Please tutor me to raise Cornish X for my freezer

[chick_magnet]

well can i just keep the feeder in the coop at night since they dont eat at night anyway

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

lol CX sleep with their head in the feeder. I removed it. Well actually to be honest what I did with my CX was feed them directly on the ground. (they were just dumping the feeders anyway) I felt it encouraged them a bit to move and forage naturally. I gave them their last feeding at around 5:30 and it was gone by dark. Then no more until morn!

 

[kathyinmo]

Well, tonight will be their first night outside. I hope all goes well. I am sooooo happy to have them out of my garage!

6 days was enough!

 

[pongoid]

I had 3 CornX's. Dressed one a few weeks ago. Today I did the other two, a pullet and cockeral.

 

[chick_magnet]

Quote:
oh i see well in that case how much should they eat. i always heard that chickens will not over eat, but thats not meat bird though. How much does one bird eat to make a good meal it 8 weeks.(is that when they are dispatch_?

 

[farmchick897]

I just read this post.... and first nice chicken tractor made of PVC pipe.

I just raised my first batch of Cornish X's, I started with 26, one died within a few days (looked like it was smashed), one I ate at 7 weeks because I went out there to feed and it was laying with his feet straight out in front and couldn't get up. So, I figured I better eat it before it died. Anyway, the last 2 weeks the humidity and heat here in KY was really bad. They would lay around and pant and I was worried about them. I also worried about loading them up in crates the day of slaughter because at 8 am that morning it was already 80+ degrees and humid. I had them processed under USDA inspection so I can sell them and I just tasted my first one last weekend, very tender.
I raised all mine with 1- 50 lb bag of Purina chicken starter, then they got switched to Purina Flock Raiser. #1 reason is because that was the only feed I could find that contained all good ingredients and no animal by-products. I would like to raise them organic, but can't find any around here and I'm not paying $43 a bag for it shipped. I would have to sell them for $20 per pound to break even.

Oh, I only feed mine during daylight hours and the 24 averaged weight of 5 lbs at 8 weeks. Smaller than I thought but I couldn't imagine them being any bigger and not dying of a heart attack

 

[kathyinmo]

chick_magnet .... I do not know how to figure how much they will consume in 8 weeks, but I am sure others will post that for you. Good question, and I am curious about that also.

I am feeding 22% protein Game Bird Feed, and I DO want animal byproducts, which is hard to find. I plan to continue with this same feed until they are processed.

Today is Thursday. It was one week ago today that I got them in the mail. Last night was their first night outside, and with no heat lamp. The temperature got down to about 75*. They seem to be fine this morning, and are all running around.

 

[pongoid]

3 x 1.45 Corn X Pine Shavings 15.00
3 x .99 BSL Waterers 2 x 4.95
1 x 1.99 Black Australorp Feeder 2.00
1 x 1.30 Production Red Feed 2 x 6.00
1 x 1.60 Dominique Run Fixins 20.00

Total Birds = 12.21 Total Equipment = 76.90

Total cost divided by birds = 89.11 / 9 = 9.90/ bird

My Wife makes fun that we ate a 40 dollar chicken the other nite, then she said nah it was probably 20 dollars.

But I bought my chickens for eggs and bought the CornX's by accident and found out later I'd have to eat them.

I suppose I'd have to bump up the cost a bit for labor but I liked doing that. We also paid someone to watch our chickens while we were gone for a week, that would also bump up the cost to 16 dollars a chicken but I have feed, pine and equipment remaining and chickens that I hope will bear fruit soon so that takes the price back down right? LOL I am not an accountant.

 

[ourflockof4]

Quote:
oh i see well in that case how much should they eat. i always heard that chickens will not over eat, but thats not meat bird though. How much does one bird eat to make a good meal it 8 weeks.(is that when they are dispatch_?

From what I have read 18-20 lbs per bird on average, maybe a litlte more or less. My first 2 batches were raised with some other chicks though so I don't know what I actually had. I"ll try to keep better track for my next batch.

 

[farmchick897]

My birds ate 350 lbs of feed and cost me $7.50 each to raise. That price includes the cost of 1day old chick, feed and the cost of USDA slaughter (which is $3 per bird). I do not take in the cost of feeders, pens, because I reuse those. The cost is still more than you could go buy one at WalMart for. But I did it so my family can eat chicken that is raised without antibiotics and estrogen and the chickens are raised in natural conditions with sunlight and fresh air to breath.