CCX

[CrealCritter]

I lost a about 10 from heat lamps being too close....but it was in the 60s, not the 30s

Nice having a window to look inside. Just checked it's 32 outside, 55 in the coop, 4 sitting in the feed tray, the rest scattered around the heat lamps. Typical big fat fatty CCX's - fingers crossed.

If I can get them past this week it might warm back up again. Although I doubt it... Though, they will be more feathered by then.

Monday and Tuesday brrr overnight. I have one more heat lamp I could stick in there that would be 750 watts or pulling a little north of 6 amps.

I knew keeping them warm was going to be a challenge when I bought them but I ain't scared of a challenge. If your scared, say your scared

 

[Chic Rustler]

you got this.

 

[Beekissed]

Couldn't think they of a better place to be a stinky meat chicken for 8 or so weeks. 8'x16' secure tack room inside the barn, a cement floor, nice thick layer of hay, 2x 250 watt heat lamps, food and water, heck they even have a window if we get any warm days and for ventilation when needed. What more could a cornish cross want?

From man door
View attachment 15032
Looking in from the window outside.
View attachment 15033

Ventilation and lots of it. I'd pop that window wide open and you'll likely need more venting than that as they grow.

Good eatin'!

 

[CrealCritter]

Mc-Nasties

 

[baymule]

See that one in the middle with no tail feathers and a bald butt? Yea that's because I opened the window and it froze it's butt off 🤣

He is a victim of NOASSATALL!!!

 

[farmerjan]

It may not be considered the "right feed" but I feed all my birds once they are out of the chick starter stage, a layer pellet that I buy in bulk. It is 16% protein, and I have a formulation that has added DE for possible worms in the gut tract. Also they boost the vit package a bit. The birds lay well and the ccx grow well. I also will toss out some scratch feed/cracked corn as the ccx like it and it gets them actually doing a little scratching around. Since I get these ccx at about 8 weeks.... they are past the starter stage, and I am not going to have 6 kinds of feed around. It works and is cheaper since I get 2 tons at a time delivered into the bulk feed bin. Plus, I am not pushing them to grow and the extra calcium in the feed for the layers, for egg making, seems to get their legs a little bit stronger.....

 

[Beekissed]

The room is inside the barn, it was a tack room. It ain't wet at all, the hay is dry. I had access to lots of leaves before the windstorm came from the south and blow them all into my neighbors place north of me I love it went my yard gets cleaned up for me. My wife was all about the raking and on the night before she was going to rake the windstorm came.

I have the window cracked and the bottom of the plywood door ajar. It don't stink so much in there now. As a matter of fact I didn't even change out any hay today because it don't stink so bad anymore.

I don't care what anyone says... CCX are nothing but stinky couch potato chickens.

Mine never were but then I free range mine after 2 wks of age, so all the poop is not concentrated in one place. That's one reason I don't get CX in the late fall/winter.

 

[CrealCritter]

You are on your way! Bee is the Fermented Feed Queen! The dirty birdies drink less water on fermented feed. You are going to like this. It’s a little more work but so worth it.

Just remember you ladies put me up to this being a guy who is into fermentation, I can already see how this will be beneficial. It's gotta be good for their digestive tract at the very least. But I can also see the nuterient benefits. Fermentation makes nuterients more easily available. Besides I won't need to add any milk to the batter when I fry them

 

[CrealCritter]

This morning I slopped a coffee can full of mash into their feed tray. Despite their hunger protests, they snubbed their beaks at the feed slop. I watched a few mins and thought to myself what a bunch of Stupid Birds.

So then I went and got some dry feed and put it on top and they went hog wild like every other morning.

I just checked in on them and watched a few minutes. They are eating the mash now, but there sure is a lot of beak wiping going on.

Buckets are fermenting and no over flows, so it's all good...

 

[CrealCritter]

Those feeders are pretty much crap, IME. Lots of feed waste going on and acts as a rodent attractant.

For feeding FF...and this will be right down your alley...you need a trough style feeder. With your woodworking skills and tools this is a no brainer for you. My favorite, easy to make and cheapest version is a V shaped trough like the old hog feeders.

I can't find the pic of my current one but I found one on Google that resembles the troughs I normally make and use and am currently using. My current one has a bar across the top of it to make it easier for me to move and to discourage hens getting into the trough and walking in it, thus dominating it.

View attachment 15135

I have a tiny one just for chicks and it has a piece of fencing across it so they can't walk in the feed.

With those big hungries, you'll need a trough style feeder. I made one once for some meaties from a piece of rain guttering but didn't bother to put a wire across it as they could easily clean their feet out on the grass....

View attachment 15136

Thanks Bee that's a great idea and besides it doesn't need to last long. Those couch potatoes got 7 more weeks.