•1 min read•from Raising Chickens or Other Poultry for Eggs, Meat, or as Pets
Free-range is the way to go
Our take
When it comes to raising Cornish cross meat chickens, free-ranging is where the magic happens! Many folks voice complaints about these birds being gross, messy, and unable to move, but I’ve been raising them for years and have found the opposite to be true. By letting my chicks roam free starting at three weeks old, they learn to forage alongside our other feathered friends, spending minimal time at the feeder. They behave just like any other chicken until around 8-9 weeks when they naturally slow down. We typically harvest them at 8-10 weeks for a plump, tasty bird—often around 10 pounds dressed—and I’ve never faced issues with heart or mobility. Trust me, this is the way to raise happy, healthy chickens!
| | I see so many complaints about Cornish cross meat chickens: they're gross, they're messy, they can't move around, etc...I've been raising them for years and don't experience these issues at all due to free ranging. The chicks go out around 3 weeks and learn to forage from the rest of our flock. They spend very little time in front of the feeder, and act like any other breed of chicken until around 8-9 weeks, when they start to slow down some. We harvest at 8-10 weeks for a larger whole bird (usually around 10lbs dressed). The birds in this photo are 8 weeks. Never lost one to heart or mobility issues, and they aren't dirty or covered in feces. This is the way! [link] [comments] |
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