- Feb 20, 2013
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I've seen a lot of threads started about the mortality rates of these birds and though I've only been at it for 6 months or so, I thought my personal experiences might be of interest to some. I spend a lot of time with my birds and take lots of notes. So, here goes.
My first group of 300 Cornish X chicks I started back in early Feb and am now working with Group No. 6. Since Feb we've gone from our dry season or summer to our rainy season (winter) with dramatic changes in temperatures, humidity, and of course, rainfall. I keep daily records on the birds, including ambient temps, and note any behavioral changes, treatments, and deaths.
Most of my birds are harvested by day 42 though I run my data collection out to day 45 for those birds that might remain.
Here's a summary to date of my experiences:
Group No. 1 - 300 chicks, introduced 2 Feb. Final mortality - 3%. These birds were started during the middle of our summer....virtually no rainfall; dry conditions, low humidity, warm/hot days and cool nights. Didn't lose a single bird until day 25 and those that died thereafter were most definitely heat-related.
Group No. 2 - 300 chicks, introduced 20 March. Final mortality - 3%. Still summertime here in Venezuela in late March. First death occurred on day 10 while birds were still in their brooder. Note: my brooder is a converted outside bathroom. It actually works quite well in that once at temperature, it holds the temperature relatively stable for the average 24 hour cycle. Most the remaining deaths occurred very near slaughter date and were definitely heat-related.
Group No. 3 - 200 chicks, introduced on 5 April. Final mortality - 1%. A very warm and dry month generally. This year we had some hard rains in the latter half of the month. First bird died on day 12, one day before moving the group out of the brooder. Only one other chick from this group died, that being a tiny fellow who just never caught up with the rest. He died on day 26.
Group No. 4 - 200 chicks, introduced on 15 May. This group is still in progress, registering day 33 right now. Mortality to date is 7%. The group arrived with one DOA and I suffocated 2 as I was unloading the birds in the brooder by stupidly setting the shipping box down on top of two chicks. I was sick; but anyway, live and learn. Lots of rain, daily and it seems to have a negative effect on the birds. Between day 7 and day 22 I lost a couple of birds for no apparent reason...they just dropped dead. I moved this group out of the brooder on day 16. On day 23 I noted a bloody stool, then more, and then a bunch of bloody stools. On day 24 a total of 7 birds, otherwise healthy-looking birds, dropped dead. I scrambled to buy a treatment for coccicidosis and started the birds that same day. I did note that their bedding was unusually wet. The birds stabilized, losing one on day 25 but none since. As mentioned, they're now on day 33 and all look to be in good shape though the hens appear smaller-than-average for birds of this age. I've decided to let this group, run out to age 42 days before slaughter. I normally begin slaughtering some males on day 36.
Group No. 5 - 300 chicks, introduced on 31 May. Easily the worst-looking group of birds I've had. In the first 8 days I had a total of 7 deaths, one being DOA. They just never looked good in the brooder. I suspect, based on behavior, that the temps were too low and I didn't have enough feeder space. This meant some birds fed better and more often than others and those that didn't feed weakened and were trampled by the larger birds. I moved the birds out of the brooder on day 13 and their demeanor and overall appearance approved immediately. I've still lost a few since the move (smaller weaker birds) but they appear much more stable. I do note a much wider variance in sizes than normal and suspect this will continue until slaughter. On day 17 (yesterday) I noted a bloody stool and immediately put the birds on treatment for coccicidosis. They appear healthy today with good appetites. Mortality to date is 3.3%.
Group No. 6 - 200 chicks, introduced on 12 June. These birds look great so far. It appears I'm controlling the brooder temps better and also installed more feeders. I've also started these birds on a new feed that has a higher protein content. One bird died for no apparent reason so mortality currently stands at .05%.
My first group of 300 Cornish X chicks I started back in early Feb and am now working with Group No. 6. Since Feb we've gone from our dry season or summer to our rainy season (winter) with dramatic changes in temperatures, humidity, and of course, rainfall. I keep daily records on the birds, including ambient temps, and note any behavioral changes, treatments, and deaths.
Most of my birds are harvested by day 42 though I run my data collection out to day 45 for those birds that might remain.
Here's a summary to date of my experiences:
Group No. 1 - 300 chicks, introduced 2 Feb. Final mortality - 3%. These birds were started during the middle of our summer....virtually no rainfall; dry conditions, low humidity, warm/hot days and cool nights. Didn't lose a single bird until day 25 and those that died thereafter were most definitely heat-related.
Group No. 2 - 300 chicks, introduced 20 March. Final mortality - 3%. Still summertime here in Venezuela in late March. First death occurred on day 10 while birds were still in their brooder. Note: my brooder is a converted outside bathroom. It actually works quite well in that once at temperature, it holds the temperature relatively stable for the average 24 hour cycle. Most the remaining deaths occurred very near slaughter date and were definitely heat-related.
Group No. 3 - 200 chicks, introduced on 5 April. Final mortality - 1%. A very warm and dry month generally. This year we had some hard rains in the latter half of the month. First bird died on day 12, one day before moving the group out of the brooder. Only one other chick from this group died, that being a tiny fellow who just never caught up with the rest. He died on day 26.
Group No. 4 - 200 chicks, introduced on 15 May. This group is still in progress, registering day 33 right now. Mortality to date is 7%. The group arrived with one DOA and I suffocated 2 as I was unloading the birds in the brooder by stupidly setting the shipping box down on top of two chicks. I was sick; but anyway, live and learn. Lots of rain, daily and it seems to have a negative effect on the birds. Between day 7 and day 22 I lost a couple of birds for no apparent reason...they just dropped dead. I moved this group out of the brooder on day 16. On day 23 I noted a bloody stool, then more, and then a bunch of bloody stools. On day 24 a total of 7 birds, otherwise healthy-looking birds, dropped dead. I scrambled to buy a treatment for coccicidosis and started the birds that same day. I did note that their bedding was unusually wet. The birds stabilized, losing one on day 25 but none since. As mentioned, they're now on day 33 and all look to be in good shape though the hens appear smaller-than-average for birds of this age. I've decided to let this group, run out to age 42 days before slaughter. I normally begin slaughtering some males on day 36.
Group No. 5 - 300 chicks, introduced on 31 May. Easily the worst-looking group of birds I've had. In the first 8 days I had a total of 7 deaths, one being DOA. They just never looked good in the brooder. I suspect, based on behavior, that the temps were too low and I didn't have enough feeder space. This meant some birds fed better and more often than others and those that didn't feed weakened and were trampled by the larger birds. I moved the birds out of the brooder on day 13 and their demeanor and overall appearance approved immediately. I've still lost a few since the move (smaller weaker birds) but they appear much more stable. I do note a much wider variance in sizes than normal and suspect this will continue until slaughter. On day 17 (yesterday) I noted a bloody stool and immediately put the birds on treatment for coccicidosis. They appear healthy today with good appetites. Mortality to date is 3.3%.
Group No. 6 - 200 chicks, introduced on 12 June. These birds look great so far. It appears I'm controlling the brooder temps better and also installed more feeders. I've also started these birds on a new feed that has a higher protein content. One bird died for no apparent reason so mortality currently stands at .05%.
