Are my cx growing as expected? Not sure what they should weigh at 8 weeks on FF and pasture?

[ShrekDawg]

That's horrible, so sorry were they your dogs or someone else's? Either way that's horrible, sorry

 

[CluckerCottage]

Never mind. While I was in the house trying to figure out the feed problem 2 weimeraners were killing all the chickens. They are all dead but one rooster.
What a waste. Poor chickens.

I am in shock. How did those dogs get into your run????
This is truly beyond sad and I am soooo sorry for you and your birds.

 

[Beekissed]

Deedles, try to save the meat on them if you can and as quickly as you can. Could be you can salvage some of the meat off them if you hurry.

CX birds that are not fed free choice feed all day and not confined to a pen/run/tractor will grow slower and that's the expected and desired response. Getting a meat bird to butcher size is not a race...as long as they get big enough before they are too old to have tender meat still (past 5-6 mo.), then you are doing the right thing. The point of raising them free range and on restricted feed is to slow the growth down so the bird stays healthier and grows at a more normal rate.

Anyone believing that they must be X wt. by X time or you're doing it wrong are those who are trying to raise meat birds like they do commercially....and those folks just miss the point of raising them at home. If you get the same birds as commercial growers and then raise them like commercial growers do, then you'll have what the commercial growers produce.....and you could save yourself a lot of money and time by just going to the store and buying it from the commercial grower.

You hadn't done anything wrong except listen to the accepted wisdom about how big your birds should be by a certain time...if you do this again, just ignore that kind of noise. I raised mine on the same thing....fermented layer ration and free range and they grew slower....and I knew they would and that was what I expected and wanted to happen....but they did indeed grow and were of good butcher weights by 10 wks instead of 8. The difference being not a one died due to ill health, no leg problems, and were completely mobile over 3 acres right up to the day they were processed.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Bee makes really good points and I don't think there's a wrong way or a right way but I do have one question: if one wants a slower growing bird, why not get one designed to grow slower insteaf of fast growing CX's? Not saying it's wrong, just wondering?

 

[Beekissed]

Bee makes really good points and I don't think there's a wrong way or a right way but I do have one question: if one wants a slower growing bird, why not get one designed to grow slower insteaf of fast growing CX's? Not saying it's wrong, just wondering?

Maybe some folks like birds somewhere in the middle and don't want to have to breed for years to get that?

Also, the CX convert feed to muscle better than any bird out there right now, so for a more meaty carcass that one doesn't have to feed for 10 mo. to get and still won't get, the CX are a great option. Just because a bird is prone to a quick metabolism that can cause overly fast growth doesn't mean someone can't come along and slow that down a bit and have the best of both worlds.

There's not much difference between 8wks and 10-12 wks when wanting birds that develop meat quickly....even 12 wks is quicker than any breed out there can pack on meat, so why not shoot for the ten or twelve? Growing them a tad slower means you aren't forced to kill them before they die on their own or develop leg, heart or skin issues from their huge and fast growth cycle. It also helps them live a better life while they are here....one is a life of good mobility and healthy living out on the cool grass and the other is barely struggling from the feeder to the waterer before having to lie down in their own feces due to weak legs and a too heavy body.