Chicken Chat

When you raise Cornish Cross meat birds, every bite they take shapes the quality of the meat that ends up on your table. Feeding them organic, nutrient-rich foods not only supports fast, healthy growth, but also results in cleaner, richer-tasting chicken. By combining Scratch and Peck Organic Broiler Feed, Serenity Sprouts Sprouting Mix, and a variety of healing dried herbs, you’re giving your flock everything they need for robust health and superior flavor.

Why Cornish Cross Meat Birds Need High-Quality Nutrition

Cornish Cross broilers are bred for fast growth and high meat yield—often reaching processing weight in just 8 - 10 weeks. But such rapid growth requires carefully balanced nutrition.

Conventional feeds often rely on soy and fillers, which may push growth but compromise bird health and flavor.

A Family Guide to Marek's Disease and Your Flock

Marek's disease is a viral disease of chickens that can cause tumors, paralysis, vision problems, immune suppression, and death. Because the virus is widespread in many poultry environments, families often ask whether they should vaccinate their chicks.

The answer depends largely on your flock goals, risk tolerance, and management style. This guide is intended to help you understand your options and make an informed decision.

Understanding Marek's Disease Vaccination

Marek's vaccines do not completely prevent infection. Instead, they help reduce the likelihood of birds developing the severe forms of the disease.

Vaccinated birds may still be exposed to the virus and may still carry or shed it, but they are generally much less likely to develop tumors, paralysis, or die from the disease.

A lot of chicks can look very similar to each other and it might not be until they grow out to easily tell between them. Can you identify the chick above?

Baby Chicks (Day-old to 2 weeks)

Bielefelder

• Autosexing: males and females look different at hatch.

  • Females: dark chipmunk stripes, defined “eye liner.”

First Sorting Evaluations:

Feathered Feet?

• Yes → Brahma, Silkie, D’Uccle, Frizzle, Cochin-types, French Marans, Faverolle, Olive Egger

• No → Orpington, Rock, Wyandotte, Marans, Polish, Sussex, etc.

Feathered Feet and a Crest?

• Yes → Silkie (then sort by color: White, Black, Blue, Buff, Partridge, Splash, Gray, Red, Silkie Surprise, Crested/Bearded), Olive Egger