Our 300 meat chicks are growing like crazy. The cornish cross chicken breed is used almost 100% for meat in the United States. It's been breed to eat and eat and eat, which results in a harvestable bird at 8 weeks. Good for the farmer's bottom line, but not good for the actual birds. They grow so fast that their hearts and legs have trouble keeping up. Unfortunately, this big breasted breed is what people expect when they think "chicken". Jamie and I decided we are going to introduce our customers to slow growing heritage chicken breeds this Fall. They are every bit as tasty and are better adapted to run around our pastures. Who needs big breasted birds anyway? So far two of our goats have had kids. Only five more to go! Goat kids have got to be one of the cutest creatures on earth. Travis, our livestock guardian dog is the perfect baby sitter. He lays close to the kids, especially when Mom wanders out for a bite to eat. The kids scamper on top of him and he just lays there with a goofy grin. We have been sowing seed like crazy. Now is the time to get in the early spring greens like mizuna, spinach and arugula, plus lettuce. The race is on to have produce for the opening day of the Prosser Farmer's Market!

I agree with your comments on Cornish X birds. We grew them in the past but now use chickens that are bred to forage and move. I hated the way the cornish just sat around with their heads in the feeder and it took an act of God to make them move! Unfortunately the big poultry producers have used these birds for decades in confinements and this is what consumers expect. We are trying to educate buyers about the different types of birds and why it is better to eat chicken that can do things naturally like walk, forage and reproduce. Heritage and French breeds truly fit the bill.
Posted by 67.224.35.174 on March 25, 2009 at 06:05 AM PDT #