My daughter raised the Cornish Crosses for Her 4-H fair market projects for the last 6 years (except 2015-no birds at the fairs in Ohio). Raised 12 the first year, 20 the next five and didn't lose one before their time.
We raised them separate from the layer/production birds and they did require a bit more care especially with the heat when we put the fan on. We did not limit their feed, they don't eat at night so it was not non stop eating but if their food ran out it was scary how they gorged themselves when it was refilled.
With the fair as the goal my daughter had them on a program with food and water at opposite ends of their pen once they outgrew the brooder. The food was on a raised platform at one end, water at the other.
They would have been content to simply eat, drink and poop never moving if permitted. We did take them outside into a makeshift pen in the yard a few times, no easy task with 20 as they got larger! Just wanted them to have fresh air and grass under their feet in their short lives. To be honest the older they got the less they were interested in going outside. Just walked a minute, then plopped down. No interest in the grass or bugs around them.
Alll of the fair kids got their meaties on the same day from the same hatchery so they competed on a level playing field...choosing their top three birds for the fair. The birds all went to market exactly 8 weeks from hatch date, and we'd take the extras to be processed as soon as possible after, 8 weeks and three days old. They were huge birds!
Since they are a hybrid they turn feed into protein/meat at a fast rate, growing fewer feathers as a result. Can have leg issues and heart attacks because of the rapid growth.
Learning from her/our experiences I have come to some conclusions regarding these Frankenbirds.
1) We will raise them again. The shorter time means better return on feed and labor.
2) I'd like to also try the Freedom Rangers and compare the two. They can free range much better but take at least a month longer to reach decent processing weight.
I'd like to compare cost with taste and labor.
3) They will be processed at 6-7 weeks. Would not wait 8--they barely fit into my large crockpot!
4) Raise them in the spring or fall. August-September is tough but no option with fair.
5) Build a chicken tractor so they'd be outside more/all the time, but protected.
I've read of folks who've kept them alive for extraordinary lengths of time but that would be a challenge that I'm not up to. They were created/developed to eat all the time,grow rapidly, grow huge and be butchered before health issues develop.
Good luck!
