I lost a meaty bird today...

[TMNfarm]

My CX are 3 months old and I wanted to butcher them a month ago. This is my second batch. My first batch I processed at 8 weeks. We borrowed a bench style plucker from a friend and decided that I wanted a barrel style. I ordered the plans and my father-in-law started to build it. I had planned on butchering these guys when they were 8 weeks old, but he fell and hurt his hip so he couldn't finish the plucker right away. I've been growing more and more worried about them because they are getting huge! I have been restricting their feed, but doesn't seem like you can slow these guys down. They were in a coop that is about 5X6 with an outside run about the same size. It was never meant to hold them for this long. They didn't seem to be overly crowded, but more than I liked to see. Add to that, 7 of the 11 are roosters... My brother-in-law helped my FIL finish the plucker today, so we planned to butcher tomorrow. I came home tonight to find one of them dead in the run... :-(
I'm so upset.... And it isn't because I have 1 less chicken in the freezer at the end of this.... Just because she died... I feel like I did something wrong, like I failed... I couldn't get her out one more day.... I hope I don't lose any more overnight...

 

[chicken pickin]

wow 3 months old... I cant even imagine their size. I just processed my 26 this past sunday they were 7 weeks old. I now wish I went a little longer as I think the dressed weights are smaller than I was hoping for(I have no scale to weight them). Im sorry you lost one and try not to blame your self they were obviously very healthy if they came this long in their short lives. Im sure the rest will make it to process. Let us know your results

 

[Life is Good!]

I lost one Cornish chick yesterday as well due to this crazy heat brought up by Hurricane Isaac. Even though they had fans and an extra waterer - this little one just got too dehydrated while I was at work and perished sometime last night. I brought the little chick indoors - gave it Sav-A-Chick via eye dropper every 30min for 4hrs - but it was just too far gone to make it.

It's so hard being a modern day farmer...the responsibilities of these lives do seem to weigh heavily on me. And while I cannot stop working to earn money to cover bills, I also want the best for these critters. Yesterday, the balancing act failed me. Today, I have 25 healthy Cornish chicks to tend to. And I'm thankful for that blessing. I remember the mistakes made and try to learn from them - but I've learned not to beat myself up (too much).

Because you've taken your Cornish 2x what their 'average' lifespan is - congradulate yourself on that accomplishment! Learn and grow from that message. And forgive yourself for what was out of your control.

 

[bruceh]

just for giggles sake. i took my meaties cornish x ( 17 ) to about 13 weeks mine dressed out at 8 1/2 to 11.4 lbs. in my opinion i would not let them go past 11 weeks . the extra pound is not worth the feed bill.
my birds were raised with my layers . they are raised coop, pen with free range. activity for these guys helps with good growth rates. they do grow a little slower this way ( slower growth reduces heart kidney and leg issues) however over all condition was worth it.
i did lose 1 bird at 7 weeks. i think she drowned under the coop during a rain. can't tell the other chickens ate her.
also, free ranging also adds some toughness to the bird. when i say toughness i mean to say good texture to the meat. if you think about it, how tough can a 11 to 13 week old bird be.
i am going to try fermenting feed on this batch of 32.
the high meat maker style feed is not at all needed. this just adds to health issues. to much weight gain to soon.
i do realize some people can't free range. so if you pen don't cram a ton of birds into a small space. supplement with meal worms, fruits and veggies etc.. add some unpasturized apple cider vinegar to water.

 

[angelbabyamy]

I have 3 Cornish X hens I didn't butcher when I did my others, at the time they were smaller and I was tired or processing, so I put it off for another day. Well, that day has never come, lol! My bought my chicks May 21st.

They are doing well, they free range with my chickens and it cracks me up when I come home and they come running to see me, their running/waddling with their huge breasts bouncing back and forth and the noise their feet make is HILARIOUS! I keep saying I need to butcher them, but they are enjoying being chickens. If they hung out in the chicken house all day or acted like they were having problems, I would do it, but they act just like the rest of my flock. Sometimes they can get on the perch, but not always. They are starting to be bullies to my 7 week old chicks, they sit at the door and peck them when they want to go to bed.

I hope I don't go out and find them dead or I will feel bad. I am hoping they will lay me some eggs, a friend had some that were laying and said they were huge with double yolks.