Processing Day Support Group ~ HELP us through the Emotions PLEASE!

[Beekissed]

Thats what I figured, I dont have the space to free range them, this does scare me. We have a neighbors cat who thinks he owns the place and we raise English springers so our rear is taken over by them.

Deep litter and feeding FF will go a long way towards decreasing the stink and mess of meaties. Just keep layering in the litter over the poop and it will keep down the smell and the flies. Also helps if you give them a lot of fresh air, a place for sun and exercise...you can do that by putting feeder on one end of the pen and the water on the other. You can also build them roosting off the floor to keep them cooler at night and also cleaner. They need nice, wide roosts....much wider than other birds...10-12 in. wide.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

I can't free rang either (coyotes and mountain lions) but they have a big run and room to do all the running and scratching they can.

I mentioned free ranging because people just think it's impossible, and to me it illustrates how "chickeny" they really can be if (as Beekissed would point out) we don't replicate a factory farm atmosphere and then act surprised when we get factory farm acting chickens!

I did fermented feed and it made a big difference since I had to keep them up.

What size run is suggested for say 12?

 

[RockerHen]

My only CX chick is such a chunk! It's so amazing that even at this age, it feels so heavy and muscular. Today, it totally free ranged for the first time with its 'siblings', assorted other chicks and 2 ducklings of the same age. It tired faster than the others, but kept up well, even play sparring for a while. The ducklings are the 'parents' of the group, looking out for everyone and leading the way across the yard. The chicks also snuggle under and on top of them at night. I believe they're a pair. The whole group is very attached to each other, and if one is lost, they let me know.

 

[ronott1]

The thought of raising 25 cornish x is terrifying!!

That is a lot of feed in and a lot of feed out !!

Yes! Little Poop machines---You need one heck of a compost pile!

 

[ronott1]

The hubby and I have pretty much decided to cull our mean pullet. I'm still very hesitant. I'm worried once she's gone, someone else will step up and be the mean one. Or maybe I'm just trying to rationalize dragging my feet. This is totally new to me.

How do you decide to cull?
What steps do you take to plan a processing day? How much time should I set aside?

How old is she? If she is just starting to lay eggs, then she may well calm down soon.

Regardless, a flock will usually calm down after a mean one is gone. A good head hen is not mean. Often egg laying production will go up too. If she is mean a couple months after starting to lay you can process her.

Alternatively, you can re home her. She would not be the top hen in a new established flock and would not be mean, especially if she went to a flock with a Rooster. The Boy would knock some sense into her.

 

[christine9]

How old is she? If she is just starting to lay eggs, then she may well calm down soon. 

Regardless, a flock will usually calm down after a mean one is gone. A good head hen is not mean. Often egg laying production will go up too. If she is mean a couple months after starting to lay you can process her.

Alternatively, you can re home her. She would not be the top hen in a new established flock and would not be mean, especially if she went to a flock with a Rooster. The Boy would knock some sense into her.

Awesome! Thank you. She did recently start laying. Maybe it will be something she outgrows. I did consider adding a rooster to knock her down a peg. I guess we will wait and see how she does. I can't remove her quite yet because I already have one removed who she injured. And I will have Roos hatching in a couple weeks. Hopefully she behaves until we can work something out. Thanks again.

 

[LindaB220]

Awesome! Thank you. She did recently start laying. Maybe it will be something she outgrows. I did consider adding a rooster to knock her down a peg. I guess we will wait and see how she does. I can't remove her quite yet because I already have one removed who she injured. And I will have Roos hatching in a couple weeks. Hopefully she behaves until we can work something out. Thanks again.

You can separate her for a week. Maybe in a cage. When she is put back she will be down on the pecking order. I bet she will have better manners. Good luck.

 

[jajeanpierre]

The hubby and I have pretty much decided to cull our mean pullet. I'm still very hesitant. I'm worried once she's gone, someone else will step up and be the mean one. Or maybe I'm just trying to rationalize dragging my feet. This is totally new to me.

How do you decide to cull?
What steps do you take to plan a processing day? How much time should I set aside?

Do you have a rooster? She may be taking over the rooster role in protecting the flock. Or, is she just mean to other birds?

 

[christine9]

Do you have a rooster?  She may be taking over the rooster role in protecting the flock.  Or, is she just mean to other birds?

Ok so here's the story. She's a Delaware. Her and my RIR get along great. The other two are brahmas. One gets bullied by the Dellie, the other was second in the pecking order. I'm guessing there was a little challenge and my brahma got hurt. She's still separated and I have no rooster, but have eggs in the bator.

This might be normal chicken stuff, but I don't like having to worry about her hurting another girl. My one and only dog crate is occupied.

 

[Beekissed]

I'll be culling a Del this month also for aggressive tendencies and none too stellar laying performance. A needlessly aggressive hen upsets the whole flock social structure and I never tolerate it...and she is rarely a good layer...never culled one for aggression that was also a great layer. Could have something to do with hormones.