Processing Cornish X at 6 weeks?

[MapleLaurelFarms]

In the past, our neighbor has raised their and our meat birds together and then we processed with them. This year, I finally got around to putting together a meat bird coop/tractor and am so happy to be raising my own.

When we've processed before at 8 weeks, the CX were beyond ready - bumblefoot and burns on footpads along with leg issues, barely able to walk, and just plain pitiful. Because of that, I booked our county's processing unit for when ours will be 6 weeks old.

We've just finished up week 2, and so far mine seem so healthy compared to what I've seen before. They love to forage, are very calm, and I'm enjoying raising them much more than I thought that I would. They're growing rapidly, but they're still so small. I'm finding it hard to believe they'll be ready in 4 more weeks, but I'm scared to push it too far. Would love any and all input!

Mine are protective free ranging during the day, no artifical light, and free feeding Nutrena NatureWise Meatbird crumbles (22% protein).

 

[Tex452]

They will grow a lot in four weeks.

 

[MapleLaurelFarms]

They will grow a lot in four weeks.

Figured that but thanks - very hopeful! Do you raise these? If so, just curious about other's processing age.

 

[iwltfum]

If you look up a weekly weight gain chart/graph for Cornish x, you'd be able to weigh a few of yours and see what type of trajectory you're on. Cornish x growth rate can really vary based on situational differences. Alot has to do with the first two or three weeks. Just saying that, at 6 weeks, you could easily end up with 2.5 pound birds or 5.5 pound birds depending on how it all plays out.

 

[Morrigan]

I think you will be fine. They do grow fast near the end.

Caveat: it depends a bit on how they are fed/keep, the strain of CX you have, as well as your goals. Some strains grow faster than others, but in my experience they are breeding for faster and faster growth.

To relate my own experience. After many years off from raising CX, this spring, I raised a few CX. We butchered between 6 and 7 weeks (can't remember the exact day), which is way earlier than I've butchered in the past, but they were ready. Males were 5 1/2 lbs dressed, females were 4+. I raised them in an outside brooder, with a heat plate, rather than a light. I didn't put away the food at night, figuring they were sleeping when it was dark, but these guys were so food-centric, I found that they were eating during the night by the light of the moon. They were integrated with my main flock of hertiage chickens by 3 1/2 weeks, so they had competition to get to the food and free-range opportunity, but they were relatively inactive and always found a way to the feed bowls.