meaties are **3 weeks** today!

[BigDaddy'sGurl]

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Looks good! My chicks are going into a coop with run tonight and my TSC said they came from McMurray. I may be switching feed if TSC will ever get DuMor 20% back in: they have it on sale at 6.99 for 20lb right now but my local store is out. Seems like those feeding DuMor are having much better gaining.

I hope you realize that the SALE price of$6.99 for 20 pounds = $0.3495 / pound x 50lbs = $17.475 or $34.95 for 100 pounds.

Yeah...that does sound expensive, doesn't it...

According to my calculations, if I feed them by the chart on page one by weight eaten per bird per day, I am looking at needing another 61.74 pounds of food to get them to day 63. I was interested in the DuMor brand because the protein is higher and many here seem to be favoring this feed for quicker growth. However, my chicks would save me money if I kept them on the off-brand feed I'm using at 9.50/50 lb....so...although it is only 18% I guess I will have to stick to it. I already probably have 15 pounds on hand now so one more bag SHOULD theoretically do it.

 

[BigDaddy'sGurl]

Or am I totally off here...?

 

[backyardmenagerie]

Does your feed store carry soybean meal? Around here, it cost about $12 a bag, and if you mix that in with a cheaper food, it will up the protein. Otherwise, I'd say just stay on the 18% and expect slower growth. Personally, I'm ok with waiting an extra week or two, if it reduces fatality risks.

 

[jktrahan]

These will all be 4 weeks tomorrow:

3 Cornish Rocks(Tractor Supply), Tractor, 1- 12oz, 1 - 10oz, 1 -9 oz
8 Bantam Cochin Cross (My Flock), Tractor, Largest 11 oz, rest range between 9 - 10 oz.

18 % chick starter for 1st 3 weeks then 26 % wild game crumbles

I'm starting to think the 3 i got from Tractor Supply are not Cornish?
3 Week Vid

 

[In His Service]

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They don't look like mine

 

[LindsayB]

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They don't look like mine

Which ones did you think were CXs? they different aren't the brown ones, those look like production reds or red sex links.

Cornish rocks would be white, and MUCH larger at that age.

 

[jktrahan]

Quote:
They don't look like mine

Which ones did you think were CXs? they different aren't the brown ones, those look like production reds or red sex links.

Cornish rocks would be white, and MUCH larger at that age.

The yellow ones were sold as Cornish Rocks from Tractor Supply. The others are Bantam Cochin Cross hatched from my flock. All are about the same age. When I realized they are now 4 weeks old and the Bantam Cochin are still keeping up with them, i knew something was wrong...

darn Tractor Supply

 

[BigDaddy'sGurl]

Yeah, sorry to say they are NOT cornish X. If it helps, mine were really Yellow and fuzzy and good sized even as day olds. They really did look like the stereotypical Easter yellow chicks. I'm sorry...

 

[halo]

I got some meat chicks from Tractor Supply the first week in March. I dont know what I was thinking, but Ive always wanted to try some, and this way I could get only 6 (had to buy 6, was the minimum purchase), and wouldnt have to pay shipping. I had a hatch at home that was about 2 weeks old already, so I figured I could stick them in with them. I was going to put them outside anyway since it had warmed up, so they wouldnt stink up the house.

They are now about 3 weeks old, and are every bit as big as the ones that were older to start with. They are in that stage where their baby feathers are gone and the grown up feathers havent come in, so they have wing feathers and no others. They look hysterical. Stand like little bull dogs. I let all the babies out twice a day to free range, and they keep up with everyone, picking in the grass looking for bugs and stuff. I put them out for a bit this morning and then ran them back in since I had to go inside. One meatie didnt want to go, I guess he likes the free life, so I had to chase him down and pick him up to put back in kennel.

Holy cow!!! It was like picking up a little bowling ball. I can not believe the weight of this little guy. Has got to weigh twice what the other chicks weigh that are 2 weeks older. I am impressed. If I can get thru the next 6 weeks or so and can handle processing these guys, Im definitely going to get some this fall.

 

[BigDaddy'sGurl]

I integrated my meatie chicks with some surprise Dominique chicks (they were supposed to be Barred Rock chicks I hatched but the lady mixed up her egg orders and my LG produced 5 dominiques...all pullets...) and the dominiques are over twice as old (8 weeks today as compared to my meaties being 4 weeks today) and do you know that the meaties outweigh the doms? I didn't set them on the scales or anything, but one in each hand it was obvious. The doms may be "leggier" and maybe slightly taller, but sheer mass the meaties have them beat! The upside is they are all getting along fabulously with the exception of "green spot" the meatie who is making sure that all the doms KNOW he/she is the boss. It is so hilarious to watch a really chubby meatie try to put its hackles up and waddle after a much slimmer and quicker chick. You should see that fat booger jump!