Cornish X feed questions

[suensmitty]

I have two 11 week old cornish x chicks. They are our pets and as of now they don't have any leg or heart issues that I can see. I feed them 12 hours on and 12 hours off. Can someone tell me how many pounds of food they should be going through a week? It seems like were going through it fast but when I put it in their bowl it doesn't seem like a lot.

 

[digitS']

Well, if it doesn't seem like "a lot" - maybe they aren't Cornish X

.

Your birds at 11 weeks are already "off the chart" because they are older than when they'd usually be processed. At 9 weeks, they would be eating 1,000 to 1,300 grams of feed each week. That's 2.2 to 2.8 pounds per week.

They are probably above 3 pounds each week.

If you are thinking that they may pay for their feed with eggs - better forget about that. My brother gave me a little flock of 6 or 7 Cornish X hens about 35 years ago as "layers." They didn't do a terrible job at kicking out the eggs but after they nearly ate me out of house and home - I gave them baaaack

!

Notice in Table 3 on that University of Missouri webpage, that the leghorn-type pullets of the same age are eating less than 1 pound of feed each week. I think that Leghorns mature quite a bit sooner so you can expect a full-grown Cornish X to eat MORE than 3 times what a Leghorn eats.

The Leghorn will eat about 1.7 pounds each week. Your birds will be eating well over 5 pound each! Even with only 2 birds, you'll go thru a 50 pound bag every month!

. . . if'n I've done the math right

Steve

 

[lilmouthy]

If you are planning on keeping these as pets,and not planning on eating them,then may I ask why are you feeding them so much? The purpose of feeding them so much,is for when you are planning on putting them in the freezer.

Are you able to let them free range? If so,that's the best thing you can do for them. Most people who have these Cornish X,and are planning on keeping them as pets,only feed them once or twice a day,then let them free range the rest of the day. The reason so many of these have leg/heart problems is because they eat sooo much and don't get enough exercise. They just sit around and eat all day. They gain weight to fast and their body can not just hold up to it. That's what they are bred for...growing QUICK then being butchered by the time they are 6-9 weeks old.

I have 11 of them right now. They are 15 weeks old. I feed mine at 6AM then again at 6 PM. They free range all day. I started doing this after reading TONS on here and then other places on the net. Seems this is the best way,if you aren't going to be eating them.

There's a couple people on here that have some of these as pets,and they get eggs(BIG eggs)from theirs.

Anyhow,Good luck with yours!!

 

[suensmitty]

Yes, they are able to free range. How much do you feed them in the morning and the evening?? They are just he sweetest things and I want to keep them as healthy as possilbe so they will live longer.

 

[lilmouthy]

I have to agree...Mine are sooo sweet also. When ever they hear the door open,here they come. Of course they are wanting a treat,but hey,I like to pretend they are happy to see me as well.

Mine will follow me EVERY WHERE. They usually don't go just real far from the house,so at least twice a day,I'll go out and walk all around,with all 11 of them following me. I'll walk slow and stop every once in awhile for them to munch some. Gives them some much needed exercise.

Honestly,I have never weighed my food out for them. Do you know those big Red Folgers Coffee cans...the plastic ones? I fill it about 3/4 full of grower pellets,AM and PM. Now don't get me wrong,I still toss out bread scraps,fruits,crackers and things to them...but just not much at a time. I want them to walk around and hunt for their food as much as possible. I know it won't seem like you are feeding them much,but mine are still growing. My biggest hen would probably go at least 10/11 pounds right now.

I just have out 4 circle cake pans,and that's what I put their feed in.



Here's 2 links for you. These are over in the Meat forum. This first link is pictures of this guys BIG Cornishx rooster. Just thought you might wanna see how big his got.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=123862

The next is just people talking about their CornishX. If you read through,you'll see where a couple people have luck with theirs. There's several threads on here people discussing their Cornish X. I just like reading through them...gives me hope that mine will live long happy lives!!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=216685

 

[suensmitty]

Thank you for the information. Now I have a better idea about how much to feed them. I feel much better! My two follow me around too and they just talk my ear off. It's so cute!