Brooder Size?

[Judy]

Oh, well, I was thinking of Cornish X in a spare bedroom -- yuck. From what I've read, Freedom Rangers would be a lot more like brooding dual purpose, and I would think AT Hagan's figures would hold. You just have to figure out what to do with them after they feather out around 8 weeks (maybe they feather sooner; I don't know.) Maybe you can free range them during the day?

 

[Olive Hill]

At 7-8 weeks "broilers" (Cornish X) are full-grown and ready for processing, far flung from brooder chicks.

Things to keep in mind with CX: they start out large and grow rapidly, they eat accordingly to that growth and they create waste accordingly with how much they eat. You will be changing bedding often and you will not want them in any enclosed space where dust or smell will be too terribly unappreciated because they will create a bit of both. They can be in an outbuilding from day one as long as you provide a heat lamp or two for them to warm up under and solid walls at least a couple feet high that will block them from drafts. They also will feather quickly, but keep in mind in cool temps that though they get "all their feathers" quickly, CX feathering tends to be sparse to begin with.

How much space you allow them is going to have as much to do with your goals in raising them as it will have to do with their needs. If CX are warm, dry, fed and watered they're rather happy. Though they can utilize some space for moving about they're not necessarily unhappy without much of it. Some people raise them on as little as a couple square feet per bird for the duration of their life. It's really going to be up to you. When we were raising them I allowed 2 sq ft per bird until they were old enough to free range (varied depending on time of year). And then they had countless sq ft per bird thereafter. It was enough. I haven't raised CX in a while though, we switched to DP 100% a bit back.

Good Luck!

 

[WildflowerJLH]

I found this in the FAQs at Freedom Ranger Hatchery website:

"How long do I need to confine the chicks inside before they can go out on pasture ( how old do they need to be)? Do I need to do this gradually or can I do this all at once?

I would keep them in for at least three weeks and then let them out gradually."

These are supposed to be slower growing than Cornish Cross, like 9-12 weeks until they are ready to process.