Oh boy, what have I done?

[bobm]

Monty, sounds like maybe you should let that tractor supply place know that some of their chicks have a problem.

I'm reading a little about those cornish cross chickens. they really seem to be one of the most difficult to raise. Require 22% protein feed, a lot of it, and with such rapid growth they grow faster than their leg bones can carry. Sounds like it'd be similar to a baby human gaining weight so fast it'd weigh 200 pounds in 2 years. They do not even recommend trying to raise them to full maturity. If I ever got chickens, I'm not sure I'd want a purebred cornish cross.

On the other hand, I suppose that without knowing it, I've eaten a lot of them.

How did the sick ones make it through the night?

The Cornish X chicken is one of the easyest chickens one can raise IF one aquires the knowledge to raise them. The stories that abound over the back fence are just past on by those that do not care enough to cater to their needs. As the old Scottish proverb goes... " The eye of the master fattens the cattle" . You see, they were selectivly bred to grow very rapidly ( there is NO truth to the claims by some that they have been geneticaly engeneered as that tecknowledgy did not exist when they were selectivey produced about a half century ago) ) and to produce abundent meat in the shortest amount of time. They are to most efficient converter of feed to meat of any breed or type in all of chickendom. They are fed 20 % feed ( mine sure are) , they do eat a lot but they grow so fast that they actually eat less feed over their 35 days or 8 weeks to processing vs. many more weeks of age for other so called " heritage " breeds. Also a ton less in one's labor. I have raised quite a few of them with 0 losses for the past 3 1/2 years . I process them at 8 weeks of age for an average of 5 lbs. of meat for friers and roasters. I also started to process them at 35 days of age for an average of 2.2 lb. of meat Cornish Game Hens which give us 2 meals for my wife and myself. If you have baught a chichen from a grocery store or a fast food chain , you have eated a Cornish X. Also, if one pencils out the cost of production of chicken meat from one's own back yard , one will find it much less expensive to raise the Cornish X than the other types.

 

[MontyJ]

Here they are.

It was a little crowded at first. Note to self, buying chickens is not a late evening, spur of the moment event.

I got off a little early today and borrowed a few materials from the remodel next door. They are much happier in their new temporary digs:

The little meatie I was worried about seems fine today. It's bouncing around like all the others and appears to be breathing normally. I cleaned up the bare area around the neck and don't see any infection. I'll keep a close eye on it. All of the sneezing has stopped as well. I think it was the dust from the brand new bedding and all the scrambling around they were doing at first.

 

[catjac1975]

Make sure it is not too hot. Around 98 to start. Dip it's beak in water a couple of times. Sometimes they need to be taught how to drink and eat.

I went browsing in tractor supply this evening and found Black Australorps for $.75 each, Cornish Cross for $.75 each and red breed varieties for $2.99. What's a guy to do? I bought 10 Cornish X, 6 Austrolorps, and 4 red breeds. 20 chickens? What the heck was I thinking? I didn't even have a brooder set up! After a hectic scramble to find boxes big enough to hold them, all is well. Of course I now owe the DW 2 new storage tubs for her yarn and crafting supplies.

Damn those voices.

I already have a chicken problem. One of the meaties has no feathers around its little neck. It also seems a bit lethargic compared to the others. It was panting earlier just after I got them home. Is this going to be a problem? Also, do chicks normaly sneeze? I have noticed a few of the other meaties sneezing. This concerns me a bit.

 

[so lucky]

Monty, you may be able to avoid problems with "pasty butt" if you start using a little apple cider vinegar in their drinking water. No more than a tablespoon in a gallon of water. Lots of folks swear by it, as I do. Be sure if you do see pasty butt that you clean it off immediately, cause it will back up in them and kill them. That's my biggest piece of advice. And don't try giving them any food other than chick starter till you provide sand or chick grit for them. I used parakeet grit for mine.

 

[MontyJ]

I don't think it's too hot. I just got back from town with a thermometer and hung it in the brooder. There is plenty of room for them to get away from the heat. It is eating and drinking. I think they all are but it's hard to tell with 20 of them all running around in there. I'll add the ACV to tomorrows water. I did add Sav-a-chick. I read that you should use sav-a-chick, but nobody ever says which one. I found Probiotic and Electrolyte, so I used both of them. They have had a lot of excitement in the last 24 hours so I'm going to let them relax out in the barn tonight then first thing tomorrow morning it will be butt inspections.

 

[baymule]

Cute chickies Monty. You got a great deal, I am so jealous!

 

[canesisters]

I'm so glad that they're all doing so well! Look at those chunky little cornish heffers!! What a good chick dad you are.

 

[bj taylor]

i love the idea of parakeet grit. i'll remember that one.
they sure are cute.

 

[MontyJ]

What a good chick dad you are.

I have 4 daughters, so lot's of experience with chicks DW says I'm a chick magnet

 

[Chickie'sMomaInNH]

Monty, are those layers mixed sexes? i think that pic of the one eyeing the camera might be a up and coming roo. something about the curvature of the beak just screams to me roo. it's one of the things i look at early on my birds. seems to work for me but might not for everyone.