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.

Marek’s Disease and Your Flock:

Marek’s disease is a viral infection in chickens that causes tumors, paralysis, and sometimes death. For families raising poultry, deciding whether to vaccinate can feel complicated. This guide breaks down the decision process based on flock goals, explains what early symptoms to look for, and helps distinguish Marek’s from other conditions.

Should You Vaccinate? Pros and Cons

Pros of Vaccinating

Protects birds from paralysis and death: Vaccinated chickens rarely die from Marek’s disease.

Reduces visible outbreaks:  Improved chance of your flock appearing healthier.

There are (3) types of mites common in Colorado.  

The most common mite in Colorado backyard flocks is the Northern Fowl Mite.  They will live full-time on the bird, concentrate around the vent area, and can be active even in the winter months.  They can multiply fast even in cold weather unlike some mites.  They cause rapid anemia and feather loss. Northern Fowl Mites spread easily from wild birds, which are abundant across Colorado both in rural and suburban areas.

The Red Roost Mite is very common in coops, but not always on birds.  They hide in cracks and roosts during the day and feed on birds at night.  They are often missed during daytime inspections and can survive months without feeding.   Red Roost Mites hide in wooden coops, especially older or untreated ones.  They survive in dry weather by hiding deep in crevices and are not slowed…

Consider what the chickens will be doing in their run.  Chickens love to free range with the ability to scratch through the grass and soil for weeds and bugs, providing both a treat and exercise. A run is meant to help them forage and dust bathe while adventuring outside within the protection of an enclosure.

Take a Bath

This is an area that they will naturally dig down to the dirt and use the sand particles to help rid themselves of bugs and prune themselves.  We like to use sand with a dust bath mix in to help deter common soft bodied insects.   

Foraging

Below is information on animal zoning information by city. Contact the city you live in to confirm latest updates.

If you would like 1:1 support, we offer personalized consulting appointments. When you come to our family farm, we can help guide you into the best backyard flock that fits your family. How many chickens should you get? There are a few considerations about the number of chickens to start with. If you live in a city, there may be ordinates that limit the quantity of chickens you may care for. When thinking about raising chickens right, space cures so many health and flock behavior problems. Birds will need more space when it is hot outside to avoid aggression and bulling each other. Most box store coops give more than enough nesting areas, however, can frequently lack roost bar space. This can be solved by adding an additional roost bar. Ensure your coop has 1 nesting box per 3 hens. Chickens will share their nesting boxes with each other as long as …

Healthy chickens are active, alert, frequently eating/drinking, will take periods of dust bathing, sunbathing, and resting. It is considered abnormal, if a chicken looks lethargic, has a hunched stance, hides from the others, loss of appetite, pale comb or waddles, unusual droppings, decrease in egg production, lays abnormal eggs, or not active as normal. Immediately separate any member not appearing to behave normal from the rest of the flock for closer observation. Once separated offer a cup of warm water with 1 tablespoon molasses mixed in.

Health Check 1: Water Consumption.

Will the chicken drink on its’ own?

If so, continue with health check 2.

If not, gently dip the lower beak into the water to encourage taking a couple sips being careful not to drown upper nostrils. If successful in encouraging taking a ship, continue to Health Check 2. If not, the chicken may be too far gone to…

Temperature / Shelter

Temperature is vital to the survival of small chicks. They will need a heat source and a breeze barrier to help stabilize their environment. Monitor temperature with a thermometer at the level of the chicks. Chicks that huddle under a lamp are too cold. Chicks that sprawl along the brooder guard are too hot. Chicks happily milling around all portions of the brooder area are comfortable.

Brooding area should be 95°F for the first few days. Slowly acclimate your chicks to a cooler temperature by reducing each week:

Acclimate your chicks by reducing temperature weekly:

95°F for chicks 0 - 1 week old