and doing fine. I've been pretty hard on them, they were put out on pasture at 1 week. I've been keeping them in a small covered run in the garden. I cover them with mylar at night. Now that they are about 2 weeks old, we're working on getting them to roost in the peach tree in the backyard. Because it's cool out, they keep knocking each other of the branches trying to keep warm, so I hung a milk crate with bedding in it, and they've been sleeping in that huddled together for warmth, save a few bold, enterprising individuals who would rather sleep in the branches like a real bird. They are feathering out nicely and tonight is warm, so I think we might have a chance at everyone sleeping out on the branches. They are developing strong breasts and wings from all of their forced flying. No one has suffered any leg injuries from their daily 6 ft descent to the ground. So to sum it up, I'm doing everything wrong according to those who claim cornish x's must be given ample heating, raised indoors, given low perches, be kept near feed most if not all of the day, and abandon any hopes at free ranging. I feel, if you raise it like a real chicken, it will grow into a real chicken, if you treat it like a meat machine, it will be a meat machine. I feed them once in the morning and once at night, the rest of the food they eat is up to them to get. Their legs and bodies are strong and healthy, they run, they "fly", they scratch, they hunt, why I would go so far as to say they are real chickens! Best of luck, I hope to get pics up soon!

 

[bellschick]

WhT

...

Getting 35 Cornish X on the 29th.  Never did a fall batch and this will be my second batch ever.  Did 25 this spring. 
Best of luck to you.

 

[bellschick]

What do u pay for 35 cornish?

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

They look marvelous! I applaud you in free ranging them as much as possible! Not at all the obese, spradle-leggd, sluggish, poop coated, angel winged, monstrosities, described by some. I hope mine turn out half as nice! This is my first time raising broilers. I have cornish x rock, a few have been lost to spradle-leg, chills, failure to grow/thrive, but the majority are still alive and doing fine. I've been pretty hard on them, they were put out on pasture at 1 week. I've been keeping them in a small covered run in the garden. I cover them with mylar at night. Now that they are about 2 weeks old, we're working on getting them to roost in the peach tree in the backyard. Because it's cool out, they keep knocking each other of the branches trying to keep warm, so I hung a milk crate with bedding in it, and they've been sleeping in that huddled together for warmth, save a few bold, enterprising individuals who would rather sleep in the branches like a real bird. They are feathering out nicely and tonight is warm, so I think we might have a chance at everyone sleeping out on the branches. They are developing strong breasts and wings from all of their forced flying. No one has suffered any leg injuries from their daily 6 ft descent to the ground. So to sum it up, I'm doing everything wrong according to those who claim cornish x's must be given ample heating, raised indoors, given low perches, be kept near feed most if not all of the day, and abandon any hopes at free ranging. I feel, if you raise it like a real chicken, it will grow into a real chicken, if you treat it like a meat machine, it will be a meat machine. I feed them once in the morning and once at night, the rest of the food they eat is up to them to get. Their legs and bodies are strong and healthy, they run, they "fly", they scratch, they hunt, why I would go so far as to say they are real chickens! Best of luck, I hope to get pics up soon!

its all in how you raise them. no kidding. I kept mine on heat til they reached 3 weeks but I am up in indiana, nights get chilly.
My 2 I kept are about 14 months and are fat, but otherwise normal chickens. Their chicks are strong, big and hardy birds.
I will be adding more to my egg flock, the eggs from the hen are huge! barely fit a jumbo carton.