My Cornish seem small

[blackstone]

I have some Cornish X Rocks that I got from McMurray Hatchery the first week of September which makes them almost 10 weeks old.

All the information and testimonials indicated that, at 10-12 weeks, I would have some real nice birds to butcher.

One testimonial/review claims he is dressing out 10#s at 13 weeks.

Well, I don't have an official weight but I doubt that I have any rooster that would dress out at 3# right now. Hens are much smaller and one is almost tiny.

I'd like to think I'm feeding them enough. I didn't follow the recommendation strictly but was giving them free choice. Their feeder would run out at night

Is this a myth or am I inept like it seems I am at everything else?

 

[iwiw60]

Ten pound chickens at 13 weeks??? I highly doubt it. Exactly what/how much are you feeding your birds?

 

[chicknshrimp]

Mine were between 4-6 lbs dressed weight at ~8wks. They were giant looking, we processed between 8-9 wks because they looked uncomfortable in the summer heat, they were so large they were awkward to hold in two hands. We fed free choice starter/grower and they were free-ranging. Good luck!

 

[blackstone]

thanks for the responses

I have a 13 birds and I'm guessing a 2 gallon feeder.
They have gotten one of those almost full in the morning and one scoop at night.

Until today I fed the Dumoor's Starter/Grower 20% protein.

Quote: Ten pound chickens at 13 weeks??? I highly doubt it.
Quote: I tend to want to agree with you but it's posted on McMurry's site.

 

[iwiw60]

thanks for the responses

I have a 13 birds and I'm guessing a 2 gallon feeder.
They have gotten one of those almost full in the morning and one scoop at night.

Until today I fed the Dumoor's Starter/Grower 20% protein.

Ten pound chickens at 13 weeks??? I highly doubt it.
I tend to want to agree with you but it's posted on McMurry's site.

I think that is 'possible' but for the most part 'improbable' ... you would think that a site as mainline as McMurray's would place a disclaimer to the effect "these results are not a guarantee, etc."

 

[blackstone]

I did take that as an outlier.
But mine were definitely underperforming

 

[phalenbeck]

I had a batch last year that took forever to grow out. Done maybe 8-10 batches, some slower, some faster, but one from last year seemed to take forever. Wish I kept records.

 

[blackstone]

I'm going to weigh in the morning.
Live weight.

I'll weigh the largest rooster and the smallest hen (Not the runt.I have one of those)

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

I just finished a batch, free ranged with my regular flock with a starter grower feed. The roos dressed out at 6 to 7lbs at 13 weeks. I waited on the females, just processed at 17 weeks, I got one girl at 9lbs dressed!!!

It all factors in on what you feed them, how active, and the birds themselves. It might be possible to get one that big that fast, but it would take more than most backyard chicken people are willing to put in.

 

[blackstone]

I grabbed the bathroom scales per a suggestion on another forum

This probably isn't terribly accurate but here's what I came up with.

Largest Cornish roo 5#
Small hen 2#

For comparison, Slow White hen, approx. 1-1/2 yo) 6#