Raising our 1st set of CX meaties

[kuntrygirl]

Don't be scared! Do be excited lol (talk to me in two weeks lol)
We got an Ez plucker 151 coming next Friday...50 more chicks on the 3rd and now he wants MORE. Sad we didn't order more Jan 3rd broilers lol

I'm getting excited about mine but scared.

Ewwwwwwww. I"m jealous with the EZ plucker. I wish I had some EZ Money to buy an EZ plucker.

 

[Angelicisi]

We didn't have the $ either...we gotta sell a lot of chickens to cover our bills lol using the money from selling off layers. Gonna need more layers lmao dang it, whoops. Less I can get these lil balls of meat laying! Ahahaha
But long term we want to do this and the plucker will help us keep our sanity as the numbers grow lol

Ewwwwwwww. I"m jealous with the EZ plucker. I wish I had some EZ Money to buy an EZ plucker.

Edited by staff

 

[LindaB220]

Ewwwwwwww. I"m jealous with the EZ plucker. I wish I had some EZ Money to buy an EZ plucker.

So very DITTO.....

 

[Angelicisi]

So they're going on their 5th week. Weighing about 2 n a half pounds.

Been really warm days and nights all week they've been all over the place, I love it lol they chase me and follow me and sometimes I make um work for it.

Crook is still tiny poor thing but hanging with the big nuggets! I put a bandaid on his/her legs attaching them together when they splayed out. Lasted 2 days before adhesive wore off and she can walk now. Wobbles a lil bit but runs just fine lol.

Cold snap rolling through this week. Nights in the upper 20s. Ug. They have shelter and huge piles of leaves in the coop. I hope I don't make an error thinking they're good outdoors niw :/ I didn't sleep last night worrying about the next few days lol they invade my dreams now imma chicken addict

 

[Angelicisi]

Crook...same age, same feed, still tiny and I always make sure she gets her fill.

 

[pipemum]

My 15 broilers arrived on Friday. I think they are all red and black broilers...the hatchery said the cx hatch was dismal, but I guess I misunderstood--I thought I'd get a couple of regular CX, but looks like they are all red/black broilers. They shipped 16, one arrived dead, and one died the first day. Both black. A couple more of the black ones look weak as well.

The Ecoglow heater is....AWESOME. Holy moly. So far, the best money I've spent on chickens yet. But, it only had 2 days of use. When the chicks came, I put 6 under my broody hen. She took to them instantly. The rest were in a separate brooder with the ecoglow. The chicks with a mama...hardly any peeping. Super happy. The chicks under the ecoglow were more quiet than any chicks I've had in the past, but still peeped more than the chicks with a mama. Yesterday, I finished my outdoor brooder, and stuck ALL 14 chicks under the hen. Happy, happy chicks. It got down to 32 last night, and I check on the mama hen a few times...every chick is under her. Somehow. Mama is a Polish/silkie mix, so it's not like she's a big chicken.

My littlest dog, Buddy, wandered a little too close to the chicks yesterday. Mama bolted from the brooder (I was taking pictures with the door open) and laid my poor dog flat. His face is totally swollen and messed up this morning. Poor thing. He didn't know what hit him. He's not extremely healthy to begin with--valley fever that's not responding well to meds--and I hope this isn't going to turn into another $$$ vet visit. I plied him with antibiotic eye cream, rimadyl, and tramadol this morning, so he should be feeling much better!

Angelicisi, I think your chicks will be fine outdoors now. They are big enough to be producing a lot of heat! I wonder if Crook, when she/he is big enough, might make a tasty Cornish game hen. I loved how friendly the CX were!

 

[pipemum]

Crook...same age, same feed, still tiny and I always make sure she gets her fill.

She's so tiny!

Yeah, they'll be totally fine in the cold snap!

 

[Angelicisi]

That's so reassuring lol I do not want to bring them in unless its an emergency.
I think the order on the 3rd I'm getting is broilers...red most likely but we don't exactly know yet :/

That's awesome your broody is working for you! Yay! I've never had a hen go broody on me when I do OH MAN she's getting a zillion chicks! Well a lot anyways hehe

Sorry you lost the two. A lot I've read says shipping losses can be high. hopefully your others will perk up awesomely for their lil Super Mama!

Sucks about your dog...sometimes the friendly ones take a whooping hope it doesn't lead to vet visit.

 

[pipemum]

I've noticed the red broiler chicks are quite aggressive! They run over to my hand and peck away already--I'm used to chicks running away from the mighty hand! I hope they aren't going to be mean as they age.

I think it's pretty funny that my chicken is broody already--she was only laying eggs for a couple of weeks before the instinct kicked in! I'd read that both Polish and silkies both tend to be broody...didn't think it'd kick in immediately at maturity though! She got a double dose of the broody gene, lol. I'm glad the broodiness is working out--otherwise, I'll never get another fluffy crested bird again--not being able to see makes them act dumb.

 

[BCMaraniac]

Crook...same age, same feed, still tiny and I always make sure she gets her fill.

Is she going be a keeper, or perhaps a Cornish hen? I would think regardless that she will be a hard one to make a decision about.