My Cornish X experiment

[JessicaThistle]

Jessica, can you tell us how old your last batch was at the end? Also, was the 5-6 lb. weight processed or live weight? My only concern with the slow growth is that the feed I'm going through is barely behind the charts, while the weight is almost a week behind. Still worth it to me, though, to maybe go through an extra 100-200 lb.'s of feed to have 52 healthier chickens in the end, but it could add $1 per bird at this rate, so it is good to know. The fun they give our family, though, is worth it. They are cute enough that my wife is getting attached to them, and she did not want the chickens at all. Now she is ready to get layers soon, but I think we will wait until winter is almost over to get them.

All of my 5-6 pound weights were dressed with no giblets. We planned to butcher all of them at 8 weeks but we got through 9 of the birds and started to realize the rest seemed small. So basically on week 8 we processed all of the biggest roos and hens, (9 of them). On the day they turned 9 weeks we processed the final 18. They all got to the 5-6 pound mark with one topping out at 7 1/2 pounds.

Blade, do you have access to fruit trees, berries or a compost pile for your chickens? These are excellent healthy snack sources and may cut down on your feed expense. Are you free ranging? (Sorry I'm behind on reading the thread). If you are free ranging, some of the energy that would go to processing the feed into meat is being used for foraging. While the broiler chart is a super guideline, it is meant for stuffing the face of your non-moving CX with only one thing in mind. The chart I have goes to 10 weeks old. I don't think any CX would even live that long feeding based on that chart.

 

[Bladeguy]

Jessica, great info, thanks. Unfortunately, the area I have them ranging in doesn't have a boatload of food in it. Mainly bugs in the dirt they scratch up and few greens they like...most greens, though, they aren't eating. You are right, I believe on the foraging....they are burning more calories foraging then they are taking in by foraging, so they are growing slower. But I think that would also mean they are healthier overall, and it appears to be the case when comparing my friends' stories. They call them "Frankenchickens" and say theirs don't act like chickens whatsoever. Mine seem in every way like a normal chicken except for the fact that no other breed would be this big at 4 weeks.

Ralph, I'm not intending to hi-Jack your thread...I just joined BYC Monday and started my own thread to track my flock, but hopefully you and others are finding this information as useful as I am.

 

[JessicaThistle]

Jessica, great info, thanks. Unfortunately, the area I have them ranging in doesn't have a boatload of food in it. Mainly bugs in the dirt they scratch up and few greens they like...most greens, though, they aren't eating. You are right, I believe on the foraging....they are burning more calories foraging then they are taking in by foraging, so they are growing slower. But I think that would also mean they are healthier overall, and it appears to be the case when comparing my friends' stories. They call them "Frankenchickens" and say theirs don't act like chickens whatsoever. Mine seem in every way like a normal chicken except for the fact that no other breed would be this big at 4 weeks.

Ralph, I'm not intending to hi-Jack your thread...I just joined BYC Monday and started my own thread to track my flock, but hopefully you and others are finding this information as useful as I am.

You are welcome. I think you are most likely doing fine and shouldn't worry. I worried though out my first batch too but was very happy with results in the end.

I also have a thread that documented my whole first batch here as well. It's named My First Batch of Cornish X and Super Excited, or something like that. I shared a ton of stuff that I learned along the way. It could be helpful for you. It's kind of a long thread but great info.

Welcome to BYC!

 

[duluthralphie]

Bladeguy, You are welcome to post whatever you want on any thread I start.

I Throw bird seed out for my chicks to "forage" it gives them something to find if the bugs are hiding, I think it replaces a few of the calories they burn.

I have to agree with Jessica on the charts, I cannot believe any CX would make it to 10 weeks feeding them the way the "book" says. I am so satisfied with my chicks this time, if I could send them to freezer camp until November I would be happy.

 

[duluthralphie]

I weighed 2 chicks, they were not really into the whole stepping on the scale thing....

The 2 I weighed were average I would say. They were both within a smidgeon of 2 pounds one over one under. Looking at the charts I am way behind...Oh well...

I may have to push a little more food on them. I ate doing that if they turn into slob chicks. I will think on this. any Ideas?


My last bunch would move to freezer next week. These are way behind....

Maybe I will offer them all the feed they can eat for next week and see if they still remain active...

 

[Bladeguy]

Ralphie, you are right where I am then....almost exactly. I'm pushing a little more food for the next couple of days, but am monitoring them closely because I don't want their weight to skyrocket and become unhealthy. I have a little bit of a deadline for when I have to be done with the, since my wife and I have a cruise scheduled this fall, so I'd hate for them to be way underweight, but slightly underweight wouldn't bother me whatsoever. We will see what happens.

