raising cornish chickens

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I raise cornish chickens for a guy. Everyone tells me that in 8 weeks they will be at 5 and 6 pounds. At 8 weeks of age for me their only 3 to 4 pounds. I have them in a 20x30 chicken coop (200) in a coop it does get hott in there do you think the heat will slow down the growth of a cornish chicken does anyone know what I am doing wrong to make them grow slower? does anyone know what I can do to get them to gaining more weight faster??? i'm feeding them 22% protein any ideas please help

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

3-4 pounds butchered or live weight?

 

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they are about 3 and 4 pounds but I would like them 5 and 6 pounds in 8 weeks and that's not happening and I don't know why.

 

[KFCCHICKENUTAH]

Had the same problem with mine. What are you feeding them and how often? I took mine in at about 7 weeks or so and the butcher said they were to small. Mine were 2.5 lbs live weight at this time. I changed them to a high protein chicken feed 24/7. At 11 weeks I had them butchered and all chickens had a dressed weight of over 6lbs and under 7.5lbs.

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

they are about 3 and 4 pounds but I would like them 5 and 6 pounds in 8 weeks and that's not happening and I don't know why.

Live weight, or butchered? They won't be 5-6 pounds butchered if they're that live. Keeping them on feed 24-7 is what we do. You can always add bugs for higher protein, but idk if Cornish like treats like normal chicks (ours didnt).

 

[KFCCHICKENUTAH]

Live weight, or butchered? They won't be 5-6 pounds butchered if they're that live. Keeping them on feed 24-7 is what we do. You can always add bugs for higher protein, but idk if Cornish like treats like normal chicks (ours didnt).

Mine didnt either. They wouldnt eat bugs or worms. Just feed 24/7. The chickens need to be 8 lbs to get a dressed weight of what your asking.They dress out at about 25-35% of live weight.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

My chicks love devouring the occasional earthworm and one of them lept into the air, caught a moth, banged it on the floor and ate it before my eyes at six days old. I think it's cause I started them on bugs way early.

You could try the fermented feed thread? With how fast my CX's are growing I doubt they'll be too small processing day....

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

Agh. Just bought some 13 week old Cornish. They're maybe 4 lbs? Any ideas how to get them fatter? We're using game bird feed, unsure what they were on before. I think it's 18% or 20% protein

 

[KFCCHICKENUTAH]

I buy the feed for meat birds at the local farm store that is 24% protein and let them eat all day, every day.

 

[leahcim823]

I fed mine, "multi-flock" from my local feed store its 24% protein. But for the first few weeks they were on chick start. Then the higher protein 12 on 12 off. We just processed 18 of them at 12 weeks old ( a little to late!!!) But end weight ranged from 9-15lbs... hardly any fat on tje roos but the hens were alittle fatty. We also thru crack corn in the barn, so they could forge alittle and have to work alittle....lol