- Feb 29, 2012
- 1
- 0
- 7
I'm sorry, you've probably already read about a thousand of these kinds of posts - I am overwhelmed with information and am still digging through the forum. Thought I would post anyway, maybe someone will be kind enough to answer some of my questions while I am reading other posts?
I have so many questions -
I was going to pick up 10 Cornish X chicks tomorrow from the feed store. Since we are going to raise them for meat, I am concerned about the breed - I worry about them having heart attacks and broken legs since they get so heavy so quickly. Should we be looking at other breeds or try these to start?
I live in Oregon, it's cold. Very cold. My plan was to have the little ones in the house in a (box, tub, pool, haven't decided yet) with their heat lamp so I can monitor them. Should I buy a reptile lamp or 100 watt lamp? Also, how soon would 10 chicks outgrow a kiddie-pool-sized area and need to be upgraded to their run? (I've read many recommendations for a kiddie pool, so I was thinking with that size in mind)
When they get a little older, I'm afraid it may still be too cold for them to go outside. They are going to have a short life, but I want them to be happy and healthy and well fed. If it's too cold (and rainy, oh my don't forget that), can they be housed in the garage and be ok? I'm aiming for "free range organic" chicken, but it doesn't seem very "free range" if they are in a pen/run in my garage. In all my reading, they don't seem to be the ideal breed for a free range type chicken.
If it's cold and they end up being in a pen in the garage, what can I do to ensure they are as happy as possible? I've read that 10 square feet per bird is adequate room - so about a 100 square foot pen is what I'm planning to put up. Would this be ok?
If I go with the Cornish X, do I need to keep food down constantly or give them a set amount of food with no free-feeding, to maybe slow their growth down a little bit? I want them to be as comfortable as possible.
Feeding: are organic chickens fed the food with the medication in it to prevent illness or does that mean they are no longer "antibiotic free"? How do I make sure I buy organic food?
I think that's it for now - sorry for the long post. I have been wanting to raise chickens for such a long time, and I finally am going to take the plunge and do it!
~Stephanie

I have so many questions -
I was going to pick up 10 Cornish X chicks tomorrow from the feed store. Since we are going to raise them for meat, I am concerned about the breed - I worry about them having heart attacks and broken legs since they get so heavy so quickly. Should we be looking at other breeds or try these to start?
I live in Oregon, it's cold. Very cold. My plan was to have the little ones in the house in a (box, tub, pool, haven't decided yet) with their heat lamp so I can monitor them. Should I buy a reptile lamp or 100 watt lamp? Also, how soon would 10 chicks outgrow a kiddie-pool-sized area and need to be upgraded to their run? (I've read many recommendations for a kiddie pool, so I was thinking with that size in mind)
When they get a little older, I'm afraid it may still be too cold for them to go outside. They are going to have a short life, but I want them to be happy and healthy and well fed. If it's too cold (and rainy, oh my don't forget that), can they be housed in the garage and be ok? I'm aiming for "free range organic" chicken, but it doesn't seem very "free range" if they are in a pen/run in my garage. In all my reading, they don't seem to be the ideal breed for a free range type chicken.
If it's cold and they end up being in a pen in the garage, what can I do to ensure they are as happy as possible? I've read that 10 square feet per bird is adequate room - so about a 100 square foot pen is what I'm planning to put up. Would this be ok?
If I go with the Cornish X, do I need to keep food down constantly or give them a set amount of food with no free-feeding, to maybe slow their growth down a little bit? I want them to be as comfortable as possible.
Feeding: are organic chickens fed the food with the medication in it to prevent illness or does that mean they are no longer "antibiotic free"? How do I make sure I buy organic food?
I think that's it for now - sorry for the long post. I have been wanting to raise chickens for such a long time, and I finally am going to take the plunge and do it!
~Stephanie