Non soy feed growth rate.

[WhyDoILikeChickens]

Hopefully this can be helpful for others as well as myself.
I am raising 26 Cornish Cross. They are roughly 6 weeks old. I am feeding them non soy feed on 12/12 in a chicken tractor. I the growth rate seems a bit behind reported rate. Live weight average 3.5 to 3.75 pounds. From what I've read they should have a processed weight over 4 pounds by now. Does anyone else have experience with this?
Feed lists just under 17% protein so I've been scrambling them eggs for a bit extra protein.
They are healthy and happy and soy free.

 

[WhyDoILikeChickens]

Ok I see so many meat bird posts that start with updates then end without giving final numbers and it frustrates me to no end...... and I almost did it myself lol.
On non soy (mostly starter/grower but had to use non soy layer feed at the end). I did add mealworms or sunflower kernels (and eggs early on) to bump up protein. I decided to keep 3 CX to try a sustainable flock next year.
I processed 23 CX at about 9.5 weeks
Small guy was (processed)4 lbs 1oz.
Big girl was (processed)6 lbs 13oz.
Total weight 119.9 pounds
Average of 5.2 pounds each
I allowed feed approximately 12/12
I lost 1 chick first week and didn't loose any since.

I wont bother to calculate cost per bird because I selected a specific feed for a specific purpose. Guessing somewhere around $10-$15 each. Whole foods price for organic non soy chicken was $4+ a pound last I heard.

Bottom line is I raised 23 happy and healthy birds that will feed my family well and I am happy with that!

 

[Molpet]

Thanks for the update
So glad they produced a lot of meat for your family

 

[iwltfum]

There are 6 grams of protein in a 50 gram egg. 6/50 = 0.12 = 12%

You can find the nutrition info here (if you scroll down a bit it's to the right on a desktop browser)

 

[WhyDoILikeChickens]

I am done here.


https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acsomega.9b03218

"Peanut and soy proteins were undetected in all pooled egg samples and individual chicken breast meat samples using immunoblotting techniques with rabbit antipeanut agglutinin and rabbit antisoy antibodies. Moreover, quantitative ELISA allergen detection methods determined all pooled egg samples and individual meat samples as “not containing” peanut or soy allergens."

Then why did you bother asking? A 5 minute google search to report first opposing view makes you a professional on something you never heard of before..... are you related to my sons mom?

 

[Molpet]

At that protein level they will grow slower, but be healthier. You could try to keep a pullet for a sustainable meat bird breeder. But you need to set her eggs her first laying season. Mine quit laying in the fall and never started again before she died at 1 yr.
Eggs have 12%, but lots of vitamins d, e

 

[Molpet]

@Molpet where did u find the egg protein info? I have found it in a few spots but different information every time

Not sure it was a while back

 

[WhyDoILikeChickens]

I have found sites listing as much as 90% protein from eggs, down to 40%.

I think you have a good point (as usual). I am going to keep about 3 or 4 CX hens for my Black Australorp roo. This link was helpful

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/cornish-rock-cross-black-australorp-crosses.1007773/

If nothing else I need to give my layers a break. Poor girls are running out of feathers.

 

[WhyDoILikeChickens]

Update on soy free feed growth rate.
CX are now 8 weeks old. They average 6.5 pounds live weight. Big girl at 7.1, little guy at 5.9.
Because of scheduling they will be processed about 9.5 weeks. Will update weights again.
Now I did cheat a little.... I couldn't feed the mash when they were little so they got Nutrena starter which is likely soy. And I did try to finish that bag so they got a few pounds around 6-7 weeks but still primarily Non GMO non soy mash.
The best difference I can state without a doubt is they smell so much worse on soy. I was astounded by the smell when they were chicks, then thought I had just accustomed to it. When I reintroduced soy feed the difference was night and day. Return to mash and they smell much better every time.

 

[speedy2020]

Hopefully this can be helpful for others as well as myself.
I am raising 26 Cornish Cross. They are roughly 6 weeks old. I am feeding them non soy feed on 12/12 in a chicken tractor. I the growth rate seems a bit behind reported rate. Live weight average 3.5 to 3.75 pounds. From what I've read they should have a processed weight over 4 pounds by now. Does anyone else have experience with this?
Feed lists just under 17% protein so I've been scrambling them eggs for a bit extra protein.
They are healthy and happy and soy free.

You can reduce the cost by feed them no soy or your favor feed the last 10 days before process.