commercial meat chickens? UPDATE

[greyfields]

Quote:
If you look at the catalog from Aviagen they offer many different strains of meat chicken all with different growth profiles. They have graphs and tables and charts showing which strains do best in hot climates, cold climates, which will finish in 42 days versus 46 days... it's all very scientific. All the strains are numbered like you mentioned. Your commercial hatcheries then choose the line(s) they want to go with and sell them as "Cornish Crosses" to their retail customers.

 

[naked_neck]

thanks to all for taking out the name.

i didnt know you couldnt cross the birds. what would result if i did cross them? could you cross them on NN's? my NN's are very large and meaty birds. i was planning of trying this cross this summer. i could still try the cross of broiler x broiler, dont you think? this is more for fun and 4-h rather than raising them to eat or sell to eat.

these birds are relatively slow growers until the last week before butcher. they are 31 days old and weigh about 3 lbs. each. 1 is slightly smaller. they finish out at 50 days. between 6 and 7 weeks is when they really pack on the pounds.

ive started them on my own feed with extra vitamins and minerals (particularly calcium and vit. D) so theyll slow down on their growth. one already had swollen hocks when we picked them up but they have gone down with the change of diet and exercise. they are put outside as the weather permits and made to walk. on bad days, i walk they inside on a towel to keep them from slipping. they seem happy and certainly look healthy. they eat well and drink plenty. they love to lounge around in the sun (theyd never been out in the sun before we got them).

thanks for everyones input. ill keep yall updated on how theyre doing.

 

[silkiechicken]

IF you could get them to breeding age and IF you could get them to mate successfully. Those being rather large if's. You're "cross crosses" will be a random assortment of F2 generation birds with varying growth and appearances.

 

[naked_neck]

sorry i havent been here in a while. ive been busy with ffa poultry judging. the contest was yesterday so we have been practicing every hour we could get out of class. we went to literary rally saturday and i placed 4th in english III.

anyway, 5 of the chicks are doing great. they run and jump and try to fly. the other on got attacked by a snake yesterday. mom said she heard this terrible distressed sound so she went to have a look (i was at the ffa contest). there was a 3 1/2 ft. ratsnake latched on to the tail of the chick. it was constricting the chick. well, long story short, they got the snake off and the chick ran. they went to the gulley several acres behind our house and let the snake go there to find food back there instead of in my chicken pens. the chicks tail is torn and chewed on but it didnt seem to bother him when i cleaned it and put some medicine on it when i got home. hes still eating and drinking good and walking but hes by himself so the others wont peck at his mangled tail. apart from the tail and some bruises hes still his usual self. we'll just have to watch for infection.

on a happier note, my goose eggs are developing well. one is due april 5, one april 16th. they are just mixed breed geese from school but the parents are excellent weeders and attack geese. one of the white ones chases everybody that walks across the parking lot except one of the teachers because she feeds them corn every afternoon.

ill keep yall updated on the chick that got bit as well as the other ones. i have to send the lady i got them from some pictures so maybe i can post a pic or 2 up here.

 

[hooligan]

I ahave 5 "broilers" myself although mine are rescues (from the trucks) and I also know 4 growers so if you need any info at all please PM me.
And good luck with your chicks!

 

[naked_neck]

okay, finally back from spring break. update on the chicks. the chick that got bit by the snake died. he was fine in the morning but dead in the afternoon. this was over a week after he got bit. sad but things happen. the rest are doing fine, growing well, slow but nicely. they run and jump and even try to fly. they finally feathered up. they are 51 days today. the rest of the birds at the farm where i got these left for the processing plant yesterday. poor poor chickies. too bad i couldnt get more.

my 1st goose egg is due saturday so wish me luck. i hope everything goes alright. the egg is so full already i dont think he can fit in there much longer.

again, ill keep yall posted.

 

[naked_neck]

all 5 birds are doing well.i still dont have the pics but im working on that. they are getting so big. the biggest one is about 5.5 lbs now at 8 weeks (remember, these are for a project so they need to grow slow- not food). they come running when they hear me. its so funny.


my first goose egg hatched saturday. right on schedule. i now have a fuzzy little gosling in our living room. its parents are a grey goose and a grey or white gander (prob. white).