Posts
Over the winter, as I poured over hatchery catalogs, my husband and I talked about the possibility of raising meat chickens. We had eaten our excess Leghorn cockerels, but there were only a few of them. Now we wanted to stock the freezer in our goal to grow as much of our own food as possible. I was not sure I wanted to raise the Cornish Cross hybrid after reading too many articles from various magazines about how difficult they can be; however, my husband convinced me to give them a shot since they are most economical. So, I priced these hybrid meat chicks from many hatcheries and got some friends and family on board. In spring, I decided to order from my local feed store since they offered the best price. I placed my order for 40 Cornish Cross chicks and 12 layers (4 Rhode Island Reds, 4 Orpingtons, and 4 Barred Rocks).
A few weeks later, I received the call that my chicks had arrived and needed to be picked up ASAP. After work, I raced to the feed store where I was handed a box of 41 Cornish Cross and 13 layers (the 2 extras were freebies). When I got home, I knew who was who just by the color of their feathers. The Cornish Cross were the only yellow chicks in the box- there wasn't really a noticeable size difference- until I started feeding them.
The Cornish Cross chicks seemed to be bigger every time I checked on them! I fed them on a 12 hour on/ 12 hour off schedule as recommended. Within the first week, I noticed one not growing as fast as the others and it died. Another one died the second week- but it seemed as healthy as the rest (not sure why it died). Those two deaths left me with 39 fast growing chicks. Before I knew it, I was changing bedding material twice a day to keep the now 3 large brooding boxes of meat chicks clean and dry. These chicks were eating and pooping machines!
In contrast, my layers were less smelly, more active, and much smaller. They were all still in one brooding box and very healthy! Picking them up, I would feel a light body and breastbone in my hand. The meat birds felt almost "squishy" when picking up their juicy bodies. Sounds horrible, but I don't know how else to describe it.
At 4 weeks old, the squishy meat birds moved out into an 8ft. x 9 ft. chicken tractor which is moved daily to a fresh area of grass and berries. They are still on their 12 on/ 12 off feeding schedule (I raise the food up out of their reach at night). They didn't forage much to begin with, but now at almost 7 weeks old, they all but clear each patch daily. They love the wild blueberries!
We had one hen go lame on us. We noticed and removed her last week. She was being stepped on by the other birds and was not getting food or water. Putting her back in one of the brooding boxes, we gave her food and water within reach. We wondered if we would see her get stronger and be able to stand again as she seemed otherwise healthy. After 3 days, we knew her time had come- she was no worse, but she was not showing any sign of improvement. Our goal of raising our own food included making sure our food lives a happy life while it is here. This chicken was not a normal, happy chicken. Now down to 38 meat birds.
Every time I check on the chickens, they come running to the edge of the chicken tractor to see me. They have associated me with food and fresh water (I am not naive- I know they don't like me for ME). Still, they make me laugh with their awkward antics. I open the door to their tractor and they will waddle out. They gather around me and stand on my feet as I fill their waterer and feeder. Pecking at my shoes, they almost seem like regular chickens until they turn and try to run with their weighted breast slowing them down. They will flap their wings and try to get some flight, but don't get far off the ground (sometimes they get a good jump in, but not usually). I have to mention, this group is much more active than I thought they would be.
Coming upon butchering time, I find myself reflecting on my experience with these birds. They are totally different from my layers whom I love. This is a good thing because I have not become attached to these birds. I have always kept in mind that these were going to be food and not pets. Even still, they are like a "frankenbird" growing too fast and becoming front heavy with an abnormally large breast. Other than that one hen, I haven't seen any others develop leg problems or experience sudden death (flip over) yet. I worry about the next week- knowing the older and larger they get, the more likely problems are to arise.
My final thoughts- I think I would like to try a different hybrid (one that is more like a "real" chicken) like Freedom Rangers or Kosher Kings next time. They may take a few more weeks, but it would be worth it since they are healthier over all instead of risking heart attacks, respiratory difficulties, flip over, and leg problems. This fall, we will also probably have a few extra roosters for the freezer from the batches of chicks we hatched this spring (Rhode Island Reds, some Australorp crosses, and Wyandottes). In the future, we could also use our laying flock, as they are all dual purpose birds, to raise some birds for meat. Choices! Choices! All I know is that I am thankful I have choices which people who buy their chicken in the grocery store do not!
