It's week 7 and the Cornish Rocks have reached 5.5lbs. I expect them to reach 7 within the next week. Think I'm ready for what comes next. I have new knives, cones, a scaulder, a plucker, an evisceration table (actually it's for cleaning fish), plenty of tubs and coolers and shrink wrap bags and labels. I even have a new pop up canopy and tarps to block the view of the messy stuff from the neighbors in case they come by.
Out of the 38 I started with I've only lost 4. Two chicks died early. I also left 5 with the batch of egg layer chicks I bought. I moved most out in time but two got bullied, trampled or pecked to death. The couple of egg layers I left with the main batch of Cornish Rocks are doing well, but the eggs layers are too active for the much slower more feeble Cornish Rocks.
The "freezer chickens" are having trouble moving their heavy breasted bodies around the yard. It's almost comical, but having arthritis in my knees, feet and hands I kind of feel for them. My arthritis aches and pains seem a bit worse lately. Don't know if that's sympathy pains or just the cosmos telling me I should go vegan.
Couple lessons I've learned are to start them on the grass earlier (week 2 or 3) and put a few eggs layers in with them to show them how to forage and get around. The do forage some, but not as much as I had hoped they would. They pretty much wattle after me looking for hand outs.
But definitely don't leave any with a larger group of egg layers. Egg layers are significantly more active and aggressive than the eat, sleep and poop Cornish Rocks.
Out of the 38 I started with I've only lost 4. Two chicks died early. I also left 5 with the batch of egg layer chicks I bought. I moved most out in time but two got bullied, trampled or pecked to death. The couple of egg layers I left with the main batch of Cornish Rocks are doing well, but the eggs layers are too active for the much slower more feeble Cornish Rocks.
The "freezer chickens" are having trouble moving their heavy breasted bodies around the yard. It's almost comical, but having arthritis in my knees, feet and hands I kind of feel for them. My arthritis aches and pains seem a bit worse lately. Don't know if that's sympathy pains or just the cosmos telling me I should go vegan.
Couple lessons I've learned are to start them on the grass earlier (week 2 or 3) and put a few eggs layers in with them to show them how to forage and get around. The do forage some, but not as much as I had hoped they would. They pretty much wattle after me looking for hand outs.
Hoping starting them on grass younger might get them to forage more and reduce the feed bill. They are like Parana around the feeder. Then they fall asleep with their heads resting on the feeders so when they wake up they can start again.
