So I have heard some things about Cornish X's

[cpchicks]

We're getting some rain today so I gave in and put some food in the feeder inside. As soon as the sun comes out..........out they go!

 

[rolffamily]

I'm on my 2nd set of cornish x. First batch was all females that I got in June and raised in the dead of one of the hottest summers on record and had no major problems. Now I am raising all roosters, started with 16, down to 10, and just lost another today at 7 weeks. They have to walk 15 feet between water and feed. I pull the feed at night. They live like kings. I have no explanation.

 

[cpchicks]

My first attempt at CXs was a success.

I only started with five, but didn't lose any. We processed two of them on Sunday at 8 weeks old. The biggest one was 8 lbs and dressed out at 5 3/4 lbs. They are resting in the frig. We have three left; two pullets and a cockerel. We'll get to them in the next couple of days. The second 50# sack of meat builder is almost gone. I figure it has cost me about $7. each to raise them including the cost of the chick.
In my attempt to get them out to exercise I put them with replacement layer chicks that are three weeks older. It made it hard to keep track of how much they were eating. I put some food outside to lure them out in the morning but I let the feeder get empty during the day. Then I gave them what I thought they should have in the evening. The other chicks ate some but were more interested in foraging. All in all I'm happy with how it turned out. Next time, if I can time it so I can have a broody hen raise them I think they would learn to forage and get more exercise. That would be the only change I would make. I'm looking forward to spring!

 

[Beekissed]

Just don't overfeed them. They grow to a certain weight no matter what or how much you feed them, I have found. I fed them once a day along with my layer flock, fed laying mash and later added cracked corn. They free ranged from 2 wks. of age and they ALL had grass in their gizzards and not just a little.

They all had reached approx. 10 lbs live weight~give or take a few pounds~ by the 8-9 wks process time. I held mine over until 11 wks due to time constraints in processing but they never seemed to gain any weight after reaching that 8 wk. mark. Just leveled out and maintained.

No ascites or organ failure noted in these birds, no sores on their chests, no birds that couldn't walk. I started with 25 and ended with 25. My freezer runneth over!

 

[cpchicks]

Beekissed,
Good for you. It sounds like you have it figured out. I was worried about health problems so I cut back on their feed. They are all doing fine and moving around although they sure look clumsy. As I said earlier, I quit filling the feeder for fear they would start having heart attacks from gaining so fast. The 8 pounder had some fat on him, but not as much as the chickens I buy at the store. The other one was a little lighter and less fat. (my notes are out in the coop) No sores or other problems I could see. I hope we get the next three processed before they plateau. I know with most animals it's best to catch them when they are gaining. Wouldn't you know this is one of our busiest weeks of the year with harvest!
I have to tell you............last week we had a real hot spell. >100 I had a sprinkler going and laughed when I went out and found the meaties sitting in the mist of the sprinkler with bark mulch all over them. It was like they were taking a dustbath in the wet mulch! I thought sure they had stained their feathers but the next day they were all pretty and white again.

 

[Beekissed]

CP, I had a broody raise mine....there is a thread about the whole process from start to finish on here somewhere. It was great and I will do it again in the spring if I get CX. No heat lamps, no pasty butts, no problems.

 

[cpchicks]

I have a wonderful Bantam Barred Rock hen that loves to raise chicks. It would be soooo funny to see her with CX's after a few weeks! She usually weans her chicks at 5 weeks, I wonder if she will last that long with CX's? It will be funny to watch. Maybe she will crawl under them!?

 

[cluckcluck42]

I agree with the 12 on and 12 off. We do not live on the property the chickens are on right now so we cannot do this, but as soon as we can, we will.

First batch of CX mixed- good results. Lost very few even during a freak heat wave (make sure they ALWAYS have water)

Second batch, all males- losing chickens right and left. Weather is nice, not too hot. Will not do all boys ever again.