Cornish X

[Chris H.]

I have five Cornish X chickens I got from TSC for 25 cents each. They are now 6 weeks old. They are huge. I feed them once a day and they eat it all. They get no feed at night. They have plenty of room to walk but they seem to walk to feed and drink then just lay done the rest of the time. They do not keep themselves clean even though I keep bedding fresh. And offer dust bathes. Their vents are dirty but not feces packed. Same with their undercarriage. Feathersall wet matted but not packed with stuff. The skin looks good. Heads look normal. No drainage or gue. I have not lost any. Knock on wood. No broken legs. They do look like fat out of shape guys who can't walk more than a few feet. So my question is this normal? None of my other birds look like this. They are all shiny and feathers look well kept. Next question what age or weight should I slaughter them?

IMG_5116

• Chris H.
• Oct 24, 2017

IMG_5106

• Chris H.
• Oct 24, 2017

 

[Birdinhand]

we just harvested the last of our latest batch yesterday. while there are things that you can do to help with what you are talking about, this is pretty "normal" behavior. I have found that raising the water, as you have and raising the food helps and keep them as far apart as possible, I like a good 7' at least, between them and I think longer runs are better for CX than square, even adding a turn, like an "L" shape with the water and food around the corner from each other at opposite ends is good. as soon as enough make it around the corner and can't be seen, the rest come like a pack of wild elephants in full charge mode. I use a mother heating pad and allow them 24/7 access to food without issue... much better than a heat lamp in the early weeks.

using a nipple waterer has helped me keep the water clean, which helps them from getting diarrhea. also, some feeds are super high in protein, sometimes if they get the squarts, I will add a lower protein formula like an egg layer in and that can help.

also, depending on what strain of CX you got, you should know that some are much cleaner and healthier and require less coddling than others. I like the COBB 500, you have to ask about the strain... then again, for 25 cents, I'd say you've got great birds!

their underside hardly grows feathers, it's just part of their breed and part of the fact that toward week 4-8, they spend more and more time lying down because of the weight they carry. I've found that there are ways to keep them more active and cleaner but that invariably, in the last week or so before harvest they are plowing through so much food and producing so much waste it's hard to keep up with it all. I use a deep litter method with partially pre composted wood chips, I "peel" away the mat of droppings that form, using a flat shovel, and with it comes enough carbon/wood for the composter and in it goes, but it will stink to high heaven if you add too much fresh manure at once to a tumbler composter.

as for harvest, you'll notice a precipitous drop off in how much they eat, somewhere around week 8. you can get a bit more weight on them waiting till week 9 to harvest but not a lot, I harvest between 8-9 weeks.

they look great, good luck. and if you want more details, check out the link below.

 

[sylviethecochin]

we just harvested the last of our latest batch yesterday. while there are things that you can do to help with what you are talking about, this is pretty "normal" behavior. I have found that raising the water, as you have and raising the food helps and keep them as far apart as possible, I like a good 7' at least, between them and I think longer runs are better for CX than square, even adding a turn, like an "L" shape with the water and food around the corner from each other at opposite ends is good. as soon as enough make it around the corner and can't be seen, the rest come like a pack of wild elephants in full charge mode. I use a mother heating pad and allow them 24/7 access to food without issue... much better than a heat lamp in the early weeks.

using a nipple waterer has helped me keep the water clean, which helps them from getting diarrhea. also, some feeds are super high in protein, sometimes if they get the squarts, I will add a lower protein formula like an egg layer in and that can help.

also, depending on what strain of CX you got, you should know that some are much cleaner and healthier and require less coddling than others. I like the COBB 500, you have to ask about the strain... then again, for 25 cents, I'd say you've got great birds!

their underside hardly grows feathers, it's just part of their breed and part of the fact that toward week 4-8, they spend more and more time lying down because of the weight they carry. I've found that there are ways to keep them more active and cleaner but that invariably, in the last week or so before harvest they are plowing through so much food and producing so much waste it's hard to keep up with it all. I use a deep litter method with partially pre composted wood chips, I "peel" away the mat of droppings that form and with it comes enough carbon/wood for the composter and in it goes, but it will stink to high heaven if you add too much fresh manure at once to a tumbler composter.

as for harvest, you'll notice a precipitous drop off in how much they eat, somewhere around week 8. you can get a bit more weight on them waiting till week 9 to harvest but not a lot, I harvest between 8-9 weeks.

they look great, good luck. and if you want more details, check out the link below.

And that right there is why I don't raise meat birds. Good luck.

EDT: Link?

 

[Birdinhand]

And that right there is why I don't raise meat birds. Good luck.

EDT: Link?

here is the hot link, otherwise you have to cut and paste from my signature, for some reason you can't post hot links in your signature unless you are a sponsor. but be warned, you just might be won over :~). I raise pretty happy, healthy and active birds for my family of 4 in a suburban development!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ons-of-suburban-meat-bird-production.1115689/

 

[Chris H.]

Thanks for the advice. I will try some of that. I use deep bed method and they have not produced that much waste so far. Looks manageable and my egglauers mix the bedding up a lot. And now that they can go outside that should help. I think I will keep food at one end and water at the other. Might even let them out in the yard for a bit. Chase them around slowly. I guess only two more weeks to process hem.

 

[Birdinhand]

at this juncture, I wouldn't push them hard, they have a lot of weight on and it can stress their heart to the point of dropping dead if they suddenly have to work hard and aren't up to it. I'd keep doing mostly what you are doing for now, if you will go for another round at some point in the future, take some notes and start applying the changes early on.
cheers!

 

[Gray Farms]

I'd butcher the this week. I always did my around 6-6.5 weeks. But then I like smaller "3-4 pound" birds personally.

 

[Birdinhand]

I'd butcher the this week. I always did my around 6-6.5 weeks. But then I like smaller "3-4 pound" birds personally.

yes, you can butcher now or later, depending on what weight you are looking for. average seems to be about 4 lbs by week 6ish, 5-7 lbs by week 8 and 7-9 lbs by week 9ish. these are dressed weights. to get good tender meat, you have to rest the meet. I like to rest it for 3-5 days a little bit above freezing, say 35 degrees. this tenderizes the meat. an absolute minimum rest of 4 hours is needed to get the rigor out. I prefer scalding at 145 degrees before plucking.