New batch of Cornish Cross

[stanglover2001]

Yeah after the first week I took them off of the medicated feed, though I still have some. I only fed it to get them over the shipping stress.. besides feeding them 20% Dumor crumbles and keeping their water fresh I'm surprised I havn't lost any... I don't handle mine as much as possible, they look okay except when the sun starts to set its soo hott all they do is lay their and pant... poor things. I keep food available 24/7 and at night have a 100 watt bulb on to give them light, I'm gonna change it to a 60 to lessen the heat but keep the light since they don't eat during the day. I hope that the rest of your chicks will survive from here on out!

 

[Wolfwoman]

Get one of those twisted incandescent bulbs, no heat and lots of light

I hope the rest make it too!!

 

[stanglover2001]

Well instead of a 60 watt, I put a 25 blue-colored light (not black lite)... so if they wanted to sleep in the corner they could

 

[Wolfwoman]

I still have 20 babies...

Day 22: 15.05 oz
Day 23: 1.06 lb
Day 24: 1.23 lb
Day 25: 1.32 lb
Day 26: 1.37 lb
Day 27: 1.45 lb

 

[bigredfeather]

Quote:
The next few weeks, they will really take off. The weight gain in weeks 5 thru 7 is amazing.

 

[Wolfwoman]

Yep, I know, this is my 2nd batch. The first batch is in the process of going to freezer camp and are 11 weeks old.

 

[mstricer]

I just got mine today. I so excited and don't really know why. Oh Yeah can you say homemade KFC

 

[Wolfwoman]

Ok I know, I've been horrible about keeping this thread up... here's more data:

Day 29: 1.66
Day 31: 1.85
Day 36: 2.53
Day 38: 2.91
Day 46: 3.80
Day 54: 4.77

Day 67:
Butchered Three because one went down on it's legs, so thought it was time to start. In 2 days they will be 10 weeks old.

Live weight Cleaned Weight
8.3 5.51
11.1 7.65
10.6 6.93

I'll be butchering as time permits, I've got 17 to go

Mohawk will be last unless he goes down... if he stays healthy, who knows, maybe he'll go in the coop this winter

At this point in time I've fed them ten 50lb bags of feed. 500lbs x 20 chickens = 25lbs each average. I've figured the cost at $8 per bird for feed.

 

[GrandmaAnn]

This is an interesting thread. It's a good idea, too. Thanks for doing it.

I recently butchered 65 of my straight run Cornish Cross from Murray McMurray. I ordered 75, but got 78. We lost 3 at the beginning. I still have 10 pullets that I am letting grow into roasters. I'll butcher them in a few weeks. I kept track of my expenses. They ate a total of 1,300 pounds of feed. My total cost per bird to when we butchered them at 7 weeks was $6.05. The cockerels dressed out at an average of 6# and the pullets at an average of 5.25#. We didn't weigh them all, just a few. The biggest one was almost 7# and the smallest was just under 5. I am not bothering to keep track of the cost of feeding the 10 pullets I saved out. They are in with my egg-layers that I received at the same time and are now eating the starter-grower. I fed the others high-protein mash for meaties. After they went outside, I fed them 24/7, but they didn't eat at night when it was dark. I have had no leg problems at all, but the pullets I still have have a very funny looking waddle. I did not use any medicated feed, but did add vitamin supplements to their water.

 

[Wolfwoman]

I probably could have started butchering earlier, but just didn't have the time. Maybe I'll get a few more 9lb birds (dressed) if I let them go a few more weeks!