Misc Cornish Cross Questions

[Papa Quack]

Our C Monsters are 13 days old. In a large brooder in our garage. On average they are 1-2 ounces below weight. I feed them non stop so their weight can catch up. This week I need to focus on building a chicken tractor. Maybe a Lumnah Acres style mixed with a Sow The Land style tractor. A few questions:
1) When can I start setting down their feed? Currently they are on chick starter with 22% protein with non gmo corn, soybeans & oats with all nutrients.
2) Is it normal for them to bald in certain spots before feathering our. Their wings are starting to make the transition.
3) A few have watery stool. They are on their 2nd day with ACV mixed in their water.
4) At 13 days old, am I past the point for checking for pasty butt?
Thank you!

 

[iwltfum]

1) When can I start setting down their feed? Currently they are on chick starter with 22% protein with non gmo corn, soybeans & oats with all nutrients.

I'm not sure what you mean by "setting down their feed"

2) Is it normal for them to bald in certain spots before feathering our. Their wings are starting to make the transition.

Yes, that's completely normal especially in warm weather

3) A few have watery stool. They are on their 2nd day with ACV mixed in their water.

A little loose stool is generally normal, especially if it's a normal color. ACV is good to add. You could also try and give them some grass/clover/comfrey if you have access to it. Just cut a handful or two and toss it in the brooder. Having some field greens can really help their digestive system. Just make sure they are getting grit too - before giving them greens. Edit: forgot to add that you might want to chop the greens up a bit since they are still pretty young.

4) At 13 days old, am I past the point for checking for pasty butt?

Yes, you're well past the pasty butt stage.

Good luck with your chicken tractor! Have fun.

 

[Papa Quack]

I'm not sure what you mean by "setting down their feed"



Yes, that's completely normal especially in warm weather



A little loose stool is generally normal, especially if it's a normal color. ACV is good to add. You could also try and give them some grass/clover/comfrey if you have access to it. Just cut a handful or two and toss it in the brooder. Having some field greens can really help their digestive system. Just make sure they are getting grit too - before giving them greens. Edit: forgot to add that you might want to chop the greens up a bit since they are still pretty young.



Yes, you're well past the pasty butt stage.

Good luck with your chicken tractor! Have fun.

To the first question, I meant “wetting”, sorry about that. Spell correct got me.

 

[iwltfum]

To the first question, I meant “wetting”, sorry about that. Spell correct got me.

Ahh. Gotcha. Hmm. I'm not familiar with that technique. Maybe someone that is will chime in about it. I've fermented feed before, but haven't simply wet the feed down. Doesn't seem like it could hurt as long as you cycle through feed pretty quickly and don't let the wet feed sit around for too long (I think letting wet feed sit out overnight might be too long)

 

[Ridgerunner]

To the first question, I meant “wetting”, sorry about that. Spell correct got me.

If you feed mash as a dry powder the different ingredients can separate by specific gravity. They eat more of some and less of others so they don't necessarily get a balanced diet. If you stir it up and add water to make a paste it doesn't separate out. If you feed it in amounts so they can clean it up it wont go bad. That's why they make crumbles and pellets, so the feed doesn't separate.

Sometimes chicks are de-beaked. That's where they cut off a portion of the top beak so they can't peck each other to cannibalize them. I know some people are horrified by that thought and I don't want to get into the morality of it. These are meat birds, not pets, so I'll stay on topic. A wet mash is easier for these de-beaked birds to eat than crumbles or pellets.

A wet mash gets more water into them. In a hot climate that could help.

I don't know why the OP is considering wet feed, that's their business as far as I'm concerned. But to answer that question, you can start whenever you wish.