Raising Cornish cross in October- December.

[Sydann]

Wondering if anyone can shed some light on raising Cornish cross chickens during the colder months of October through December. They would be ready to process December 20. I live in the Pacific Northwest so temperatures don’t get too extreme but I would like some insight as far as how well they deal with the temperature and what precautions I should take. They will be in a covered tractor with two heat lamps. I’m mostly worried about the rain. I can Cover the sides of the tractor but I’m wondering if a little rain on the ground will be a big issue.

 

[Morrigan]

Winter is actually a good time to raise CX. They run hot and do much better in cooler weather than in the heat of summer.

As long as you move the tractor often (which probably means daily as they near butcher date), the rain shouldn't be a problem. To be sure, they will trample the ground under the tractor into a foul mixture of poop and mud, but moving the trailer and adding straw from them to sleep on should be enough to deal with this. Just don't over crowd them in the tractor.