I just bought 20 Cornish Cross

[greyfields]

I've been told by a guy (the poultry judge at our fair last year) that providing bone meal for them will prevent the leg problems. Apparently calcium is not a cheap ingredient, so broiler feeds skimp a bot on it.

So, have I given my birds bone meal? Yup. Did I have tons of leg problems before I did? Nope. Because I wasn't doing Cornish Crosses when I was told that info.

 

[Half-a-dozen]

Quote:
Bone meal as in calcium chips like oyster shell stuff???? (sorry if the question sounds dumb, I get myself baffled)-

 

[jaku]

I've read that the food should only be taken away at night after they are out of the brooder.

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[professor-yellow]

My Black Broilers from Ideal are now around 5 weeks. They act like real chickens and grow much faster than the White Plymouth Rocks, but a little slower than the Cornish crosses. Weighed in some of the bigger cockerels at almost 4 pounds and their breasts develop nicely.

Have some pics comparing the White Rocks to the Broilers but cant figure out how to download here.

 

[mmajw]

They will generate a lot of their own heat. You wont need the light long, when you notice they are panting or trying to avoid the light then get rid of it. If during the day the temp goes above 40 degrees then I would shut it off and see how they react. You may only need it at night when the temp dips down. Good luck!! I cant wait for my 50 in June.

 

[Redfeathers]

Thank you. I'll keep you posted on progress, today they are fine, I found three asleep with their head in the food! They perked right up as soon as I bumped the cage a little and started eating again.

I'll try to take pics from time to time to show growth.

 

[LoneCowboy]

I'm trying out one of my fancy Browser Brooders with my bunch. I'm not sure I like the feed troughs out the sides they seem really deep for little guys. I guess as they grow older it's easier for them to get to the food. But they only eat out of the side that is lit by the other brooder I have 6 layers in. I've got to find a way to light the other side so more can eat at once.

I have 50 in it right now. I'm not sure how long I have before I have to fire another one up so they all have room. These came 2 weeks earlier than expected so I'm not quite a prepared as I had hoped to be. Ideal called and said they could send them early if I wanted, so I said sure. This is what happens when you put off figureing out what you are supposed to go with them

 

[Redfeathers]

wow 50 seems like alot. I think I might have started off with too many at 20 but I figure that there is a chance that some might die early. Good luck with yours and keep us posted on their progress.

 

[Fearlessphil]

Quote:
I fed mine free choice until about 3 weeks, when I moved them outside. After that I fed them free choice during the day. I took the feed away or let it run out around 5 pm. I would then move the coop to new grass. They would graze until night fall. I didn't think they were eating that much grass until I cut open the gizzard on some. Guess what.....stuffed with grass. Mine had no leg problems. I did have one die for an unknown reason at about 5 weeks. I now have 14 plump juicy birds in the freezer. They weighed around 4.5 lbs. each dressed. I don't know if that is normal weight for birds butchered at 8 weeks.

Good Luck

 

[MissPrissy]

I will only raise broilers in the fall. It worked out perfectly for us last time and I don't plan to change my routine. The chicks came October 2nd. The weather was warm days and cool nights. As the days got cooler all that body heat worked to their favor and they did very well in the barn in their own coop. When we dispatched the weather was about 40 degrees. No flies or yucky things landing on the meat and the sun was warm enough we did well in just long sleeves and didn't need coats or anything special. There is a thread I did on my cornish x's if you are interested.