Cornish Rocks Cannibalism

[Parront]

I thought it was too, I just couldn't remember the % until I looked it up.

I bet the higher protein like DuluthRalphie uses helps. The Cornish-X really aren't that bad, but they are really, Really, hungry!

 

[duluthralphie]

I starve mine to force them to free range....they only get 20 minutes of feed a day...after the first week...I want them to grow slowly.

 

[Perry17]

I starve mine to force them to free range....they only get 20 minutes of feed a day...after the first week...I want them to grow slowly.

Yea that was the method I was going with too. Mine just seem a little impatient haha.

 

[Jessica Thompson]

Protein

 

[Perry17]

What hatchery would y'all recommend? I have used Murray mcmurray years ago, with good results. But looking on their site now, and they are sold out of everything it seems like.

I looked at another, Metzer and the Cornish Cross are way cheaper there. But that's the only breed of chicken they have. And if I am going to go through the trouble of ordering, I wanted to pick up a few other breeds too.

Tried Cackle and it is out of stock of mostly everything also.

Are there any other hatcheries to look into? I'm from Georgia. I know this probably needs its own thread, but if I decide to order some good rated hatching eggs off eBay, is the hatch rate really going to be all that terrible like I have heard? The hatching eggs would be for the other layer breeds I want to pick up, I will probably end up ordering only the broiler chicks from Metzer.

Has there just been a sudden chicken market boom and everywhere is sold out? Or are the hatcherys just slacking off? I get it with seasonal layers like turkeys, but chickens lay year round? I don't get it. I remember when Murray mcmurray always had piles to choose from, so I am surprised to see they have nothing.

 

[Fairview01]

First find a feed store I trade with TSC but not for feed. At my local feed store I can get a 50lb sack of 28% protein for like $12.50.

Second you could be feeding these suckers lean prime rib and they still would kill and eat the weakest one. Once cannibalism starts it is nearly impossible to stop short of killing the offending chickens. I'd cut my loses and just butcher them and use them as Cornish game hens or if too large for that, split them and grill them.

 

[Perry17]

That's my thoughts. None are weak or sickly, all big and fat and the same size. But I think they have realized that their sibling could also be food. And they can have that extra snack whenever they feel like it.

Hopefully I can get them butchered this week. It made me so mad to have to cull that half eaten one. If it was a layer I could have nursed her for a week or so and she would have been fine. But I have no use keeping a broiler I can't eat myself.

I can probably get something like that cheaper at the local feed store, but it comes in those paper bags. And I always get rips and tears or wet feed from them. Maybe I'll try to work with paper for a while just to try it out.

 

[Parront]

I used to dump my feed into a galvanized trash can, no way to keep ants out of any kind of a bag where I used to live. Have you looked at Ideal hatchery? They are in Texas, and ship later in the year.

 

[Perry17]

Yea I'll have to get me one of those to pour it into if I use the paper bag kind. I have been wanting to get a few of those trash cans
anyway.

I haven't looked at Ideal hatchery, but I'll look into it. Thank you!

 

[Perry17]

I checked on the bloody butt one today. He is perfectly fine. It is all healed over and acts like there is nothing wrong with him. It was only the area around the vent and tail feathers, and it looks a lot better now that it isn't a bloody mess.

I forgot to check if it was a hen or a rooster, but I'll just wait to cull him when I butcher the others.