First Time With Cornish X's

[Happy Chooks]

We got our first batch of X's on Feb 25 - just when I think I'll be able to turn them out, we're supposed to have a FRIGID week here in Kentucky. Grrr.....we have 23 in a brooder downstairs in the unfinished bathroom and OMG the stink! We're changing out pine bedding every other day at the longest. They're going through two 1-gal waterers 3x/daily, and about 12-14 lbs feed during the 12 hours they have food each day. They are little piglets/piranhas, for sure!

If you can use the pelleted horse bedding, it cuts down on the smell tremendously. I just bought a bag that was open due to a tear (that had been taped closed) for $4 today.

I took mine off heat last night and they did fine. They were very hungry this morning without eating through the night, but they were fine. We are in the 60's in the daytime and 40's at night, and the meaties are 3 1/2 weeks old.

 

[Coralietg]

If you can use the pelleted horse bedding, it cuts down on the smell tremendously. I just bought a bag that was open due to a tear (that had been taped closed) for $4 today.

I took mine off heat last night and they did fine. They were very hungry this morning without eating through the night, but they were fine. We are in the 60's in the daytime and 40's at night, and the meaties are 3 1/2 weeks old.

That's good to know. We are having a short cold snap so the low tomorrow night is 40, then should be in the 50's and 60's at night. I'll leave the heat on at night until Thursday then they can bugger off.

 

[gameandmore]

My Cornish rocks are about 5 weeks old today and the biggest one is 1 lb 2 oz what am I doing wrong?

ETA: I am feeding a 20% feed

 

[kuntrygirl]

My Cornish rocks are about 5 weeks old today and the biggest one is 1 lb 2 oz what am I doing wrong?

From my experience you are NOT doing anything wrong. You may have a slow growing broiler like I did. Can you call the place that you got them from to see if you have slow growers?

Don't give up. It's not your fault.

 

[Coralietg]

My Cornish rocks are about 5 weeks old today and the biggest one is 1 lb 2 oz what am I doing wrong?

ETA: I am feeding a 20% feed

From my experience you are NOT doing anything wrong. You may have a slow growing broiler like I did. Can you call the place that you got them from to see if you have slow growers?

Don't give up. It's not your fault.

I agree with this. My biggest one at 2 weeks was 1lb 8oz, and I'm feeding 18% feed. I don't even feed them around the clock, probably only 3 times a day. Despite what I do (or don't do) they keep on growing.

Slow growing broilers, or incorrect breed?

 

[kuntrygirl]

My Cornish rocks are about 5 weeks old today and the biggest one is 1 lb 2 oz what am I doing wrong?


ETA: I am feeding a 20% feed

From my experience you are NOT doing anything wrong. You may have a slow growing broiler like I did. Can you call the place that you got them from to see if you have slow growers?


Don't give up. It's not your fault.

I agree with this. My biggest one at 2 weeks was 1lb 8oz, and I'm feeding 18% feed. I don't even feed them around the clock, probably only 3 times a day. Despite what I do (or don't do) they keep on growing.

Slow growing broilers, or incorrect breed?

What about a combo - slow growing incorrect breed?

Hey and some of yours are 2 weeks at 1 lb 8 ounces and I have some that are 11 weeks and they are 2.92 lbs. I don't think you can get anything slower than mine. In 5 weeks, yours will probably be the same weight as my 11 week olds. :/

 

[LindaB220]

Heat will not be good for them. I'm so glad i'm almost done with mine.

What are your thoughts? Gonna raise them again? Or maybe just cut down the numbers a bit. I'm really looking forward to getting a few later. Maybe Sept. The heat will be lower (hopefully). I don't know, it's been such a crazy year for weather. My babies being shipped mar 27. Yea!!! 25 now and 25 May 1. BUT not CX

Edited for content: Just saw your answer. 25 is perfect.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Heat will not be good for them. I'm so glad i'm almost done with mine. :/

What are your thoughts?  Gonna raise them again?   Or maybe just  cut down the numbers a bit.   I'm really looking forward to getting a few later.  Maybe Sept.  The heat will be lower (hopefully).  I don't know, it's been such a  crazy year for weather.  My babies being shipped mar 27.   Yea!!!  25 now and 25  May 1.  BUT not CX  

You know what. I think I will. I won't let this batch discourage me from doing it again. And I will do as you have stated. I will cut down on the number. 25 is good for me but no more than 50 and 50 may be too many. I have learned so much during this time. You all have helped me with your suggestions, ideas, advice and just general chatter back and forth that we have had since Day 1.

I am curious as to how fast and how big the larger broilers can grow. If I decide to get any of those, I"m thinking only 10 of them. That's would be plenty for the bigger birds.

Congrats on your shipment coming soon. e

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote: I brood in a coop outdoors, and they were creating so much heat that there was condensation on the roof dripping down on them. So I took the heat away. You touch their little bodies and they feel like a furnace.

Mine got their brooder coop cleaned out today. We are supposed to get rain tomorrow and Wednesday, so they will be spending more time inside.

And

on bugger off. That's a saying my Australian relatives use.

 

[Coralietg]

I brood in a coop outdoors, and they were creating so much heat that there was condensation on the roof dripping down on them. So I took the heat away. You touch their little bodies and they feel like a furnace.

Mine got their brooder coop cleaned out today. We are supposed to get rain tomorrow and Wednesday, so they will be spending more time inside.

And

on bugger off. That's a saying my Australian relatives use.

They really are super hot, I wasn't expecting that either! They feel feverish. Their brooder already needs cleaning out again and I just did it a few days a go. I added some clean sawdust to the top and I'm hoping I can drag out another day until the tractor is built.

I lived in the UK until I was 19. Despite being in my 7th year here, I still have my accent, lol.