First Run of Cornish Cross Meat Birds and Super Excited!

[Martlet]

Give them enough to last them 20 minutes in the morning and the same in the evening. That is all they need.

Yeah? That doesn't seem like much. I guess I could run out and put food in when I get up, then take it out 20 minutes later, then do the same when I get home at night. I could also just feed them before I leave in the morning and pick it up when I get home, 11 hours later, letting them eat all day. That's still less than they eat now, but they'd have an empty crop at night.

 

[JRNash]

"Ugly" got up close and personal,highly unusual for this one. It normally hides. Can't say as I blame it.lol

 

[JRNash]

this is one of the saipan x barred rock. Ive got a ton of beautiful cockrels,it's killing me trying to decide who gets to play hooky from camp

 

[JRNash]

one of the slow grow hybrids. There at least 5 more that are built identical. Can't give them ALL a pass

 

[JRNash]

dark cornish x welp slow grow broiler

 

[JRNash]

I'm probably going to keep one of each of the roosters. At least as long as they don't turn on me.

 

[lpatelski]

No.  Not sure how I'd even do that.  We leave for work at 0530 and get back around 0430.  If you want them to sleep with a full crop, at best they'd only have 2 hours without food.

I use automatic feeders. Check out my posts. These feeders can be programed to feed as many as 16x a day.

 

[Martlet]

I use automatic feeders. Check out my posts. These feeders can be programed to feed as many as 16x a day.

I'll look into those for next batch. In the meantime, I COULD put food out at 0530 then have someone take it in 1-3 hours later (depending on the day) then put it out again at 1630 for a bit. Think that will improve the chances?

 

[duluthralphie]

The problem if you have been free will feeding them for 3 weeks is the damage is done, most likely. You will lose some even if you change their eating habits now. I am not saying you should not cut way, way back, Just know the roots of kidney and heart problems have most likely started already.

I know this will sound cruel to some of you, but I actually skip a day or two a week with my "toads", I want them on a near starvation diet to increase their life spans.

BTW they are huge birds, I am hoping I have not over fed them this year.

 

[Turk Raphael]

The problem if you have been free will feeding them for 3 weeks is the damage is done, most likely. You will lose some even if you change their eating habits now. I am not saying you should not cut way, way back, Just know the roots of kidney and heart problems have most likely started already.

I know this will sound cruel to some of you, but I actually skip a day or two a week with my "toads", I want them on a near starvation diet to increase their life spans.

BTW they are huge birds, I am hoping I have not over fed them this year.

It wouldn't kill a few of us BYC folks to miss a meal once in a while!

I'm still young and in pretty good shape but I really like to eat and realize that it's time I started being a bit more conservative at mealtime. It won't hurt those birds to miss a meal once in a while either....might do many of them a world of good.