Raising our 1st set of CX meaties

[Angelicisi]

If she lives and doesn't have a freakish growth spurt lol I'll keep her maybe. All the stories I found of crook necks weren't to much of a happy ending!

Hubby Hates dressing small birds so this might be her get outta butcher free card!

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.

 

[CackedNut]

If she lives and doesn't have a freakish growth spurt lol I'll keep her maybe. All the stories I found of crook necks weren't to much of a happy ending!

Hubby Hates dressing small birds so this might be her get outta butcher free card!

Her own Christmas miracle!!

 

[Angelicisi]

Lol! No pressure...

Her own Christmas miracle!! 

 

[CackedNut]

I

Lol! No pressure...

None!

 

[kuntrygirl]

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! 

Congrats on your new chicks. Sorry that you lost some . Keep us posted on their progress.

 

[Angelicisi]

So I had just mixed a batch of feed, a friend asked me for some Scooby juice lol...I keep a concentrated bucket bubbling in the cupboard in case I use up my whole batch on accident
And then... I saw a thread asking about recipes and posted what I had just done. Since its for the Nuggets in this batch ill post it here too.

I just made this (3 technically to last a few days lol)

One 5 gallon bucket of fermented feed:

16lbs dry feed (any feed you use, starter/layer/grains. In any form, pellets/mash/crumbles/whole or cracked grains)
3 gallons of water
1/4 cup liquid ACV

Mixed it really well. I keep a 4th gallon of water on hand if the feed if still too dry (it will absorb the water over an hour or so, longer for grains)

I have lids for my buckets that snap to close.

I use a plastic 2 cup measuring cup with a handle I got for $2 at the dollar store lol i drilled holes in the bottom of it as a scoop. The holes let any excess liquid drain back into the bucket when I'm feeding.

I set this scoop handle on the rim of the bucket and snap the lid half closed to allow it to breathe. Let it sit 24-72 hours depending on temp. Warmer (70s) ferments faster than colder.

It will bubble and smell a lil sour like dough but its not a bad smell almost sweet. Means its working. Stir it when you feed. Every few feedings add feed and water if needed and stir well and keep a perpetual bucket going. Save the liquid from batches to jump start more batches for you or a friend that doesn't wanna wait future batches don't need more ACV, I do add a splash here n there, doesn't hurt but not "needed".

They get it from the start

And still rush me to get at it

This is the batch I just did.

 

[Angelicisi]

Huh. I have a pullet sitting on her knees?
Runs fine but walks crooked today, legs sorta point up. Both are in tact and not splayed outwards. Eats fine, nice and large but not the biggest.

 

[pipemum]

I think that pullet is destined for the dinner table, a bit early.

The dog that was attacked by mama chicken? Had to go to the vet today. Despite being on antibiotics since Monday, his face was getting worse and worse. The wound had to be drained and he may have dead skin which will require surgery and $$$. Woo for little Buddy healing well!

Chicks are doing well. All 14 seem to be thriving.

 

[Angelicisi]

Awww sorry to hear he had to see the vet.

Yay the babies are doing good!

I have 50 arriving the 3rd lol hope February is kind to us weather wise!

I think that pullet is destined for the dinner table, a bit early.

The dog that was attacked by mama chicken? Had to go to the vet today. Despite being on antibiotics since Monday, his face was getting worse and worse. The wound had to be drained and he may have dead skin which will require surgery and $$$. Woo for little Buddy healing well!

Chicks are doing well. All 14 seem to be thriving.

 

[Angelicisi]

They're almost 3bs now. Eating once in the morning and once in the evening. This big boy is 3 and a quarter lbs...but most are at right about 3.

Plucker came today! Yay!