Loosing a cornish x a day . . .

[cassie]

Go to welphatchery.com. Their web page has good instructions for raising the Cornish X. I feed mine turkey feed because I can't get broiler feed. They have feed from about seven in the morning until about seven at night starting at about a week of age. I use hanging feeders and waterers and the height is adjusted so they have to stand to eat or drink. I have the feeders and waterers on opposite sides of the pen so they have to walk to get from one to the other. I have fans in the pen on a timer when the weather gets warm, but I try to have all the meaties processed before the weather gets hot. They can't stand the heat. I carefully look the meaties over at chore time, and any chicken that seems slow, is panting when nobody else is, has a purplish comb, or has trouble walking gets processed then and there. Hope this helps.

 

[myhubbycallsmechickeemama]

Just in case anyone is searching the forum in the future and wondered what happened here:

I ended up reducing the feed ration by a third. I also began mixing my 22% protein ration with my 17% ration for my layers. I mixed it at about 2 scoops of 22 for every 1 scoop of 17. I only lost 2 more birds from that batch and not a single bird yet from any of my follow up batches.

Your diagnosis was spot on! Thanks!

So happy that you have made it past your learning curve!!

 

[mstricer]

Go to welphatchery.com. Their web page has good instructions for raising the Cornish X. I feed mine turkey feed because I can't get broiler feed. They have feed from about seven in the morning until about seven at night starting at about a week of age. I use hanging feeders and waterers and the height is adjusted so they have to stand to eat or drink. I have the feeders and waterers on opposite sides of the pen so they have to walk to get from one to the other. I have fans in the pen on a timer when the weather gets warm, but I try to have all the meaties processed before the weather gets hot. They can't stand the heat. I carefully look the meaties over at chore time, and any chicken that seems slow, is panting when nobody else is, has a purplish comb, or has trouble walking gets processed then and there. Hope this helps.

isn't turkey feed like 27% protein? Maybe I'm wrong but, isn't when you see flip and leg issues, by feeding too high a protein?

 

[Oregon Blues]

I've not had any flip or leg issues with mine and I start them on 28% protein and raise them on 20% turkey pellets.

Give niacin in the drinking water to head off leg issues. Make sure they get enough calcium because they are growing a lot of bone. Calcium and phosphorus are needed for muscle health.

They need exercise and fresh air. If you house them in such a way that they can't move around, their muscles will get weak. They need to move around as chicks in order to be adults who move around.

 

[cassie]

isn't turkey feed like 27% protein? Maybe I'm wrong but, isn't when you see flip and leg issues, by feeding too high a protein?

I would think it would be the reverse. These chickens need high powered feed to perform to their potential and they are going to suffer if they don't get it. I have had few feet and leg problems. I have had a few but not very many and not very often. I add Broiler Booster available from Murray McMurray to the water. It has biotin and other stuff meat chickens need and I think it helps with the leg issues. I have never done a controlled study to see if it helps or not. I just consider it to be cheap insurance. You would think I would have a higher than normal rate of loss because I keep the chickens longer than most folks. I like big roasters so I keep most of mine until they will dress out at over 11 pounds. One dressed out at 16 and we had him for Thanksgiving instead of a turkey.

The first batch of meaties I ever raised I just fed regular chicken feed. I didn't know any better. Let's just say the results were dismal and leave it at that.

 

[yoker]

I was just reading through this thread because my birds are doing the exact same thing. They are 5 1/2 weeks old and I have them out on pasture in chicken tractors and about 2 a day are dying. (I have about 230 right now). Like you said they are upside down often when I find them and have blue/purple bodies when they die. Is it that I am feeding them to much? I am feeding them broiler grower/finisher that I think is 18%. Would it be a good idea to add just plain oats?

 

[cassie]

I was just reading through this thread because my birds are doing the exact same thing. They are 5 1/2 weeks old and I have them out on pasture in chicken tractors and about 2 a day are dying. (I have about 230 right now). Like you said they are upside down often when I find them and have blue/purple bodies when they die. Is it that I am feeding them to much? I am feeding them broiler grower/finisher that I think is 18%. Would it be a good idea to add just plain oats?

I can't help you on this one. I don't raise my meaties in a tractor nor have I ever had them them out on pasture. That method seems like a lot of work to me, but some people swear by it. I have never had the losses you are describing in that age group, and most of the losses I have had have been with Cornish X that I meant to butcher like yesterday but for whatever reason I didn't. Of course I have never tried to raise 230 of them at a time, either. Could they be crowded in the tractor? Exposed to heat? I'm guessing here.

 

[mstricer]

Quote: If that was true, than why would a hatchery tell you this:
Feed Recommendations:
Meyer Hatchery recommend feeding your babies 12 hours ON and 12 hours OFF starting at 3 weeks of age. This helps minimize the risk of heart attacks that can result from their rapid growth.

Feed Medicated 20% Chick Starter for the first 3 weeks.
Then un-Medicated 18% Broiler feed until butcher, suggested at 7 - 9 weeks of age.
Just saying.

 

[enel 1]

I read on Cobb-Vantress site that thier birds are designed to do well on 18% protine and inexpensive feed, I feed mine 20% 12 on 12 off and havent had any leg problems...ever nor have I lost any to flip,I think alot of it has to do with what strain of bird you get,I think different companys birds do differently. The birds I get from Dunlap have been great and I'm not sure but I think they get thier eggs from S&G out of Alabama. between Hubbard and Cobb-Vantress there are quite a few different strains of birds with different grow out rates,so I assume some do better as far as leg isssues and flip then others

 

[enel 1]

check out www.hubbardbreeders.com/products.php?id=5 this site will explain alot