meaties are **3 weeks** today!

[ChickenAlgebra]

Ok, so 3 weeks old now. Recent from TSC, they get from Mt Healthy for the CX.

Smallest is 18 oz. Largest is trying to be the size of a turkey and is 30 oz. Average for the group is 24 oz. They are on Dumor 20% unrestricted, they'll be going to restricted today. Think we have 3 girls (18 oz, 18.3 oz and 19.4 oz) and the rest are boys.

The two in with the DP crew (well, EEs) are 15 oz and 13.2 oz. Not sure they are CX or not. They aren't doing the starving baby routine like CX are prone to doing. They do eat more, but they run around with the EEs happily.

 

[LindsayB]

Okay, So I'm not sure if this is a problem or not....But it definitely scared me...This morning I went to go check on the 6 meaties I had to bring into the garage last night due to a storm...everyone was acting normal, very hungry and wanted out! As I was picking them up and putting them into a box to go outside I notice something red in the bedding. Someone had pooped blood...Now when they were little chicks they would have red/pink poos occasionally but I never really worred about it bc it wasnt every day and they seemed very healthy. But this was all blood! It was just one. They are acting totally normal so I don't think its cocci..I've never dealt with cocci though so I'm not sure...Do you think maybe it could be stress related from bringing them inside last night? I'm freaking out.....

 

[Bubbles_erin]

sorry been busy and havent been checking in. Mine are 5.5 weeks old and I did weigh one yesterday. It was 2 lbs 9 oz. They are very active and venture out more and more. Most mornings, I find by the time I go down to feed them...a few have escaped. They know how to get out and do so by sun up and forage until I bring breakfast...

 

[LindsayB]

Well, Its been a while, how is everyone and their meaties doing? Mine are almost fully feathered now and very stinking...Almost 2 more weeks and they'll be gone...I can't wait! lol

 

[In His Service]

Quote:
On 3/31, mine were 3 weeks old, not 4 weeks. I weighed 2 days early because you asked for the weights. I was unable to weigh them yesterday, too many animals to clean up after, lol.
I did weigh them again today, at 3 weeks + 1 day:
1 @ 33.5 oz
2 @ 37 oz
1 @ 39 oz
1 @ 40 oz
2 @ 44 oz
1 @ 45 oz
for a total weight of 319.5 oz, average weight of 40 oz. That's a lot in 3 days, wowzer

I just hd to buy a new bag of food, my local feed store only had Blue seal 22% protein. I had hoped to find the 18 % and slow my meaties down, hope they don't explode now with higher protein

Guess I will have to cut them off sooner at night now.

And, mine are rather bare on their bottoms, too. Hope they get some feathers there soon

Also, I am not sure, but judging by size and color in combs, amount of posturing and "belly-bumping" and size of legs, I think I have 7 males and one female.

 

[backyardmenagerie]

Quote:
Thank you! You're right, I counted the weeks wrong. Your next weigh date is April 7th.

I went to go get feed today, and I guess mine will be on 22% as well. Orscheln's only had 16% layer, 18% medicated, and 22% gamebird. I don't mind feeding them the lower protein, but I wanted them off the medicated stuff. So gamebird it is.

Averytds, Bubbles_erin, and Renee', your chickies are due for a weigh in.

 

[BigDaddy'sGurl]

I have a problem. I am falling in love with my meaties. There, I said it. I open my sliding glass door which looks out on the coop, and they all gallop to the run and poke their heads out and chirp and call for me and when I open the coop door they all barrel out and pace around under my feet. My husband is indulging this love affair, but he also is planning to buy a new grill soon and I know they will end up being what they were intended to be: dinner. But I don't like knowing that right now.

I am also a little worried: I KNOW they are cornish X but they are gaining really slowly, in my opinion. I weighed one yesterday just because the scale was RIGHT THERE and it was nearly the same weight as days ago. No real change? I still have them on 18% and they only run out for maybe 2 hours a day and I refill it every evening as they still have a light on at night because I was afraid that they were getting chilly at night and it might stunt their growth. We had a cold snap here at night and it's been below freezing several nights.

Anywho, hope everyone is staying the course and ready for butchering day...mine will obviously be delayed due to them still not being as big as they should. I'm thinking 10 weeks at this point...

 

[LindsayB]

Well, Processing day came early for mine...DH didn't like the smell in our backyard (I didn't either) and he also pointed out that we didn't have any room in the freezer for 6 4-5 lb birds. We had already have 3 deer and 2 wild hogs stuffed in there lol. So I went ahead and butchered them today as cornish game hens. It went pretty good. I used pruning shears and just snipped the head off, then put them in a milk carton funnel to bleed out. I plucked all of them but that was a pain, they had some pin feathers that did not want to come out, so I'll probably freeze them with the skin on and then take it off right before cooking. I'm happy with the results though, they are little mini chickens! haha. And the breast meat is huge! Looking forward to making a great meal with them!

heres a pic of some...

 

[ElioraImmanuel]

WTG! I can raise 'em, but I still can't butcher 'em! Mine go off to a local Amish lady.

 

[BigDaddy'sGurl]

So proud Lindsayb!

Good job and they look very