I agree, it seem contradictory that they eat less when it is colder, but that is what I have found to be true the last 3 years. However, it also depends on the condition of the water, I find. If their water is getting frozen much more (even my heated dog bowls will freeze over the top when it is this cold), then they will eat less. As soon as I freshen their water, they are eating like pigs again. I find this to be true also when they still have half a bowl of water and I freshen it up. So, I think that somehow they are related.
The biggest reason I continue to order CRX is because that is the only thing that will compete in the 4-H meat class. Since they are looking for the commercial qualities, one being feed conversion and efficiency, they will continue to dominate. My kids get to sell one market ribbon in our auction, and for them, it means they take the CRX, meat ducks or meat rabbits. We don't raise any large animals. I am not too crazy about the ducks with their constant mess, and the rabbits can be hit or miss with getting successful litters exactly when they should be kindled. (FYI if you have never bred rabbits, it isn't all that easy when you are trying to do it
). The other reason is that for a baked bird, my family, including me, likes the CRX better for texture. I put a good number of culls in the freezer too, and when my kids are out of 4-H, I will likely have more of the culls than CRX in the freezer. The Buckeyes will dress out 4# or more around 24-weeks after being raised on pasture, and their drumsticks are quite sizable as well as their breast development. So, they really do dress out quite nicely as a DP breed.
