my first meaties raising experience-with pictures now 1st post:-)

Hello from the sidelines...yeah, guess I'm one of those notorious lurkers...but finally decided to jump in as so much of what you are describing is what's going on here too.
My dd decided to try out a meatie project for 4-H this year and county guidelines take a lot of the decision-making out of it--not a bad thing for first-timers. All of the chicks (Cornish X) come from the same hatchery, same day arrival, so all the kids in the county start off on a level playing field...then we take them home and we're on our own.
We only have a dozen and so far have no casualties, but when you mentioned the leg issue...and then the sneezing...well had to jump in
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Ours went from the brooder to half of a horse stall (6'x12'), weather protected except for the 95 degrees, humidity, now 40's at night...back and forth...and some have had that same 'sneexe' and a couple have that 'gurgle' but everyone is eating great, bright eyed, moving around as best as they can at just over 6 weeks old (pretty clumsy, but amusing with the chest bumping and dinosaur/raptor appearance while raising their neck feathers)..I thought I'd read about the cross breeds sometimes not having very well-developed lungs so was hoping that was the cause....ours haven't been outside, just next the the back door of the barn for ventilation. Anyways, my ears perked up when I read about yours and the wheeziness....wonder if the weather was the culprit or maybe breeding?
And then the leg issue--one of the cockerals we have, within the last 4-5 days has started to look 'odd,' first I noticed a few of his feathers on one wing were sort of curling outward, just a little, but enough to be noticeable, like they were growing outward. The wing appeared to be fine, (weird, I know, and probably means nothing), just a few feathers...but now, in the last three days, his right leg is twisting outward, angled from higher up, like the shank area. He does get around ok, eats and drinks fine, but doesn't move around as much as the rest of them...and I know, that's not saying much...but he's 'acting' ok...I'm just preparing for the worst,early demise. When I saw what you'd written about the leg...well, couldn't resist. Will be curious to learn whatever you find out and what others have to say...like is this common? Too much weight at quick rate?
Thanks for letting me intrude....just nice knowing others are out there going through the same thing...
PS: I think we were in your neck of the woods in June, heading to northeast Vermont we crossed over via Ticonderoga...took the ferry over to Vermont for a change of pace...from central Ohio. Wish we were closer as your chickenstock sounds like a great time.
Dawn
 
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Dawn

You were an hour from me!!! I know exactly where you were:) Hope you had great time!

Yes my meaties now renames "stinkies" by my DH are eating adn drinking and growing normally-they "look" great-gaining weight everyday-shoot I have gone through a 50# bad in 4 days! thats alot of food-Im starting on bag#5 tomorrow-I expected to go through 7 but it looks like 8-9 bags and the price went up 2$ a bag so it has taken a whole new turn on raising them again. Instead of costing 6-7$ a bird it will be 8-9$ a bird or more....IDK for sure until all is done.

They are weezing/sneezing and raspy-we cleaned the coop again today and laid our first layer of fresh hay down for them-it has rained for days and it was muddy and gross. today it was gorgeous it dried up a bit and they were all dry and cleaning up some-thank goodness-Im not kidding when I said is it wrong to bath them before butchering ..I meant it-bleah...they are clean and happy though...I am still going to use oxine spray misted over them-it seems to be working on the others who seemed to have caught a cold..( I know birds dont get colds they get respiratory illnesses)

The leg-yes, one with the leg-my girls leg seems dislocated and stick out further on her right side-like and inch-and when she walks it almost like it is a slipped tendon?? IDK but boy she gets around and beats most out of the first food and water of the day! Shes one of the bigger ones-Id put her at 4lbs now at 5 1/2 weeks old? Seems like it anyway...
 
Yah that oxine is amazing stuff. I "misted" my coop and kids, all of them, and man did the sneezes go away like blam-o! I was stunned. I did the perches, nest boxes, and I think I may start using it in the waterers, the way it is prescribed, seems like it would be great for cross contamination. I went to the farm I buy my meat from today and her meaties (dang their ugly and stink to high heaven!) are getting big. Her next batch is going to be slaughtered next week. She has 200 to do this time... I can't even fathom that.
 
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told you..if you do it right it will work..I just need to stay on it and make up several spray bottles for the different pens. 200? nope cant fathom that either. the 25 has been alot of work for me but will be rewarding in the end I hope haha...I am getting excited as 3 weeks away and 10 will be gone so keeping the others to grow out for 2 more weeks. Dh thinks 3-4 lb dressed birds are great but I like left overs for a new dinner:)
 
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hey did you say you have tables or a tent? Im getting tables but I thought if you had one throw it in your car for the raffle tent or info tent??
 
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hey did you say you have tables or a tent? Im getting tables but I thought if you had one throw it in your car for the raffle tent or info tent??

I actually have 2 rubbermaid folding tables that are about 2X4 each I can bring and a camp chair or 3 if you want
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hey did you say you have tables or a tent? Im getting tables but I thought if you had one throw it in your car for the raffle tent or info tent??

I actually have 2 rubbermaid folding tables that are about 2X4 each I can bring and a camp chair or 3 if you want
smile.png


pack them sister! Im off to bed just got back from my last softball pty of the season Im full and tired from playing ball-dang I need to lose weight!
 

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