First time raising meat birds - my journey of raising Cornish X in the city

[Morrigan]

Does keeping chicks excessively warm keep them from feathering out quick enough? I want my CX to go out to the chicken tractor at 3 weeks old.

I think cooler temperatures help them feather out a little faster

I think it does as well. For the last several years, I've brooded outdoors, using a heating plate as my only heat source. All my chicks raised in these conditions seem to feather out faster than I recall the chicks doing when I brooded them indoors. I've noticed the same thing with chicks raised in chilly spring weather by broody hens.

I've also found that meat birds, in particular, run a little hot and can withstand much colder temperatures then you would think. I would go up in morning in 35 degree weather and find my 5 day old meaties outside the heat plate and running about the brooder.

The other thing I recommend in brooding -- particular because you have 1 or 2 keeper hens in your brooder -- is to get a dish of dirt or a big clump of sod, taken from your yard/chicken run and put it in the brooder. It's advice I got on this forum, and I found that early exposure to whatever microbes are in your yard makes for a more hardy and resilient chick.

 

[HenriettaPizzaNolan]

I think it does as well. For the last several years, I've brooded outdoors, using a heating plate as my only heat source. All my chicks raised in these conditions seem to feather out faster than I recall the chicks doing when I brooded them indoors. I've noticed the same thing with chicks raised in chilly spring weather by broody hens.

I've also found that meat birds, in particular, run a little hot and can withstand much colder temperatures then you would think. I would go up in morning in 35 degree weather and find my 5 day old meaties outside the heat plate and running about the brooder.

The other thing I recommend in brooding -- particular because you have 1 or 2 keeper hens in your brooder -- is to get a dish of dirt or a big clump of sod, taken from your yard/chicken run and put it in the brooder. It's advice I got on this forum, and I found that early exposure to whatever microbes are in your yard makes for a more hardy and resilient chick.

Ah, that's smart. Thanks for the advice. I will place some soil in the brooder.

And good to know they are pretty resilient. Who knows what our weather in Northeast Ohio will be when they are 3 weeks old.

 

[HenriettaPizzaNolan]

TWO WEEK MARK

Today's weights:
15.9 oz
14.9 oz
14.7 oz
14.6 oz
14.5 oz
14.3 oz
14.3 oz

Average weight = 14.74 oz

With last week's average being 6.14 ounces, the birds have more than doubled in weight in a week! They are almost a pound each. I think they are making great progress so far and all seem healthy. As you can see, they are developing feathers on their sides and chests, and their combs are growing quickly.

For comparison, my two week old Salmon Faverolles weighs 4.3 ounces, and my three week old mystery layer hen (olive egger?) weighs 5.2 ounces. The Cornish Xs are beasts! You can really tell the difference in size when the CX is next to the layer (Faverolle with colored wings).

What do you guys think of my birds so far?

 

[ShrekDawg]

TWO WEEK MARK

Today's weights:
15.9 oz
14.9 oz
14.7 oz
14.6 oz
14.5 oz
14.3 oz
14.3 oz

Average weight = 14.74 oz

With last week's average being 6.14 ounces, the birds have more than doubled in weight in a week! They are almost a pound each. I think they are making great progress so far and all seem healthy. As you can see, they are developing feathers on their sides and chests, and their combs are growing quickly.


View attachment 3272304View attachment 3272303


For comparison, my two week old Salmon Faverolles weighs 4.3 ounces, and my three week old mystery layer hen (olive egger?) weighs 5.2 ounces. The Cornish Xs are beasts! You can really tell the difference in size when the CX is next to the layer (Faverolle with colored wings).

View attachment 3272302

What do you guys think of my birds so far?

Wow! They sure do grow fast!

 

[HenriettaPizzaNolan]

The plan is still to move the chicks out to the tractor at ~3 weeks old. Our temps have been fluctuating a lot here. Does anyone have recommendations on how to know when it's safe to put them outside with no heat source? They are currently on a screened in porch with the windows open, but with a heat lamp.

 

[Morrigan]

What are your over night lows? Also, do you plan on putting the two non-meat bird chicks in with them?

 

[Morrigan]

I'll add that when I raised CX, I generally took away the heat source around 2 weeks -- however they slept in a shed, not in a tractor. Overnight lows in the 50-60 range.

I would think that 3 weeks in a tractor would be fine, unless you are expecting lows in the 40s, or a lot of wind and rain.

You will want to be sure they have a place to sleep that is completely protected from any rain and very well sheltered against the wind. I would also put a lot of straw, so they can snuggle into it. Some people have reported good luck with snuggle boxes, but my chicks never seemed to want to use them.

Finally, I would also start weaning them off the heat lamp now. Turn it off for longer and longer periods each day and into the evening. That will both slowly harden them off, and give you a better understanding as to their needs. Chicks are really good at letting you know they are cold and unhappy, and listening and observing how they do as heat is removed will be your best guide.

 

[HenriettaPizzaNolan]

What are your over night lows? Also, do you plan on putting the two non-meat bird chicks in with them?

Nighttime lows right now are about mid-50s at the lowest. Right now I have layers in with the meaties, but I figured the layers will have to stay in the brooder a few more weeks before going out. My main concern is getting the meat birds outside around the 3 week mark.

 

[HenriettaPizzaNolan]

I'll add that when I raised CX, I generally took away the heat source around 2 weeks -- however they slept in a shed, not in a tractor. Overnight lows in the 50-60 range.

I would think that 3 weeks in a tractor would be fine, unless you are expecting lows in the 40s, or a lot of wind and rain.

You will want to be sure they have a place to sleep that is completely protected from any rain and very well sheltered against the wind. I would also put a lot of straw, so they can snuggle into it. Some people have reported good luck with snuggle boxes, but my chicks never seemed to want to use them.

Finally, I would also start weaning them off the heat lamp now. Turn it off for longer and longer periods each day and into the evening. That will both slowly harden them off, and give you a better understanding as to their needs. Chicks are really good at letting you know they are cold and unhappy, and listening and observing how they do as heat is removed will be your best guide.

Thank you so much for this!

Just have a few follow up questions though. First of all, what is a snuggle box? Secondly, do you think I should just separate the layers since I don't think they are ready for periods of time without the lamp yet?

 

[Morrigan]

A snuggle box is a shelter with 3 sides and a top, or sometimes with a 4th side partially enclosed. You then put straw, old towels or wool scraps in the box, and the chicks, in theory, can huddle in there to keep warm. I say, in theory, because my chicks mostly seemed to want to sleep on top of it. But, I've read on this forum that other people have successfully used them.

I think with lows only in the mid-50s, the layer chicks would be OK, heat-wise in the tractor. However, I would separate out the two layer chicks for two reasons. First, they may find it increasingly difficult to compete for food and water against the CX. Second, I assume you are going to be ultimately moving those chicks into a coop with adult chickens. I would my focus on getting getting those chicks used to/integrated into the coop where they will live.