I just bought 20 Cornish Cross

[Redfeathers]

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I read that thread three times. Your success was a huge factor in my decision to give it a try. The weather will still be fairly cool through June here, so I am hopeful I will do well with them. Right now they are just too darn cute. I am so glad they get a little on the ugly side and that they smell. It will help me on the day I load them in the truck to take for processing.

 

[HobbyChickener]

The DW brought home 15 today. so I am going to ride out your post to try and get some smarts on these.

What to feed?
When to feed?
Always water?
is tractor free ranging ok?
and most important -grilled, friedm, or broiled?

 

[Redfeathers]

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Excellent we can be newbies together. I'm feeding chick starter free choice all the time for now, maybe different in a few weeks. Always water. Mine are in a wire kennel for now but we are going to make a pen in the garden area that isn't tilled and is all grass so they can range a little bit.
As far as grilled, fried or broiled.... yes, yes and yes! that's the best part!

 

[HobbyChickener]

so they can eat all the grass that they want? I am looking at building tractor for these thinking it will be the easiest to deal with them. I already have to build another coop and run for all the EEs we just got.

 

[Redfeathers]

I think they can eat grass, from what I've read here, I do know you have to cut off all feed 24 hours before processing but they can have water. There is tons of info if you read past post's under the meat bird section. I learned so much there that it took the worry out of all of this for me. Greyfields and MissPrissy are full of info and I know there are others here that will help.

 

[MissPrissy]

You can let them free feed for the first week. After that I urge you to feed them all they can eat in the day but at night take it away. Let them drink water if they want something to eat. Seriously, if you don't control the eating they will literally eat themselves to death. You will notice as they grow they will lay down at the feed and eat and sleep and wake up to eat some more and not get up unless they have to.

 

[jaku]

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Haha, well, that completely answers the question I asked you in the other thread!

 

[greyfields]

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Broiler starter/finisher (in some areas is may be called Fryer starter/finisher).

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Opinions differ. At the minimum you want their food dish to be full for the 12 daylight hours.

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Yes and check the waterer during the day. If they run out, it can turn ugly quickyl.

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Depending on day/night temperatures, yes. If the temperature is fluctuating, or it's windy, you'll need to provide some shelter for them.

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Broiled/Roasted

 

[LoneCowboy]

Man these birds grow FAST!! I got them with five little layers I'm brooding for a lady. I put them in seperate brooders but these meat birds are already twice the size of the layers. They are all doing really well so far. But then we are only on day 3

 

[Redfeathers]

Glad yours are doing well. Mine are growing amazingly fast, I had to put the food up on a brick and the waterer too, they are tall enough already and it helps keep the shavings out. So far I have just added a layer of shavings everyday, but it's almost time to clean out the brooder, they stink. I've only had them five days.