Raising Cornish X on Pasture

[goosemama]

I raised 25 Cornish X-s in a temporary pen made in the garage last Fall. Fortunately it was mild and with a heat lamp I got them processed at 6 weeks just before the really cold weather in December hit us in Western NY. I would like to do more this summer when its warmer but on pasture to avoid the dampness etc. of raising them on wood shavings. That was hard for me to keep it dry and clean, changing it etc. Was thinking of a shed with access to fenced pasture but they seem so unsteady and top heavy to do much walking, wonder if they could navigate from grass to shed for shelter?. How do others cope on pasture and still keep them safe from predators? Any feedback would be appreciated.

 

[rhoda_bruce]

So is raising broilers the extent of your chicken projects? If you will continue doing this on an annual or bi-annual basis, you might consider a small coop with run. (I wish I knew how to post pics.) If only for meat, I would go economical with the building, and the run shouldn't cost much anyway, but the more you give them, the better, as far as I feel. I would like to fence in an area around one of my outside buildings, to use esp for meat purposes, apart from my flock of layers.

 

[goosemama]

Rhoda thank you for your feedback. I do have a l0xl2 henhouse for my layers and this area is fenced in around a pond and about l/2acre of grass so the hens all free range and go back to the henhouse to roost at night. This Fall was the first time in over 30 years that I raised meatbirds and as a senior citizen its kind of hard for me to lug water, feed & do a lot to keep an enclosed penned area clean and dry with shavings. This is why I was hoping I could buy a small shed to put on the grass within the fenced area. But I'm not sure they could waddle from shed to grass and they probably wouldn't come into the shelter at night on their own would they? Just wanted to hear from others who have raised meaties outside and how they've managed it.

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

a good option is feed in the house water out side, I use a Polly dome calf- hutch, for shelter. its movable, easily cleaned, and they can get in and out easily. I put a ply wood door on it to shut it up at night.

here's a pic of the calf hutches this winter

 

[jjparke]

they'll go where the food is

 

[bigredfeather]

Quote:
Predator proof tractor, or at least so far.

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I have many predator(coyotes, fox, dogs, ect..) with no problems. I move it everyday, sometimes twice, and has worked great. If something really wanted to get in, it probably could, but the same thing could be said for some stationary coops with a run.

 

[Mimzie]

Bigredfeather, how old are they when you put them in there?? I am hoping to get some cornish X soon but dont want 50 chicks in my garage til they grow enough feathers! LOL Can you put them in there pretty early with the light? I live in Texas so should start warming up here soon (not getting them until warmer weather)

 

[anthonyjames]

From other posts BigRed has put out there he has had them in there from day one before. The lamp is a heat lamp and then he wrap the rest of the tractor in plastic to keep it draft free.

Good option for Texas right now if you have the open area and electric close by.

 

[rhoda_bruce]

It is a cool set-up. I showed it to my husband. I wouldn't mind having a few of those to separate my araucanas into color varieties soon. To tell the truth, I'm mulling over just fencing in my whole yard for my meat birds and completely retiring the lawnmower. I used to have chickens running loose everywhere and I had to go on egg hunts everyday, but I woudn't have to with just roosters and hopefully capons.

 

[mamawolf544]

I free ranged my cornish last spring, they had no trouble coming home or roosting. When we processed them 1 got away...

I call him dinner, he is a massive roo that waddles like a duck and I dont have the heart to butcher him. And that big old boy will mate with any of my egglayers he can catch.