I'm stumped...

[Crs1]

I have 18 Cornish x and they don't seem to eat as well as my last batches of cx. They're 4 weeks and don't seem like they will be ready for process at 6 weeks
I fill the feeder and the next morning it isn't even half gone. My last batches would practically knock me over to get to the feeder. About a week ago something got in the coop and killed one and that's when I noticed the change. I have no where else to put them. They have an 8x8run attached to the coop and I also feed a small Tupperware of fermented feed. Which they don't eat very well either.
Maybe I should keep them in the coop and only feed the dry feed.?
Any suggestions will be helpful
Thanks

 

[YdogsflY]

What are your temperatures like?
What are you feeding them and is it the same feed as the last batch? How old is the feed?
How big are they?
Where did you order them from?
Is the food there all day long for them to eat?
Do they look healthy overall?

 

[Crs1]

Our temps are 75-80 day and 55-70 night
I changed their feed from chick starter to meatbird
Don't know how old it is
Got them thru our Farm and home store
Yes the food is out at all times
Yes the look healthy just not as big at 4 weeks as my last batch that I processed at 5 weeks

 

[YdogsflY]

Ok, that at least eliminates most of the potential issues.

Did they eat the chick starter well and slow down with the switch to meat bird? I personally would stop the fermented feed and allow them access to their run. They are going to need all the room they can get.

The chicks might be from a different hatchery and might have different growth. Different strains have different quirks. Possibly one of the "slower growing' strains.

Just keep feeding them. Maybe try different feed. Butcher them when they get to the weight you're looking for. Might take longer, or they might surprise you and blow up in the next week.

 

[Nekatlla]

So how'd it go? Sometimes we have to wait up to 2 or 3 extra weeks before ours all get to the right age.

 

[Crs1]

They are at 5 weeks now and going a lot stronger they seem to be eating better and getting bigger. I kept them on the meatbird feed that I had changed them to and stopped the fermented feed. They do still have access to the 8x8 run. Our plan is to process them Saturday. We will see on friday