Low weight Cornish Cross chicks?

[mcrvdeb]

First time raising CX chicks. I happened to run across two different charts for expected weights at different ages for CX so I decided to weigh 6 of the 31 male chicks today at 6 days old and was surprised to find that they are only about half the expected weight listed for their age. Actual weights ranged from 66g to 90g. Looks like they should be closer to 150g at this age. Is this normal (vs ideal), or is there something I need to do or add to their feed? Feeding a 22% protein organic starter feed, available round the clock at this point. All very active, all eating and drinking ALOT. Not really worried at this point, more curious than anything.

 

[GlicksChicks]

First time raising CX chicks. I happened to run across two different charts for expected weights at different ages for CX so I decided to weigh 6 of the 31 male chicks today at 6 days old and was surprised to find that they are only about half the expected weight listed for their age. Actual weights ranged from 66g to 90g. Looks like they should be closer to 150g at this age. Is this normal (vs ideal), or is there something I need to do or add to their feed? Feeding a 22% protein organic starter feed, available round the clock at this point. All very active, all eating and drinking ALOT. Not really worried at this point, more curious than anything.

Were the weight charts you looked at for cockerels or pullets because pullets have faster weight gains than cockerels because they are meatier while cockerels are more muscle.

 

[mcrvdeb]

Weights were for cockerels. One chart was from Welp Hatchery and the other from Cobb 500 performance metrics.

 

[GlicksChicks]

Weights were for cockerels. One chart was from Welp Hatchery and the other from Cobb 500 performance metrics.

Either they didn't come from a faster growing line or they will catch up soon!

 

[aimee750]

I have found CX weight gain and feed conversion rate varies quite a bit between the different hatcheries. Welp CX birds were the best in my experience.

 

[mcrvdeb]

Thanks for your responses. My CX are from Welp Hatchery. As a side note, I am using the MHP (Mama Heating Pad) for these guys, as I have for all my layer chicks in the past. Our daily temps have been in the 65-80F range due to daily monsoon storms and altitude (7000ft) ever since I received them. The chicks use the MHP as they should, in and out as they need to get warm, but I'm wondering if they are under the MHP and not eating as much as they would if it was warmer in the brooder and they were out and about more. I have put in a heat lamp this morning at dawn and will leave on whenever the temps are below 80F during daylight hours. Since they are acclimated to the MHP, I will turn the heat lamp off at night though. When they go out to the tractor in couple weeks there is absolutely no light at night anyway.