Last few weeks

[Knoxguy]

Raising X's for meat. Any tips for the last few weeks/days to fatten them up and make them tastier? They are currently on Dumor 20%.

 

[stillstoked]

I would also love to hear any suggestions you all have. Mine are 5 weeks old.

 

[DenverBird]

I've heard grass finishing makes a big difference in the flavor but don't have any experience with it yet. My FRs are 9.5 wks old and scheduled to go to Freezer Camp on at 11.5 wks. I currently give them their regular grain feed most of the day and then let them out for a couple of hours to eat grass and any bugs they can find.

-DB

 

[bigredfeather]

Quote:
More corn.

 

[Knoxguy]

Any corn in particular? A generic cracked corn Ok?

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

corn is straight carbs so what it adds is fat. Personally I mostly do without it.

I was getting ready to do a feed experiment feeding one batch all corn, just to watch the weight gain etc. but my processor talked me out of it, he sees more butchered birds in a week than we do all year and he's been doing it for 30 years so I really trust the advice I get from him. He said he has seen plenty of corn feed experiments and that he truly does not like the carcasses, say they have really yellow slick fat all over them and that the insides are all fattied up looking ready for CHF.

I took his advice as I have yet to see any CHF in mine and I feed 20% from start to finish. So I guess my thoughts for you are; you're on track don't mess with it.

 

[ChikeeMomma]

Quote:
More corn.

Agreed! Cracked corn is fine. I feed it to them about five days before the go to the processor. My X's also free range from about 4 weeks until the time of processing at about 9 - 11 weeks of age. This year they will be about 9 weeks of age before processing. Last year they were 10 & 11 weeks old. I started a little later this year due to the freezing spring weather we are having (still having

)! I like to be done with mine by the end of May. Good luck!

 

[Knoxguy]

Thnx all! As I'll be raising two batches of meat birds, this first will be straight 20% and the next will get a dose of cracked corn 5 days prior to seeing the cone.