Raising our 1st set of CX meaties

[acro1010]

Them Cornish cross have large breasts even as chicks. Has anyone found anything to change their taste for the better. Meaning some say they are bland when compared to large Heritage birds.

 

[Angelicisi]

I've only had compliments on flavor so far so I'm keeping them free ranging and fed from the gardens in addition to their daily feed rations, we ferment an organic feed and they thrive on it at 2 feedings a day. Free ranging cuts feed costs too. Double reward!

Feed them a quality food any way you raise them and they won't be bland.
A heritage bird has a more gamey flavor to me, but its still good, I just prefer to do different recipes with them .

 

[acro1010]

I've only had compliments on flavor so far so I'm keeping them free ranging and fed from the gardens in addition to their daily feed rations, we ferment an organic feed and they thrive on it at 2 feedings a day. Free ranging cuts feed costs too. Double reward!

Feed them a quality food any way you raise them and they won't be bland.
A heritage bird has a more gamey flavor to me, but its still good, I just prefer to do different recipes with them

.

That's so funny, you and at least one other person have free ranged theirs and the places that sell them always say they don't do good free ranged. I suppose that's those who care for theirs as minimal as possible and loose too many due to their own negligence.

 

[Angelicisi]

This is exactly right.
Minimum care will lead to negligent deaths.
If you can keep them watered and protected you're golden! Protection free ranging is HARD. We have a property fence, dog patrolled. We trap constantly and shoot. Biggest predator are birds of prey cant kill/shoot/trap them. Free ranging chickens are wonderful practice for the young falcons, kites, eagles and hawks. Owls collect strays that aren't hearded in the coops at night. It's a constant watch and still have a 4-8% loss due to predators. We even hang nets to help give them some shelter from ariel predators but not fool proof.
Water sources are needed too. We have a stream, a pond and a 35 gallon reservoir auto waterer inside each coop.
It's a lot of work free ranging. Worth it for our set up at this time tho

Because of the short time to butcher its easier to take the CX and pen them, this helps minimize losses. They DO act like chickens but they are easier targets free ranging so its a lot more work. Those who sell them want you to do it the easiest way possible to bang out as many as possible. Good business for them. And you if you go that way! But I'm after a certain meat. I want them to have a great life being a chicken a fat one...but still a chicken.
I want all natural, fed from my organic gardens a local organic feeds.
We bought a store bought whole CX and had one of ours dressed next to it. We got the store bird to examine the inside (customers kept saying our birds had less fat a nd cleaner insides, great livers and hearts...) They did indeed! I think it makes a difference in the quality/taste of the meat free ranging. Sure makes a difference in my eggs

That's so funny, you and at least one other person have free ranged theirs and the places that sell them always say they don't do good free ranged. I suppose that's those who care for theirs as minimal as possible and loose too many due to their own negligence.

 

[Angelicisi]

:cd
Just in time!

 

[LindaB220]

Just in time!

Nice, where did you get it?

 

[Angelicisi]

He found it on amazon
Paid $170 I think but we were wasting a lot of time on the crawfish pot/burner holding temps so hopefully this will help that!

 

[CrazyTalk]

Just in time!

Does that have a temperature controller on it somewhere? Looks to me like it's basically a shop sink with a water heater element on it, and a drop in thermometer.

 

[Angelicisi]

It does have a temp control on side! Whoops, i'll get a pic tomorrow of the electric box on side.

 Does that have a temperature controller on it somewhere? Looks to me like it's basically a shop sink with a water heater element on it, and a drop in thermometer.  

 

[Angelicisi]

50 CX chicks arrived this morning!

Have 30 full grow birds to process tomorrow.

And processed 32 week before last
Along with 6 rabbits.