My Cornish X experiment

[JacobH]

How much are yours weighing? We seem to be behind on weight by a pound or so. I guess that's normal? One of our smaller ones was about 2 lbs...all are supposed to be males. I was kind of surprised, being that they are 5 weeks.

 

[duluthralphie]

I have not weighed any of them, I should.

I know I am behind on weight, They are much smaller than my last ones but I have not bought as much feed as I did last time. I am still on my second bag of 18% protein versus 4 bags of 28% last time.

The biggest thing I notice is the water consumption. It is way less than the last bunch. I can only relate that to humans and diabetes. If a person has higher blood sugars level their water consumption is higher. I have had no leg problems, no ascites, no heart attack losses.

So even though they are behind on weight, I have spent less money and time with them. Oh and the biggy is how little they poop compared to my last ones. Which translate to less barn cleaning!


These are 4 weeks old and there is no way they will be eating size in 2 more weeks.

 

[JacobH]

Well. Glad you're in the same boat. We're about half way into our second 50lb bag. So cost is extremely low. I'm guessing they may just take a week or two longer. May even out in the end.

 

[duluthralphie]

Well. Glad you're in the same boat. We're about half way into our second 50lb bag. So cost is extremely low. I'm guessing they may just take a week or two longer. May even out in the end.

I am thinking it will be better, there should not be the late "term" health problems, and losses.

 

[JessicaThistle]

How much are yours weighing? We seem to be behind on weight by a pound or so. I guess that's normal? One of our smaller ones was about 2 lbs...all are supposed to be males. I was kind of surprised, being that they are 5 weeks.

I raised an extremely healthy batch of Cornish X. Each week I did random weights of 4 of them. At 5 weeks I had a 4 lb 1 oz (roo) as the biggest and a 2 lbs 13 oz as the smallest (female). I did measured amount of food a couple times per day and free ranged. I butchered the biggest at 8 weeks and the smaller at 9 weeks. All were 4-6 pounds dressed.

Maybe increase food by a tiny bit? By five weeks old I had gone through almost 120 pounds of feed but I was raising 30 of them and I'm not sure how many you are raising. 5 weeks was when I noticed mine were considerably smaller and increased feed a small amount. Not to as much as the broiler chart says but just a bit. They never caught up the broiler chart of course, (I wasn't going for that), but with the small increase they did better. I was happy with my results. In the end, I processed 28 chickens and got 147 pounds not including giblets.

 

[JacobH]

Hello, thanks for the info! I'm raising 25, but I'm doing fermented feed, which is supposed to cut your feed in half or so. I feed them as often as they'll eat during the day, and they're constantly eating grass and bugs. Honestly, some will walk towards the food and then just walk away. They always have full crops, so I don't know. I wonder if maybe the cross I got just wasn't bred the same as others? I assumed everyone used pretty much the same formula. Or maybe the ff is just slowing them down. Who knows. I wonder if it would hurt to get a game bird feed next time.

 

[AZChiknGoddess]

I refuse to be terrorized!!!


I am just kicking myself for not leaving the dogs out earlier...

I had a coyote come into my yard and take a hen while my dogs were chasing it. Took her right out of my horse loafing shed. So don't kick yourself too hard.

 

[JessicaThistle]

Hello, thanks for the info! I'm raising 25, but I'm doing fermented feed, which is supposed to cut your feed in half or so. I feed them as often as they'll eat during the day, and they're constantly eating grass and bugs. Honestly, some will walk towards the food and then just walk away. They always have full crops, so I don't know. I wonder if maybe the cross I got just wasn't bred the same as others? I assumed everyone used pretty much the same formula. Or maybe the ff is just slowing them down. Who knows. I wonder if it would hurt to get a game bird feed next time.

Well, they certainly don't sound hungry! Lol! How high is the protein content of your ff? I have read alot about ff but haven't tried it myself. I feed mine a 22% Meatbird food. But I don't feed them anywhere near what the broiler chart says. I free range also.

Maybe you will just have to let them go an extra week or two. I also had to let 18 of mine go to 9 weeks. I don't think you are doing anything wrong. It just is what it is.

 

[duluthralphie]

I am hoping to go 10 to 12 weeks with mine! I am on iphone so hard for me to type

 

[LindaB220]

Hello, thanks for the info! I'm raising 25, but I'm doing fermented feed, which is supposed to cut your feed in half or so. I feed them as often as they'll eat during the day, and they're constantly eating grass and bugs. Honestly, some will walk towards the food and then just walk away. They always have full crops, so I don't know. I wonder if maybe the cross I got just wasn't bred the same as others? I assumed everyone used pretty much the same formula. Or maybe the ff is just slowing them down. Who knows. I wonder if it would hurt to get a game bird feed next time.

It might take a week longer with fermented feed but if you're saving money, time and effort, it will be worth it. I did buy a bag of gamebird and used 3 scoops of grower to 1 scoop of gamebird. It bumps up the protein and still saves you money.