 

[Bladeguy]

I also have a thread that documented my whole first batch here as well.  It's named My First Batch of Cornish X and Super Excited, or something like that.  I shared a ton of stuff that I learned along the way.  It could be helpful for you.  It's kind of a long thread but great info.

Welcome to BYC!
[/quote]

Jessica, I looked at your thread, but I quickly realized it was very familiar. I've been lurking on BYC for months, and I had read through a lot of your experiences and had watched a few of the videos. Thanks for all of the information. Your chickens acted exactly like mine are. The only difference I'm seeing is you didn't use any fermented feed, where I've been doing that. With all 52 chicks, I haven't had one health issue to date. I also use a little ACV with the mother in their water occasionally. I now wonder after reading your thread if I've just had a fluke of having 52 healthy chickens, or if the fermented feed and ACV really helps their system that much, because I noticed other posters having health issues also in that thread. Hard to know for sure since there are a lot of other variables involved....different hatchery, different feed, different temps, on and on and on, but it is interesting to note anyway. I know you mentioned in the thread about trying FF with another batch, I'd be curious to see what mortality rate you have with that batch.

 

[JessicaThistle]

I haven't ventured to try the FF yet. I can't say that I'm convinced it's the answer to everyone's problems or not. I use the ACV as well but I'm not convinced it makes a difference either.

I do have a question regarding the FF. How do you serve it up? My chicks are like absolute piranha and every time I go near them they completely surround me to the point that I can barely walk. This happens whether or not it is feeding time. It's like being a person bringing cookies to a kindergarten classroom. Getting the feed poured into the trough is a chore and often takes some wild acrobatics and a few stepped on chick feet. I feed them in a 5 ft pvc trough that hangs in the tractor. I have to lift one side and pour the feed in allowing gravity to spread it out. How in the heck do you ladle out wet food and get them all fed without falling on your face and becoming a meal yourself? Lol!

I would love some direction on this because I'm nervous about that.

 

[duluthralphie]

I have read about FF here too, and must admit I do not understand it.

I understand the concept but am not sure I buy into it. I have no idea how to make it, the forums I read were so full of acronyms I thought I was reading a CIA report.

I am amazed at your describing feeding your chicks. My last batch was like that, this bunch has a much more laid back attitude to feeding time. They see me, a few greet me, and maybe one or two will come over and eat. Most of them are too busy doing whatever they are doing, napping, chasing bugs, crawling through the weeds, and so on. I actually put a feeder into the pen with them and filled it today for the first time. I was worried they were not eating enough.

A couple of them checked out the feeder, but they are ignoring it too.

 

[JessicaThistle]

I have read about FF here too, and must admit I do not understand it.

I understand the concept but am not sure I buy into it. I have no idea how to make it, the forums I read were so full of acronyms I thought I was reading a CIA report.

I am amazed at your describing feeding your chicks. My last batch was like that, this bunch has a much more laid back attitude to feeding time. They see me, a few greet me, and maybe one or two will come over and eat. Most of them are too busy doing whatever they are doing, napping, chasing bugs, crawling through the weeds, and so on. I actually put a feeder into the pen with them and filled it today for the first time. I was worried they were not eating enough.

A couple of them checked out the feeder, but they are ignoring it too.

I feel the same about FF. I maybe need to read more of Linda's posts about it. I'm not against it. Just not sure yet.

Duluth you don't understand. This isn't just at feeding time. This is every time they see me! I walk into the yard to check in on them and all 26 come running and completely surround me. They like the little scritches on the neck or pets that I give them. They seem to just like the interaction with me. It's like having a ton of toddlers! When I finally break free they all run off back to what they were doing but they really feel they all must greet me profusely. My neighbors, husband and kids all watch this craziness and think it's hysterical. They call me the crazy chicken lady. I even have the tee shirt.

I could not imagine trying to get through the sea of chicks and try ladling feed into their trough while not hurting myself or one of them. I should have my husband record it so you can see my dilemma.

I have always had a connection with animals. I once gave insulin shots to the meanest devil cat ever. The owner didn't even pet that cat. When I met the cat for the first time, I picked him up, held him close to my body and took him to where I was going to give him the shot. He didn't even flinch but his owner nearly fell over. She said to me "No one, not even myself picks him up like that without getting hurt. He claws, bites and scratches everybody." Not me. For a whole week I gave him twice daily shots and he never so much as blinked at me. I don't even like cats but he had some kind of respect for me that he had for no one else. This connection must carry over to my chickens because my hens run to me and both of my meat chicken groups have done the same. I don't know.