New to meat birds -help

[Irmasmom]

So, I have raised laying hens for 5 years now. I pretty much have that down. However, I’ve never done meat birds. Well, we are diving in! We contacted a butcher so I know we plan on butchering between 6-7 weeks. We are going to get Cornish cross chicks. My questions are as follows:

1. How long do they need the heat lamp? Does it need to be 95 the first Week and then down 5 thereafter like laying hens?

2. I planned on 20% feed. Does that cover them the entire 6-7 weeks or does it need to change over time like laying hens? Thanks!

 

[iwltfum]

Generally cornish crosses run a little hotter than your average chicken so start the temp at 90 but you will end up lowering the temp more quickly with them. Also depends on your climate and housing. I don't use a thermometer in my brooder because it just gets covered over with shavings or pooped on and if I hang it, it just gets in the way so I've learned to judge their comfort by how they're acting rather than going by the temperature. It definitely depends on the day/night temps in your area, but by mid-may in Maine, I have our meat birds on pasture by the end of week three without any heat source religiously.

As for feed: I would add scratch grains or corn in the last two weeks before butcher to reduce the protein to around 18% So for example, if you had 20% feed and your scratch grain is 8%, then you would want to mix the feed roughly at a 3:1 ratio - so 25% scratch grains and 75% grower. If you feed 20% the whole time their skeletal system will continue to grow and less resources will be used to produce fat and muscle tissue leaving you with a scrawnier bird, but with the protein down and the starch up in the last couple weeks, they will fatten up quick. You could also go to 21 or 22% feed for the first couple weeks, if you can find it, it will help them achieve the weight you want from them in the quick 6-7 weeks you plan on growing them. Cheers.

 

[Folly's place]

It's best to limit their access to feed to 12 hours daily, not all the time, and place the feeders and waterers so that they need to move from place to place, as their need for heat decreases.
These birds are fragile! they develop heart failure and severe joint difficulties easily and often, so encouraging movement and restricting growth slightly be restricting feed will help.
Also, don't offer roosts, because their joints can't cope with even small jumps down to the floor.
Last fall I grew a few; all lived to eight weeks of age, and carcass weights averaged 6+ pounds!
Mary

 

[RoosterML]

It definitely depends on the day/night temps in your area, but by mid-may in Maine, I have our meat birds on pasture by the end of week three without any heat source religiously.

Not this year neighbor!! At this rate we will need a heat lamp out on pasture in July.
Crazy year for sure.

 

[iwltfum]

Not this year neighbor!! At this rate we will need a heat lamp out on pasture in July.
Crazy year for sure.

haha. I sure hope not. I'm right on the coast so we have a little bit of a temperature buffer. You're right though, it's been a really strange spring. I have a pop door that gives access to a protected outside grassy area in my brooder and have had it open for the last week and only a few of them have even ventured outside for a few minutes (we raise freedom rangers so they usually find get a mind for foraging pretty quickly). They would normally be out there all day at this point. We've gotten more wind than anything else this spring and I think that's keeping them in.