is it possible activity can be bad for them?

[daviechik]

I have been letting our cornish x 2wk old babies play in a playpen during the day, for exercise, to do "chicken" stuff, exc. they seemingly enjoy it, scratching, dusting themselves in dirt, exc but im finding (even in 65-70* weather) i have one that is panting heavily... The one who is having the most trouble ISNT the biggest in the flock.. they are ranging up to 11oz and this one is 9oz and having a hard time. Is it possible the "play time" outside is too much even though they are only two weeks old? Ive also read to start limiting their feed at 2wks, I fill their tray in the morning with baby food its generally empty come 2pm in the afternoon (and i feed around 10am) should i not give them more food after that or should i top it off in the evening?

 

[daviechik]

no one?

 

[phalenbeck]

I have mine after 3-4 weeks chase me around the yard holding the feed bucket each A.M. in the belief that a stronger older bird is better tasting. I also try to give as big a pen as I can. Last year one bunch was raised by a broody silkey and forraged well, and the other 2 batches raised by me--not so much. I also feed for a couple hours in the a.m. and a couple hours at night. I am only raising for myself. Some are much better at the game than others. There allways can be a weak bird that needs to be sent to camp early, about one in 15 +-. I did 3 batches of 15 last year.

 

[phalenbeck]

I think exersise is better than not. Sometimes a weak individual will not make it. My earlier reply was too complex. Heathy animals=healthy food.

 

[daviechik]

It wasn't too complex I got it I agree with you just don't want anything to happen to the babies yet either

 

[AgroUrica]

I give mine a lot more room than these birds would get in a commercial setting. As long as the exercise is voluntary, I don't see any harm and as has been stated, should result in a healthier bird and therefore a more enjoyable and healthy dining experience.

 

[pbjls]

I have raised a lot of cornish cross. I believe it is best to restrict feed. I raise them in pasture pens. I move the pens in the morning before I feed them. after they have been moved to fresh grass I re set the waterers and then the feed. in the evening I remove the feed and if the area is soiled very much I move the pens again. The next morning i start over. move, replace water, and replace feed last. what this does is give them a fresh place to sleep, fresh pasture first thing in the morning, and then access to feed during the day. the birds catch on the system prety quick and it makes moving the pens easy because they are hungry in the morning and want to get to the fresh grass so they follow the leading edge of the pen as it is moved.

 

[daviechik]

Pbj, that's basically how we do things too except all birds get put up in houses at night for their safety, in the morning they are loaded into baskets or carried by hand to their run where they spend the day.

 

[ozarkchicks]

excercise is good for them, sadly there always seems to be that one chick that just doesn't make it

 

[daviechik]

It's still kickin' thankfully our weather has remained cool for the most part.... We continue to do outside playtime