Just wanted to give my experience so far, I'll update as I go along. I have some 5 week old and 3 week old Cornish X, along with 5 week old red broilers, and a bunch of packing peanuts (3 and 5 weeks). 29 chicks total. Also have three production red Pullets, 5 weeks old. Chicks were raised for one week indoors in a rubber maid tote brooder, then placed in a 2x8 tractor. About two weeks ago, I opened the tractor and started letting them out into a larger area, about 10x10. After another week, let them "free-range" in my garden side of my yard, along with my older chickens which are around 20-22 weeks of age.
All the chicks, including the Cornish-X are very, very active. They actually run! No laying at the feeders for these guys! I've noticed that they spend they're days grazing and looking for bugs. Most of their actual grain consumption seems to be after I round them up into their tractor right before dark and in the morning before I let them out at 7AM.
They are much cleaner then my last batch ( raised over summer, not active partly due to heat), no poop on their undersides or breasts. I move the tractor each evening before round-up.
Not sure if the red broilers and packing peanuts are keeping them more active, if it's just the cooler weather or simply that I let them out at a younger age then I did the last batch that I raised. These guys have good strong legs, don't seem to waddle nearly as badly as my last batch, either.
I realize they may take longer to get to weight. If they do, that's ok. I'm happy to have active, healthy broilers that aren't laying in their poop and are acting like chickens.
The red broilers were keeping up size-wise until about 3 weeks. They are now significantly smaller but still twice the size of packing peanuts. Good looking chicks. I'm curious to see how they do.
All chicks are from Ideal Hatchery.
Oh, haven't had any trouble with the adult chickens pestering them except for one 2 week old chick got a gash under his chin. Not sure if he was pecked or hurt himself on some wire around my tomatoes. He's inside with my granddaughter's 3 silky chicks for now.
All the chicks, including the Cornish-X are very, very active. They actually run! No laying at the feeders for these guys! I've noticed that they spend they're days grazing and looking for bugs. Most of their actual grain consumption seems to be after I round them up into their tractor right before dark and in the morning before I let them out at 7AM.
They are much cleaner then my last batch ( raised over summer, not active partly due to heat), no poop on their undersides or breasts. I move the tractor each evening before round-up.
Not sure if the red broilers and packing peanuts are keeping them more active, if it's just the cooler weather or simply that I let them out at a younger age then I did the last batch that I raised. These guys have good strong legs, don't seem to waddle nearly as badly as my last batch, either.
I realize they may take longer to get to weight. If they do, that's ok. I'm happy to have active, healthy broilers that aren't laying in their poop and are acting like chickens.
The red broilers were keeping up size-wise until about 3 weeks. They are now significantly smaller but still twice the size of packing peanuts. Good looking chicks. I'm curious to see how they do.
All chicks are from Ideal Hatchery.
Oh, haven't had any trouble with the adult chickens pestering them except for one 2 week old chick got a gash under his chin. Not sure if he was pecked or hurt himself on some wire around my tomatoes. He's inside with my granddaughter's 3 silky chicks for now.
