Minnesota!

[Minniechickmama]

I am leaning that way, thanks for the advice, the more I read about them the more them seem like a good set of genes to put into my mutts. It also looks like they have a good body type to counter some of the CX traits. If the CX's actually ever lay eggs. That is not a given, they maybe on borrowed time as they are 8 months old now. I keep hoping they will lay 40-50 eggs each for me this spring.

That would be wishful thinking on your end, I think. I am surprised you have kept them alive this long.

 

[duluthralphie]

That would be wishful thinking on your end, I think. I am surprised you have kept them alive this long.

I am aware of that, I know the pitfalls and the chances of success are slim.

I raised them different than they are suppose to be raised.

I never fed them a high protein feed. I have been feeding them limited amounts and fairly low protein. I do throw them some layer feed and I have oyster shells for them.

I had them free ranging at 10 days of age, I kept the water a ways from them forcing them to walk a lot. I know most people think they are suppose to live 8 weeks and be eaten. By growing them slower I got them bigger. I have dressed birds in the freezer from 8-13 lbs. They are huge and the meat is superb. It is juicy and tasty. I am a tad prejudice but I find it the best chicken I have ever had. However, it is also by far not the cheapest chicken I have ever eaten.

They are about as round as a 5 gallon bucket and stand about 20 inches or so tall. ( guesses)

I love them, they are all sweet hearts.

Here are some pictures of my babies:


My avatar is one of them as a baby.

Meet Bert ( below)


Here is Bert surveying his kingdom



Here is a close up of Bert, I love his comb and it only has a small spot of frostbite. He has lived all winter in an unheated coop.



The next couple pictures are of Bert and his girls. BTW I did lose one about 8 weeks ago to a weasel, So I moved them into a more secure coop.



This was just after I moved them into this coop, The bucket is to give an idea of size.





This is before I moved them into the coop they are now in. They lived in that box next to them inside a fence. I called it their Igloo.
Note the size of them compared to the turkey hen.



I am going to keep my fingers crossed I can keep them alive and breed them. I did see Bert mount a hen the other day, but nothing happened and the pullets are not laying yet.

 

[Minniechickmama]

You sure didn't exaggerate.
I tried to free range some a few years ago. They wouldn't get up and move any further than 5 feet. I think they would have starved before going any further than that. We lost a few of them that summer too because it was that really hot one where we were hitting close to 100 for a few days.
You have done well.

 

[duluthralphie]

You sure didn't exaggerate.
I tried to free range some a few years ago. They wouldn't get up and move any further than 5 feet. I think they would have starved before going any further than that. We lost a few of them that summer too because it was that really hot one where we were hitting close to 100 for a few days.
You have done well.

I have heard from others the CXs refuse to move, but I never found that to be the case with this batch. The first ones never moved, but that was my fault, I made life too easy for them.

These guys would have starved if they had not moved. I did not use a feeder on them after the first week, I threw their food on the ground , like scratch and made them dig it out. I severely under feed them and made them hunt for food. They would have to be right with the other chickens eating the grains I sprinkled around for them.

I have been feeding them a lot recently , but I think I should cut back now that the severe cold is over. I know I am repeating myself, but they are the sweetest friendliest birds.

 

[Dandelioness]

Ralphie - those CXs look great. Do you have another thread going chronicling your progress? If not, keep us posted on your breeding results & the offspring's health & growth & such.
I've raised them similarly for table in 10-12 weeks and many variations, but never thought to keep a few choice specimens over winter & see how they fare.

 

[AmericanKraut]

Hi-
Don't mind me jumping in here and interrupting everyone but I was so excited to see other folks from Minnesota I couldn't help myself!! I just wanted to say hi and introduce myself.

I am Rhetts from the Iron Range (about an hour north of Duluth) I am new to chicken raising so BYC has been super helpful. I look forward to learning more about chickens and the people who raise them!! I am excited to be able to have other Minnesotans that I can ask questions from regarding raising our flocks in a state with the challenges it poses (weather and predators mostly).

I currently have a large variety of chickens, 38 to be exact, 6 geese, 5 ducks and 4 turkeys.

Thanks for letting me jump in here.
Rhetts

Hi Rhetts! Welcome!

 

[duluthralphie]

Ralphie - those CXs look great. Do you have another thread going chronicling your progress? If not, keep us posted on your breeding results & the offspring's health & growth & such.
I've raised them similarly for table in 10-12 weeks and many variations, but never thought to keep a few choice specimens over winter & see how they fare.

I have a thread which I started and about the same time a gal in Oregon started one too. I have kind of let mine drop and we use her thread now. This time of the year it is less about CX's and more about friends shooting the bull.

We mention the CX's but not very often now days ,come spring we will more. Jessica the thread owner has one that is laying now.

Go to my profile and you will find both in my postings. I will them and add them here too.https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/913478/my-cornish-x-experiment/240#post_14480241


https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...at-birds-and-super-excited/1680#post_14705260

 

[lalaland]

wow, those birds are really looking good duluthralphie.

have you ever raised any other meat birds? I'm thinking of minnehickmama's buckeyes - maybe the cockerals for meat, or possibly some red rangers.....if I can get some things resolved so I can take the extra time to do it this spring.

 

[duluthralphie]

wow, those birds are really looking good duluthralphie.

have you ever raised any other meat birds? I'm thinking of minnehickmama's buckeyes - maybe the cockerals for meat, or possibly some red rangers.....if I can get some things resolved so I can take the extra time to do it this spring.

I raised some years ago, like 30 years ago. then 2 batches this spring of CX's. I had some rainbows I got in a mixed package of brown egg layers. I liked them. I, of course send most the boys to freezer camp.

I color coded each one as to which breed it is. I used wire ties on the wings. As we eat them we kind of rate them as to if we want them again or not. We have found the red sex link boys make a decent bird.

The Rainbows were good too, huge, not CX huge, but huge. Black Sex Link boys are out.


I hope to get some buckeyes and give them a try. I am also excited to make my own mutts.

 

[AmericanKraut]

Does anyone have lavender or blue orpington chicks hatching to sell? I'm just getting an idea what's out there for a starting flock. columbian wyandottes?

What do you all think of coops that are open bottom with hardware cloth so the droppings and all just fall to the ground? The ventilation would be nice and as a tractor it'd be great for the yard. I see people posting pics of coops they make like that but I wonder if the hardware cloth is a bit hard on the feet?