tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-471462053585171190.post5318183842636426860..comments2023-08-07T19:16:25.536-07:00Comments on Virid Views: Cornish Cross and turkeys- our first attemptSteve Carrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706114439618856525noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-471462053585171190.post-90858409707272216112016-10-05T10:32:21.887-07:002016-10-05T10:32:21.887-07:00I think you're right but we just feed the meat...I think you're right but we just feed the meat chick starter and all has worked out fine. When we raised our buckeyes for meat we used game bird starter on a neighbor's advice and I think that is higher than meat bird starter. Btw I'm sort of a neighbor as I live just south of the Wisconsin border about 75 miles northwest of Chicago. <br /><br />Margaretmargfhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03435952360436872605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-471462053585171190.post-61303853460051319652016-10-04T18:35:06.771-07:002016-10-04T18:35:06.771-07:00Hi Chris:
Actually, our Black Australorps were rea...Hi Chris:<br />Actually, our Black Australorps were ready last year after 12 weeks on full feed, but these Cornish this year were at weight in 9 weeks with rationed feeding!<br /><br />My wife and I are still in discussion as to the fate of our layers once they are no longer laying eggs. I am ready to pressure cook and can when it is time, but she has become a bit attached to them.<br /><br />We will of course continue to add to the flock each year as needed. I don't think I mentioned it, but two hens went broody this spring, so we got seven more pullets added to the flock this summer for "free".<br />Steve Carrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11706114439618856525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-471462053585171190.post-60499240078803319502016-10-04T18:26:44.485-07:002016-10-04T18:26:44.485-07:00Hi Margaret:
I think we'll do Cornish cross ag...Hi Margaret:<br />I think we'll do Cornish cross again next year, as they are so quick to get finished with and in the freezer. Maybe this time I'll try putting them in the same brooder, but I have been told that the poults need a different, higher protein starter than the chickens. What has your experience been?<br /><br />We've been lucky to have low predator pressure, so we free ranged the turkeys along with our laying hens. I still haven't built a tractor. For the cornish, we just set up an area with electronet, and they had plenty of room.<br />Steve Carrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11706114439618856525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-471462053585171190.post-70017056644835149042016-10-02T04:02:22.527-07:002016-10-02T04:02:22.527-07:00Hi Steve,
Well done and top work! Total respect f...Hi Steve,<br /><br />Well done and top work! Total respect for raising and processing your birds.<br /><br />Wow, 12 weeks is pretty fast growth, but I have no experience with that breed. You may laugh, but two of my chickens are about six and half years now and show no signs of slowing down. I reckon, their meat would be very tough now...<br /><br />Cheers<br /><br />ChrisFernglade Farmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06950962122594709186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-471462053585171190.post-91575113941694819572016-09-30T11:26:05.678-07:002016-09-30T11:26:05.678-07:00Hi Steve,
We've been raising Cornish Cross an...Hi Steve,<br /><br />We've been raising Cornish Cross and turkeys for over 25 years. Limiting feed is the key to less health issues for sure. When we first started we were advised to feed free choice and leave lights on all night - wow were we ignorant. Still we didn't have as many health issues then as later on so I think the genetics have changed over time. After brooding indoors for 4 weeks they go into a large chicken tractor which also has a door so they can forage further. As you know they don't tend to move too much so we put the feed or at least some of it outside, weather permitting, to force them to move. Another practice that has worked well to get them moving is to cut up extra cukes and zucchini and throw it to them before their feed when they are really hungry. They sure move then.<br /><br />I used to keep my turkeys and chickens separate but in recent years I get the turkeys and meat chicks at the same time and brood together as sometimes there isn't enough room to separate everyone. Sometimes I put the poults out in the turkey tractor for a time as well. We had a hawk lurking this year and the poults needed to get out so putting them with the chickens worked well. I didn't open the door to the tractor until I was sure the hawk had moved on. He/she got a turkey and meat chick before I got them out to the tractor. Those white bodies were like the dinner bell. I'm aware there's a risk putting them together but I don't think it's much and so far so good.<br /><br />Margaretmargfhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03435952360436872605noreply@blogger.com