light and feed questions for Cornish Cross

[TamTurkey]

It has a lot to do with bein in a controlled temperature that's conducive with their weight and feed plan. They also have light 24/7. Believe me they sleep but its more like a bunch of naps. Putting culls outside even whilr still feeding them the same feed they grow a lot slower.

 

[Rniare]

We had a mishap, sad to say. We had 50 Jumbos. At 4wks it got a little cool one night and they crowded under the 1 heat lamp we had on and 9 of the little buggers got suffocated in the mass of birds huddled for warmth. So yeah, they need some space and they need more than 1 heat lamp if you have several birds so they dont kill each other. Talk about feel dumb! Water is really important too! Their little metabolisms are going 90 miles an hour so they make a lot of heat and they need lots of water which then when mixed with thier high calorie feed results in lots of loose poops. It's not diahhrea, they are not sick. Loose poops are to be expected. I would like to try the fermented feed method some time. I hear that creates less nasty poops.

 

[TamTurkey]

Aww sorry to hear bout your losses that's tough. I wish you the best of luck with the rest of them! I lost eight last time because of heat exhaustion the AC couldn't keep up with the sun shining through pexiglass windows (it was like a magnifying glass!). It made it a sauna! Have since covered the pexiglass with a tarp. So I know the feeling when you pop yourself in the forehead and try to figure out what you were thinking.

 

[City Chicken]

mine never had nasty poops- well, beyond day 2.
i fermented from the beginning and even if i give them dry crumbles they don't have nasty poo. i think it's because they have the good bacteria in their guts. it's a good thing... it's a ton of poo, but not nasty.

 

[TamTurkey]

Just started ACV we will see

 

[SmokinChick]

We had a mishap, sad to say. We had 50 Jumbos. At 4wks it got a little cool one night and they crowded under the 1 heat lamp we had on and 9 of the little buggers got suffocated in the mass of birds huddled for warmth. So yeah, they need some space and they need more than 1 heat lamp if you have several birds so they dont kill each other. Talk about feel dumb! Water is really important too! Their little metabolisms are going 90 miles an hour so they make a lot of heat and they need lots of water which then when mixed with thier high calorie feed results in lots of loose poops. It's not diahhrea, they are not sick. Loose poops are to be expected. I would like to try the fermented feed method some time. I hear that creates less nasty poops.

Instead of adding another lamp possibly lower the lamp. This creates a halo of chicks. Alot less piling up on each other.
If I see several of them touching I'll lower the lamp an inch or so.

 

[jaj121159]

Once the birds are fully feathered, get rid of the heat lamp. I raise birds on pasture and they do fine in 30 to 15 degree temps. As far as feed amounts I feed them what they will eat, but only give feed once a day. If you go to the Welp website http://www.welphatchery.com/cornish_rock_care.asp they will give you daily feed amounts which are a good place to start.

 

[City Chicken]

i second this. i got rid of the lamp to prevent piling. they should be able to keep each other warm.

 

[SmokinChick]

If they pile, they are cold.
At 4 weeks they may or may not be fully feathered. If not you'll need a lamp.