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From one hatchery we bought Jumbo Cornish X Rocks day old chicks. They also sell sexed pullets Jumbo Cornish X Rocks (Cornish Game Hens) but we can't buy pullets that aren't certified organic. The recommendations here are to harvest at 2-2.5lbs live weight (which equals to 3 -4 weeks). We normally have Cornish Cross chick s in the brooder for 2 weeks and then to pasture-Salatin style mobile pens. We definitly want to keep to pasture rasied, so with limited we could just place these into a pens with regular Cornish X to save space. Good idea, thanks! As chicks do you think they are more fragile or succumb to bad weather than Cornish X chicks? Who do you use for slaughter?

Thanks for the response Caleb

Squab Producers of California in Modesto does private label slaughter. They have a 250 bird minimum and it's almost $4/bird. I plan on using them this coming season. I haven't used them but have heard good things from people that have.

Hey Ariel, The options above are really the only options. There is also Squab Producers of California in Modesto, but you have to commit to a weekly schedule with a couple hundred birds each week. I prefer New American, but each option has their pros and cons. Your best bet for on farm slaughter would be to talk to Dede at Rootdown Farm or Kevin at Early Bird Ranch, both in Pescadero. They both raise meat birds and know the ins and outs of San Mateo.

That is great to hear Paul but it is also the opposite of those training and certifying in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) where the movement is to even ban the use of rainwater since it might be contaminated, require the cleared field edges, and even restrict field entry by people walking through an animal production area. Seems the right and left hands need to get together and share their science with each other!

I've found that it's a bit of an acquired taste for the pigs. our 4 month olds aren't too keen on it, our 10 week old York crosses love it, and the Old Spot weaners will eat it up but only when they "get around to it." I don't think it's a breed thing - I think it has to do with whoever is the most adventuresome pig in a given litter setting the culture (get it? :D) for the others. probably best to start them young. I will say that the kraut doesn't rot too fast if it is in the shade so no need to dump too much at a time.