tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post1174681992956696296..comments2024-03-24T19:45:21.933-04:00Comments on Natural Chicken Keeping: Free Ranging Cornish Cross (CX) Meat BirdsBulldogmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04773653470602929019noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-10304296373930442452015-08-20T11:01:42.331-04:002015-08-20T11:01:42.331-04:00Starter has a higher protein ratio than grower and...Starter has a higher protein ratio than grower and will account for the size difference.Stephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09147531031614586040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-26960461660653232552014-11-23T08:29:59.808-05:002014-11-23T08:29:59.808-05:00Most animals on big corporation farms are fed anti...Most animals on big corporation farms are fed antibiotics to actually increase their weight gain. If the others are feeding medicated feed that makes since especially if they are feeding medicated grower feeds because they will include things in their specifically for growth and weight gain. sorry im so late in replying, I JUST saw this.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09217729430111783786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-74546512242487121962014-07-16T12:55:07.383-04:002014-07-16T12:55:07.383-04:00Thank you for all your help!Thank you for all your help!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-19972953657993788762014-07-15T21:20:55.488-04:002014-07-15T21:20:55.488-04:00That is a possibility. It won't hurt them, but...That is a possibility. It won't hurt them, but they won't grow as fast. They do much better with all the extra vitamins and nutrients present in grower feed. :-)Bulldogmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773653470602929019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-18680770920613924452014-07-15T14:28:29.754-04:002014-07-15T14:28:29.754-04:00Another thought just crossed my mind. We get our f...Another thought just crossed my mind. We get our feed from a farm that we trust, but its possible they accidentally gave us layer ration instead of grower ration. The bags aren't marked, so can't say for sure. I'm assuming that would stunt growth, would it cause any other issues?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-76849034184156109092014-07-15T13:12:49.859-04:002014-07-15T13:12:49.859-04:00ThanksThanksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-64866862564227783082014-07-15T11:09:29.771-04:002014-07-15T11:09:29.771-04:00Honestly, at their age parasites shouldn't be ...Honestly, at their age parasites shouldn't be a problem. Check under their wings and look for lice / mites. If they don't have any, just make sure they are getting plenty of food. For fairs and the need to make weight, you don't want to limit their feed. If they are having a hard time with the fermented feed, sprinkle dry on top to encourage them to eat more. Bulldogmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773653470602929019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-11375002106930335492014-07-15T11:00:34.212-04:002014-07-15T11:00:34.212-04:00Thanks for you reply.
They are slightly less than...Thanks for you reply.<br /><br />They are slightly less than three weeks, so not free ranging yet. They are about about half the size of my friends birds which came from the same place on the same day as mine. Right now I don't see them making the 2 lb. @ 5 weeks lower limit for sale at the fair. One of the largest ones was only 1/3 lb. at 14 days. They seem to like the food, they inhale it when I set it down. I had one of those closed top chick feeders with the head holes, they seemed to have a hard time getting all the food out of that, now that I've taken the top off, they clean it out. <br /><br />I'm not worried about the slower growth, but I don't want to disappoint my kids that they can't sell them if they don't make weight.<br /><br />Should the pumpkin seeds be whole or shelled?<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-49249092679077651512014-07-14T11:18:29.214-04:002014-07-14T11:18:29.214-04:00Hmmm... no - in fact they should be growing a bit ...Hmmm... no - in fact they should be growing a bit faster with the fermented feed and lack of Amprolium in their systems. Are you free ranging them? This would probably be why they are growing slower - they are getting more of a workout and relying on bugs.<br /><br />Raising chickens *naturally* and raising chickens to make market weight are two different things. That's not to say you can't sell birds that have been raised naturally and organically, but it does take longer. <br /><br />If you are not free ranging, then boost their feed intake, make sure there is no kahm yeast in your ferment (they don't like it - see our Fermented Feed tab at the top if you have questions about this) and check them for parasites. Ground pumpkin seeds will help naturally rid them of parasites.Bulldogmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773653470602929019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-70501034500398146632014-07-13T22:55:16.383-04:002014-07-13T22:55:16.383-04:00Do you find that on unmedicated feed that they gro...Do you find that on unmedicated feed that they grow a little slower? We are raising Cornish for market birds at our local 4H fair, we feed unmedicated fermented grower. Our chicks are considerably smaller than our friends who use medicated starter. We are afraid they won't make weight for the fair.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-13493671572373755682013-12-12T17:32:26.863-05:002013-12-12T17:32:26.863-05:00Justine does soak/ferment the chicken feed.Justine does soak/ferment the chicken feed.Bulldogmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773653470602929019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-4507796673568884942013-12-12T17:31:47.183-05:002013-12-12T17:31:47.183-05:00Justine fed limited amounts 2ce a day.Justine fed limited amounts 2ce a day.Bulldogmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773653470602929019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-80299939576575726122013-10-23T19:44:54.107-04:002013-10-23T19:44:54.107-04:00Do you ferment this? Approximately what ratio of s...Do you ferment this? Approximately what ratio of starter to scratch? <br /><br />We are thinking about raising some broiler chickens next year and I'm looking at ways to cut our feed costs. Our chickens will be in Polyface Farm-style chicken tractors on good pasture. The Harried Homemakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16040000001377493416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-40817539914466615022013-10-14T12:41:31.109-04:002013-10-14T12:41:31.109-04:00I want to try some as well in the spring. This was...I want to try some as well in the spring. This was VERY useful info! Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-48200560932532250542013-10-13T21:36:34.388-04:002013-10-13T21:36:34.388-04:00We feed them starter (unmedicated) with scratch gr...We feed them starter (unmedicated) with scratch grains. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11611580467252417444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-79905146667082093402013-10-13T21:13:25.369-04:002013-10-13T21:13:25.369-04:00Thanks again. This IS inspiring and makes me look...Thanks again. This IS inspiring and makes me look forward to trying some meaties as soon as I have adequate housing for them next spring.Leahs Momnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-43809562695241896792013-10-13T12:43:28.347-04:002013-10-13T12:43:28.347-04:00And do you feed them Flock Raiser? We'd like ...And do you feed them Flock Raiser? We'd like to have some Cornish Cross next spring.Allisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11488175837120460742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-15710245656316059492013-10-13T12:34:52.121-04:002013-10-13T12:34:52.121-04:00So we have a question :) Besides free-ranging, ho...So we have a question :) Besides free-ranging, how did you offer their chicken feed? It looks like you didn't leave it out available to them all day. Did you feed them 2x a day? Some details in your feeding pattern would be great help. Thanks.Allisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11488175837120460742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-54623334278900366092013-10-12T23:27:07.666-04:002013-10-12T23:27:07.666-04:00I really appreciate the week by week account of ra...I really appreciate the week by week account of raising your Cornish X. I've read other posts & forum threads that also show that these birds can be raised cleanly & humanely. Thank you for adding your experience to the others out there.Jeanettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08754630646856622104noreply@blogger.com