Chicken Dinners

Our little Cornish Cross meat chickens are growing at a phenonmenal rate.  Following the hatchery's instructions, we take out their feeder every evening at 7:00 pm.  Doing this slows down their growth and prevents a lot of problems (including sudden death).  They are, to put it mildly, enthusiastic eaters -- especially after "starving" for the entire night.


They are now a little over three weeks old.  They seem very glad to be alive, and enjoy their stay in the stall.  Next week, they'll be outside in the dog kennel, under the shady pine.





If all goes according to plan, their short lives will end at 12 weeks of age.  All chickens raised commercially for consumption have a similar life span.  We do work harder, I think, to ensure that our chicks have a rich and happy life.  Believe me when I say that it's very different when you care for and know the creature that will become your meal.