cornish X

[eggsulli]

I decided to try raising some Cornish Cross this spring, I purchase 20 of these mutants. I'm having issues with them, they are around 4 weeks old, eat like dinosaurs, and this weekend I lost quite a few. As in 7 keeled over, deader then dead. I'm guessing I screwed up and overfed them. Shame on me. I have 19 RiR mixed in, no mortality issues with them. Same feed/water. The Cornish Cross look horrible, lots of missing feathers, almost like they are molting, but they are young. Is this common/normal for them? The RiR look fine, no feather loss. Am I correct that letting the Cornish eat as much as they want is the likely reason for so many deaths? Any tips on the the feather loss? Thanks all.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

It is normal for them. They grow so fast their feathers can't keep up with their bodies. And yes, they can eat themselves to death. I would separate the RIRs and start doing a 12 hours on, 12 hours off feeding schedule. That, or let them out to forage for their food during the daytime and let them have at their feed at night. Good luck!