The road less traveled...back to good health! They have lice, mites, scale mites, worms, anemia, gl

[Bulldogma]

I think the next breed that had been asked about was the RIR and this is a great breed to discuss. That one will take a bit and I'll borrow pics from Fred, with his permission already given on the BRs and the red pics. You simply will not believe the difference in the old timey birds and the modern day version.

Everyone will tell you to get the Freedom Rangers but many reports on them over on the meat thread will tell you that they have a smaller carcass and the feed conversion isn't the greatest. You will also see many, many, many posts devoted to the fact that CX aren't chickens, they are Frankenchickens, they won't forage because~too lazy, too slow, not good foragers, too heavy, not motivated. Whenever someone says that to me I just show my meaty videos and they pretty much fade out of that argument.

Truly? The CX are the best foragers I've ever seen in chickens, bar none. They aren't as wary as a good free ranging bird because they are hungry, hungry hippos and when larger, don't move as quickly as other breeds to make it to shelter. I had Jake and the hand of God on my meaty flock this year and it went so very well...they foraged all over 3 acres of cleared land.

They are funny and sweet...had one jump up on the picnic table between the Bat and I~without even a by your leave~ and settle down for a nap while I petted her. This is a bird that had never been handled before...they are pretty moochy and sweet if folks take the time to get to know them. They also pack on meat quicker and better than any other breed out there. Here is a pic of my first batch running with the layer flock.

These birds were 8 wks in this pic. The one standing by Toby is the CX and there are a few in the background also...remember 2 mo. old bird standing next to a full grown rooster and both fed on layer ration and some cracked corn mixed into the meaty ration:

Great info! It's hard to believe how huge they get in 8 short weeks! Should I just order CX from a hatchery or is it best to try to get them locally?

BDM,

Feel free to use any of my photos of Ruby.

They are in this gallery somewhere. She's heritage quality. I agree with Bee on the temperament. She's quite the doll. I call her pigeon sometimes as well. She seems to coo like one when she has to lay an egg.

Also considering the CX for spring.

Aoxa - thanks for the permissions!! I have a feeling I'll be using plenty of your photos in the future.

Speaking of photos,
...so there I was - on my belly, lying half under a big evergreen with a flock of chickens...






Millie enjoying a snack of leftover ff that was stuck on Lady Silvia Runnybutt's face.

 

[Beekissed]

Aoxa, that is one very beautiful bird! I wish you'd flash some of your coop candy on the OT...those old guys would sure be droolin' some of your birds.

 

[colburg]

For going on vacation, I just scoop out FF into appropriate portions for someone to just dump out for the chickens. Friends, customers, neighbors, and family are all more than willing to help.

Example for leaving for 4 days. Since I feed about 1.5 gallons of feed once a day anyway, it's pretty simple. I fill 8 1gal buckets 3/4 full. Tell whoever's coming to feed them to just grab 2 buckets/day and dump into the feeder. The feed in those buckets will just keep fermenting while it's waiting. I've gone up to 5 days without stirring a bucket of FF and it's been fine.

 

[aoxa]

Aoxa, that is one very beautiful bird! I wish you'd flash some of your coop candy on the OT...those old guys would sure be droolin' some of your birds.

Are you kidding? With Fred's rocks? I drool over his constantly. Gorgeous rocks.

I'll have to do that sometime though. Wish I could get my hands on some of the rocks you guys have in the US. Shame!!

 

[Bulldogma]

Aoxa, that is one very beautiful bird!

Xs 2!!

 

[aoxa]

Great info! It's hard to believe how huge they get in 8 short weeks! Should I just order CX from a hatchery or is it best to try to get them locally?

Aoxa - thanks for the permissions!! I have a feeling I'll be using plenty of your photos in the future.

Speaking of photos,
...so there I was - on my belly, lying half under a big evergreen with a flock of chickens...






Millie enjoying a snack of leftover ff that was stuck on Lady Silvia Runnybutt's face.

How do you keep from getting all dirty? Great pictures! Love that one where Millie was eating a snack off Runnybutt!

 

[Ashdoes]

I had also been wondering what to do while we go on vacation. I have always "used" Airmen. Hubby always has some airmen that would like to stay in a real house, instead of the barracks (air force calls them dorms, I just can't bring myself to do it). So we offer them to come stay at the house for however many days, and all they have to do is take care of the animals. I like this option since I prefer not to send the dogs to a kennel to get sick, and now that we have chickens they need to be looked after. Also with the chickens I don't want to switch them to pellets for a week, then back to FF.
I'm hoping, since we're at a new base, we can find someone responsible enough to come and take care of our animals. I wish there was a way to free choice the FF, but I can't think of any.

 

[Bulldogma]

How do you keep from getting all dirty?

Ummmmm........ I don't!

But as silly as it sounds, it was SO very relaxing just laying in the sun, half under a tree and surrounded by a flock of content cooks.

 

[jlynnet]

...

I'm sorry about your mom
Thanks! I miss her lots. Ten yrs seems like yesterday. My oldest was only 3. I know my Mom would be in the kitchen with me while I bake cookies for Christmas.
My Mom had a dehydrator. Not really sure what she did with it though.

 

[Sally8]

Back to chickens....Recently I read somewhere exactly how a rooster fertilizes a hen (eggs) and I thought it's a wonder we have any chicks. Then, because they have no discretion, I saw it happen. Honestly, I'm putting that right in my book of miracles. I couldn't believe it! I grew up on a farm, saw all that. Saw a mother pig eat a chicken live and whole. That hasn't left my memory since I was 12. The chickens were amazing, and I thought I knew all that. Hmm.