First Run of Cornish Cross Meat Birds and Super Excited!

[Molpet]

Bought my first cornish crosses yesterday. I'm curious as to how much to feed them a day so they don't grow too fast. I have twenty 3 day old babies and they are all healthy so far.

some of us feed them , after a week, all they can eat for 20 min 2x a day.. I kept one back for breeding and she died a week short of a yr old.

 

[duluthralphie]

Here is a commercial feeding chart

THROW THAT OUT !! UNLESS YOU WANT TO KILL THEM!!!

 

[duluthralphie]

some of us feed them , after a week, all they can eat for 20 min 2x a day.. I kept one back for breeding and she died a week short of a yr old.

Do this, then cut back more for long lived healthy birds @Saris

 

[lpatelski]

Bought my first cornish crosses yesterday. I'm curious as to how much to feed them a day so they don't grow too fast. I have twenty 3 day old babies and they are all healthy so far.

Are you raising them to eat or to use in a breeding program?

 

[JRNash]

It's rough getting them to breeding age. Out of 50 I got one male to that age. Ate the rest.

 

[Birdinhand]

I feed scratch and peck 24/7 for 10 days, then switch to free access during the day, no feed at night, basically a 12 hour on, 12 hour off cycle. I'm using 17% protein modesto organic. after 10 days or so, start moving the feed to one end and the water to the other end of the brooder, eventually getting about them 5-10 ft apart. I also recommend raising the food and water off the ground as they grow so they have to stand up to eat and drink. they need to be encouraged to stay active or they can go down hill. my 37 cobb 500 CX are 5 weeks old tomorrow, no deaths, still spunky and running around. I will be harvesting at 8 to 9 weeks.

 

[Birdinhand]

this photo is from 4 weeks, my son is holding a CX, my doughter is holding a barnvelder with the same hatch date on the right for comparison.

 

[GreatBreeder]

Noooo! Don't let them get attached!

 

[holm25]

this photo is from 4 weeks, my son is holding a CX, my doughter is holding a barnvelder with the same hatch date on the right for comparison.

 

[holm25]

I feed scratch and peck 24/7 for 10 days, then switch to free access during the day, no feed at night, basically a 12 hour on, 12 hour off cycle.  I'm using 17% protein modesto organic.  after 10 days or so, start moving the feed to one end and the water to the other end of the brooder, eventually getting about them 5-10 ft apart.  I also recommend raising the food and water off the ground as they grow so they have to stand up to eat and drink.  they need to be encouraged to stay active or they can go down hill.  my 37 cobb 500 CX are 5 weeks old tomorrow, no deaths, still spunky and running around.  I will be harvesting at 8 to 9 weeks.

Do you keep lights on your birds 24/7?