i’m not clucking around
OK OK, enough with the puns! Hey ladies, are you ready to get your hands dirty and raise some meat birds? As a homesteading mama, I’ve learned a lot raising poultry for the first time. And let me tell you, raising Cornish Cross meat birds is no walk in the park. But don’t worry, I’m here to dish out all the juicy details (pun intended) on how to successfully raise these plump little birds.
FIRST THINGS FIRST,
Let’s talk about the common pitfalls of raising Cornish Cross meat birds. These birds can be prone to heart attacks and leg problems, so it’s crucial to provide them with ample space and exercise. Trust me, you don’t want to be dealing with a flock of dead birds because they were cooped up all day. Also, these birds grow at a rapid pace, so it’s important to monitor their feed intake and make sure they don’t become too overweight.
One of the biggest pitfalls of raising Cornish Cross meat birds is overfeeding. It can be tempting to let them eat as much as they want, but you need to monitor their intake and make sure they don’t get too big too fast or their hearts can burst. Another pitfall is overcrowding – make sure they have plenty of room to move around and stretch their wings; they need to be moving around to keep their legs strong or they’ll break under the weight. And finally, don’t forget about the importance of fresh air and clean water.
now onto the good stuff
Tips for success! One of the most important aspects of raising Cornish Cross meat birds is choosing the right breeder. Make sure to do your research and buy from a reputable breeder, even if it costs you a little extra per chick. If you don’t, they could be more expensive in the long run due to unexpected losses from purchasing less than healthy chicks. We went with the cheapest we could find, and ended up with only 15 out of our initial purchase of 25 chicks making it to butcher.
Secondly, providing ample space and ventilation for your birds is key. We kept our initial run of 25 birds in an apple crate that we turned into a brooder, then moved them outside under a chicken tractor when they were big enough! I recommend around 2 square feet per bird indoors and even more outdoors. I don’t actually know what we ended up with space wise. Just know, meat birds are SMELLY, so plan on keeping them somewhere away from the areas you frequent a lot, and downwind if possible. Trust me.
So, how long should you raise them for before processing? Cornish Cross meat birds typically reach their full size in 6-8 weeks, so plan accordingly. It’s important to note that these birds can’t live much longer than that, or else they’ll start to suffer from health problems. We had one late in the process that we found dead in the run… we’re betting it’s heart just gave out from working too hard to support such fast growth.
Lastly, let’s chat about the best time to get started with raising Cornish Cross meat birds. I recommend starting in the spring or early summer when the weather is warm and there’s plenty of daylight. This will provide optimal growing conditions for your birds and allow them to thrive. Ultimately, pick a time where you’re not too busy, because once it’s time to butcher, you’ll need to block out a time frame to make it happen. If you’re locked in with your kids sports tournaments, or wanting to go camping, it can throw a crimp in the plans to have to butcher instead!
One last thought… you don’t HAVE to do the processing yourself. If it saves you time and headache, there are people locally (and even locally to you) who will do it for a small fee. We ended up having someone else process ours this year, and it was well worth it, as we were extremely short on time. In the end we have a freezer full of home grown chicken, and that’s all that matters!
Some valuable insights from our first year with meat birds
1. Order more than you want to end up with. We split an order with our neighbors, and then also split feed costs and care. I wanted 10 in the freezer, and so did they, so we ordered 25. After losing 40% of our purchase, we only ended up with 7 & 8 birds in the freezer. Next time we’ll purchase from a different breeder and probably do a run of 40 birds total.
2. Get the right equipment or plan on borrowing some. You will need MULTIPLE feeders and waterers. Meat birds drink a lot of water. We did something like THIS FEEDER when they were young, and then graduated them to a bucket feeder like THIS ONE when they were older. For waterers, the standard METAL FOUND WATERERS work great. We needed 3 – 2 gallon waterers to keep them well supplied during our hot days.
What will you need to process them? If you’re doing a large amount, a CHICKEN PLUCKER will save you a ton of time and headache. It looks like a washing machine drum, that you dip the bird into and it beats the feathers off of it. It’s kind of fun. They’re a little expensive to start off with, so if you know a friend who has one, don’t be afraid to ask to borrow it, or even better, maybe they’ll partner with you and offer to show you how to do it all!
Lastly, you’ll need some sharp knives (I have Havalon Blades I love to use) and some KILLING CONES – these can just be orange traffic cones mounted upside down though too if that’s what you have though. It’s not important you buy exactly the ones I linked. That’s just to give you an idea of what to look for. You put the chickens head through the bottom to slice the artery so they can bleed out with a minimum of mess.
Ladies, raising Cornish Cross meat birds may be a challenge, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. With proper care and attention, you’ll be able to produce high-quality meat for your family and friends. Just remember to avoid those pesky pitfalls, raise them for the appropriate amount of time, and start in the right season. Good luck, and happy homesteading!
Written by Jessica
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