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Mine was a day shy of 12 weeks old when I lost him and most of my flock to a plague of buffalo gnats. He had been on free choice feed from hatch on, about 22% protein most of that time, but if memory serves, he also got some 18% for 2 or 3 weeks. At around 8 weeks he was thrown in with my adult flock; he was the same size in height as my year old ISAs and Ameraucanas, probably weighed between a half to a full pound more. He began trying to breed at 11 weeks........................... I've never had one do that before. He was
very active; a great forager with nothing like the CX's tendency to sit at the feeder and gorge, though of course he did consume a fair bit of feed.
The thing I liked about him was that he had developed meat right along with the big frame, not grow the frame first then start muscleing up much later like a Brahma or Jersey Giant............................. and at 12 weeks had a bigger frame [with plenty of meat over it] than those giant breeds would have had at the same age.
Katy probably thinks I'm plugging her chickens, trying to butter her up..........................
...................... but I was truly sold on that boy's build, rapid growth, and active nature. I'm not sure if he would have lived a long life; but I was encouraged by the fact that he remained so active inspite of the big, rapidly grown, meaty body. I was figuring on useing him on the CX and Cornish crosses I was making on my Ameraucanas.
