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For anyone who buys Cornish cross meat birds, where do you like to get your chicks? For the past two years we've used Murray McMurray and bought their 'Cornish Roasters' which are supposed to take a little longer to reach processing size (10-12 weeks instead of 8 I think) but have fewer leg problems, etc. I was pretty disappointed in the meaties we got this Spring. I don't know if they changed their breeding, or if we just got a poor hatch but we had a lot of problems with them. We were hoping to do a second batch of meaties this year but I've been putting it off since I'm reluctant to order the same thing and ending up with lots of leg problems and weak chicks again.

I also have to share a funny... We got some new neighbors last spring and our kids go to school together. The wife loves our chickens and they've started feeding them for us when we go out of town. A few days ago she asked me if I could help her process a few chickens since she had a chance to get 6 free roosters. I said 'sure'. It turns out they are silkies and there were only 3 left. She took them anyway and decided on the drive home that she would clean out the chicken coop in her back yard that they had been using as a shed so that she could keep them. She was eventually planning on getting a bunch of RIRs since she loved our chickens so much but this sped up the process for her and she's wanting to get some laying chicks asap. The funny thing is that they are a biracial family, the husband is black and she is white... and now she's talking about how she's going to have a matching, biracial chicken family too (Silkie roos and RIR hens). She's super excited to see what the eventual 'biracial' chicks would look like between the Silkies and RIRs... anyone know? I expect there is one dominant skin color and she's not going to get the 'mix' like with people but I don't really know much about chicken genetics.
 
The ducklings did great on their first night outside :) They were really rather confused first thing this morning when they woke up in a strange place, surrounded by chickens, but it didn't take them long to get over it. They found the food dish then started running around playing and flapping their tiny wings lol
 
dheltzel said:
I like to use a dog toenail trimmer. I think the dollar stores may sell them. Since she's a girl, you can use an emory board and some nail polish to pretty her up at bit.
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LOL

Auroradream26 said:
The ducklings did great on their first night outside
smile.png
They were really rather confused first thing this morning when they woke up in a strange place, surrounded by chickens, but it didn't take them long to get over it. They found the food dish then started running around playing and flapping their tiny wings lol
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That is good to hear. I miss my Muscovies for one reason. The morning flap dance. As they walked up the little hill, they would all start flapping their wings. On the rare occasion that I was in the middle, it was like a dream. So cool! Duckling was in the middle once. Not sure what she was thinking.
 
Yesterday, Sabrina the turkey wandered into the coop. I caught her, and put her in with the SPR. She thinks they are her siblings anyway. She may not be happy, but she has not slept inside in a long time, and I wanted to know she was safe for a few days anyway.
First, it is going to rain for days, and while she can go under the lilac bush, that isn't where she should be at night. I know turkeys don't care as much about rain, but days and days of rain... It makes me feel better.
Second, as she is getting older, I don't want her getting too wild. I honestly believe her two turkey siblings could have taken up with a group of wild turkeys.
Third, I may be eating her soon. Gotta catch her to do that.

The SPR babies are interesting. There are three girls, and five boys. The three girls were paired off with the boys yesterday, with two boys then grazing together. It was pretty interesting. Also, one of the boys was challenging the others one at a time. That was funny.
 
MotorcycleChick said:
Yesterday, Sabrina the turkey wandered into the coop. I caught her, and put her in with the SPR. She thinks they are her siblings anyway. She may not be happy, but she has not slept inside in a long time, and I wanted to know she was safe for a few days anyway.
First, it is going to rain for days, and while she can go under the lilac bush, that isn't where she should be at night. I know turkeys don't care as much about rain, but days and days of rain... It makes me feel better.
Second, as she is getting older, I don't want her getting too wild. I honestly believe her two turkey siblings could have taken up with a group of wild turkeys.
Third, I may be eating her soon. Gotta catch her to do that.

The SPR babies are interesting. There are three girls, and five boys. The three girls were paired off with the boys yesterday, with two boys then grazing together. It was pretty interesting. Also, one of the boys was challenging the others one at a time. That was funny.
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Glad you got Sabrinaback in :thumbsup
 
Auroradream26 said:
The ducklings did great on their first night outside :) They were really rather confused first thing this morning when they woke up in a strange place, surrounded by chickens, but it didn't take them long to get over it. They found the food dish then started running around playing and flapping their tiny wings lol
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Awesome! Glad they are adjusting quickly!
 
emorems0 said:
For anyone who buys Cornish cross meat birds, where do you like to get your chicks? For the past two years we've used Murray McMurray and bought their 'Cornish Roasters' which are supposed to take a little longer to reach processing size (10-12 weeks instead of 8 I think) but have fewer leg problems, etc. I was pretty disappointed in the meaties we got this Spring. I don't know if they changed their breeding, or if we just got a poor hatch but we had a lot of problems with them. We were hoping to do a second batch of meaties this year but I've been putting it off since I'm reluctant to order the same thing and ending up with lots of leg problems and weak chicks again.

I also have to share a funny... We got some new neighbors last spring and our kids go to school together. The wife loves our chickens and they've started feeding them for us when we go out of town. A few days ago she asked me if I could help her process a few chickens since she had a chance to get 6 free roosters. I said 'sure'. It turns out they are silkies and there were only 3 left. She took them anyway and decided on the drive home that she would clean out the chicken coop in her back yard that they had been using as a shed so that she could keep them. She was eventually planning on getting a bunch of RIRs since she loved our chickens so much but this sped up the process for her and she's wanting to get some laying chicks asap. The funny thing is that they are a biracial family, the husband is black and she is white... and now she's talking about how she's going to have a matching, biracial chicken family too (Silkie roos and RIR hens). She's super excited to see what the eventual 'biracial' chicks would look like between the Silkies and RIRs... anyone know? I expect there is one dominant skin color and she's not going to get the 'mix' like with people but I don't really know much about chicken genetics.
Click to expand...


I have had decent luck with Mt Healthy from Ohio, but probably expensive to only get a few shipped. There is someone in Johnstown area...Myers or Myer maybe? Not sure on name for them right now.
 

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