Letting my broody raise 20 meaties. Now I have a rooster raising 50 CX chicks~new batch!

[RareBreedFancier]

Thank you so much for your detailed post and pics. Read the whole thread in one sitting!

I'd always thought I'd never have Cornish X meaties as I felt sorry for them. Seeing yours out and about being normal chickens is lovely. I could raise them like this.

The processing pics are very helpful as I have some DP cockerels I'll need to do soon.

 

[Beekissed]

I'm so glad you all found it informative. I had fun with this experiment and would repeat it in a heartbeat with a few modifications...I'd probably keep the meaties in an outdoors/open air coop as they liked to camp out each night right in front of the door to my coop....and left their very smelly droppings right where I couldn't avoid stepping...

They also really hogged the feed trough and my laying gals had to wait their turn....didn't really hurt them to do so but it didn't seem quite right for these youngsters to take privileges away from the old matriarchs and pater familias.

 

[AlbionWood]

We have a Buff Orp that just went broody, and meatie chicks coming in 3 weeks... perfect! We'll put her into a moveable pen, about 8x8, and let her raise them. I can't really free-range here because of the Ravens, so will have to move the pen every day.

We let broodies raise some feed-store chicks already this spring and it was WAY easier than brooding them ourselves, and more fun watching her do it, too! So we can't wait to try this with meaties. Thanks for the informative thread!

 

[Beekissed]

You're welcome! It certainly takes the worry out of brooding, doesn't it? Not having to worry about coming out to find chicks that have smothered themselves or others due to temp control issues is priceless.

 

[the12catlady]

i just found this thread and read it in one sitting....

i really enjoyed it and maby i'll be able to try this out next spring!!!!! (or maby, if i get everything together, this fall!

)

 

[AlbionWood]

Just put 18 CX chicks under 2 broodies - a Buff Orp that has been brooding an empty nest for nearly 3 weeks now, and a Wyandotte that just went broody maybe 10 days ago. We slipped the chicks under their wings about an hour before dark, when all the other hens went to roost. A little drama but eventually both hens seemed to settle down and accept the chicks. We'll know for sure in the morning, I suppose!

One question - I have both hens in nest boxes in a single pen, about 8x8 feet. Do you think there will be any friction between them? I'm hoping to tractor them around for at least 2 or 3 weeks before letting them out to range in the yard - the chicks have to get big enough that the Ravens won't take them.

 

[AlbionWood]

To answer my own question:

They seem to be getting along fine... though a bit puzzled about the sudden change in their situation!

 

[jenny_kap]

Quote:
wow, they are adorable!!!!!

 

[Beekissed]

Looks like one big happy family to me! I had two broodies in one pen once and they just raised their broods together and didn't seem to have any friction at all. Actually, one finally just gave her chicks to the other and went back to the flock. Good luck with your meaty brood and keep us posted?

I'd love to keep this thread going with pics and progress of other folk's broody raised meaties, so feel free to post pics and progress reports!

 

[AlbionWood]

They are even cuter than the pics indicate, believe it or not!! Lately the two hens have taken to using separate nests, but they still co-parent the entire flock of chicks. Absolutely hilarious to watch those pudgy little fuzzballs climbing all over/under those huge hens.

Pretty soon I will need to build them a bigger feeder - probably mount a trough on the side of the pen. And a bigger waterer, they are really slugging down the water! Then I think I will try fencing off part of the yard and weaving a mile of fishing line overhead to keep the ravens out, so I can let them out of the pen.