how to finish meaties. . . I think I did something wrong

If the chicks were Commercial Broiler chicks then the most obvious reason for their smaller weight is lack of feed intake. These birds need feed to grow and they will eat it quickly. A typical backyard broiler will consume about 2.5# of feed for every pound up to about 8 lb body weight.

Reading one of the "Fermented Feed" threads has me thinking that offering fermented feed is limiting feed.

Jim
Hi Jim,
Thanks for the reply. I didn't feed all fermented feed but I added it in later. I put it out a few times a day---more like a treat. They had regular broiler feed free choice all day. I didn't feed all night---I read that wasn't good for them.
DD
 
I too raised 28 meaties. The biggest one finished out close to 7lbs, the smallest around 3. We started with Purina chick starter, then moved to a TS broiler feed, and eventually found a mill that made their own feed. We bought 50lb bags and would go through 2 bags a week (starting about 3 weeks in). I gave them 14lbs of feed a day and that was it (2 7lb feeders). So total, we went through about 16 bags of feed in 8 weeks.

ETA: I wanted to keep these guys from dying, so I restricted their feed. Their pen was 10x20' and on an incline, and I made them walk up to get water, and walk down to get food. All of them could still fly/run up the hill at 7 weeks. At 8 weeks, all but 2 could still waddle/run around and had no problems. We only lost one at 3 weeks because it was not growing (still the size of a 1week old chick, never feathered at all)
 
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My first batch this year (first meats ever) provided an average of 7.5 pounds at 10 weeks.
We raised "Cornish Giants" on
- 3 weeks of starter (21%)
- 4 weeks of grower (18%)
- 3 weeks of finisher (16%) mixed with scratch whole grains and fermented

I'm happy with the outcome but didn't track the feed intake.

All feed was produced by the local coop. I'd like to mix my own feed next time.

Sundowner - what are you using to get the protein up to 21% ?
 
My first batch this year (first meats ever) provided an average of 7.5 pounds at 10 weeks.
We raised "Cornish Giants" on
- 3 weeks of starter (21%)
- 4 weeks of grower (18%)
- 3 weeks of finisher (16%) mixed with scratch whole grains and fermented

I'm happy with the outcome but didn't track the feed intake.

All feed was produced by the local coop. I'd like to mix my own feed next time.

Sundowner - what are you using to get the protein up to 21% ?

Thanks for sharing your information.
Does anyone know if the Cornish Giants are different from the Cornish Rock X????
 
I agree, we need more information about how much feed you went through (in lbs), and how many birds you were raising. We find that ours go through between 16-18lbs of feed per bird in an 8wk period and they average between 5-5.5lbs dressed.

Okay, I reviewed my feed. Not sure if the starter is accurate since I had some on had. My total, including grains fermented, is 525 pounds of feed. I raised 28 birds for 9 weeks. That comes to 18.75 pounds of feed per bird. I still have some birds right now so I will most likely feed another 50 pounds, depending on when I take them in.
I think based on your numbers I am not that far off. I don't withhold feed, that is what they eat. The also snack a little on grass when I move their pen to a new location. I doubt they catch any bugs, they don't seem to scratch & hunt like my layer hens.
 
I think different breeders have different crosses. Last year my CX finisher faster, more died, and they had less feathers, ans smaller hearts and lungs. This year the birds grow slower, have bigger hearts, beautiful feathers, only one has died. We are feeding the same grains but this year we ground the feed. Where as last year we fed whole grain.

Last year we got them from Big R and this year they came from Hoover Hatchery. :confused:



Almost all cx come from 3 or 4 different parent lines. Most large hatcheries buy the parent stock from the few global companies that have developed these freaks of nature. The parent stock can actually be bought by the public, but the smallest number to order that I have found was 100 pullets with the cockerels being "free". They are not cheap but you can buy them. If it was 100 straight run I would probably order but they won't sell straight run. And I don't need 100 birds laying.
 
Rochester used to offer both "Broilers/Cornish Rock Giants" and "Cornish Cross" but the latter is no longer available from them.

Previously they offered "Cornish Cross" as a slower grower but heartier bird.

I don't know the difference in how they're produced but my giants had no problem getting large.

Edit: I just noticed that Murray McMurray has "Jumbo Cornish X Rocks" and "Cornish Roaster" hybrids.
hu.gif
 
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If the chicks were Commercial Broiler chicks then the most obvious reason for their smaller weight is lack of feed intake. These birds need feed to grow and they will eat it quickly. A typical backyard broiler will consume about 2.5# of feed for every pound up to about 8 lb body weight.

Reading one of the "Fermented Feed" threads has me thinking that offering fermented feed is limiting feed.

Jim

Just curious what makes you think this?? My broilers are not quite 8 weeks, on a fermented feed of 50% flock raiser (20% protein) and 50% corn and grain mix (screened wheat, barley, oats) and some of my average sized birds are weighing in a little over 8lbs. Of course I have some smaller ones, too but I had the same last year when I fed the broilers dry feed.

I would love to hear from someone in the feed business, please!! :)
 
Rochester used to offer both "Broilers/Cornish Rock Giants" and "Cornish Cross" but the latter is no longer available from them.

Previously they offered "Cornish Cross" as a slower grower but heartier bird.

I don't know the difference in how they're produced but my giants had no problem getting large.

Edit: I just noticed that Murray McMurray has "Jumbo Cornish X Rocks" and "Cornish Roaster" hybrids.
hu.gif
Thanks for this info--I'm thinking about trying again this fall. I planned on trying a different hatchery.
 

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