Appropriate Feeding for Cornish Cross

[Farmer123]

Hello, I purchased 50 Cornish X 1-day old roosters on May 8th. I put them on non medicated Flock Raiser from Purina. What is the appropriate amount of feed for these "little" guys and what are others feeding theirs?

This is my first rodeo with chickens so I appreciate the feedback!

Thanks,
Farmer 123

 

[carolinagirl58]

I fed non medicated feed. I think medicated feed might be needed in overcrowded broiler house conditions, but not in a homestead brooder area. A good friend of mine told me to feed mine game bird food for the first two weeks. The higher protein helps them develop a longer and heavier keel bone which will help prevent leg problems as they grow. After two weeks, I switched mine to an organic grower feed that I get at my local feed store. My chicks went into the freezer yesterday at 8 weeks of age. Some weighed nearly 10 pounds dressed. I could not get over how BIG they were.

 

[Farmer123]

Thanks for the info. How much do you feed them? I actually have 49 birds that are 3 weeks old today.

 

[carolinagirl58]

for the first month, they got all they wanted. food available 24/7. After that, I let the feeders run out in the evening and refilled in the morning. Most people say 12 hours with food, 12 hours without so I shot for that for second month. Be prepared for a LOT of poop.

 

[Farmer123]

Yes, thanks! That is what I have been doing so far. They doing a fine job at pooping that's for sure

They have such a different personality than my Buff Orpington roosters. So far they seem nice, I'm hoping that they don't get mean.

 

[carolinagirl58]

mine were not mean at all. They were very easy to handle and never seemed aggressive to me at all. I really don't think they had the energy to be mean. I watched two of them try to fight one day. They acted like normal roosters for maybe 20 seconds and then plopped back down on the grass to rest. It was kind of funny and sad at the same time.

 

[farmgirl4589]

I raised those birds for many years. The older they get, the more they only think about food. It is important to keep the food and water apart from each other so that the birds have to walk back and forth. If they can reach the food and water easily, they won't even try to walk after a while. Meat birds are very different from egg layers. I always used turkey feed for my meat birds. It's a higher protein. Also, don't keep food in front of them 24/7. It's not necessary and it could kill them. If you are raising them in hot weather, put a fan on them. Give them plenty of water, but only enough food for 8 hours of the day. You don't want them to grow too fast. We had a contest at our fair every year for growing the biggest and healthiest meat birds. My family always won! 8 weeks is enough time to grow them. If done right, you can reach weights of over 9 lbs. each for cockerels. Keep them clean. The poop will get overwhelming, but you don't want them laying in it. It can cause breast blisters. Good luck. They taste amazing and are almost like little turkeys when they are ready!

 

[bowhunter862]

I'm on week 5 of my first batch of CX. I fed them 24/7 for the first 3 weeks and then 12 on 12 off feed. I'm using non medicated 20% starter/grower start to finish. I calculate feed consumption once a week by weighing the bucket in the morning and again in the evening. I have been using this chart from Welp as a reference.


Mine are almost exactly on that track for feed consumption and a just a little ahead on weight. I weighed a few yesterday which was day 39 of growth and they weighed between 6 and 6.5 pounds each.

 

[Farmer123]

Thanks everyone for the great information!

 

[SmokinChick]

I feed mine a 18% broiler mash, locally ground. Start to finish. I also follow the Welp chart and the 12 on 12 off schedule.
If they can see food they will eat it. You can't go wrong or over feed them. My friend shared an order with me. 30 birds each last year. I did my thing they fed 24/7 and left a light on all night. theirs were 1/2 pound heavier and we each lost 2.
Go figure.
You need to do what works for your schedule, the birds will be fine.