Some meat birds growing much faster than others - What up?

gckiddhouse

Crowing
15 Years
Dec 9, 2008
1,019
9
289
Desert Hills, AZ
A few weeks ago, I picked up 19 cornish x day olds. I brought them home and then distributed 4 to friend A and 8 to friend B. The other 7 stayed here.

Friend A kept hers in what used to be a lizard aquarium inside the house for the first 2 weeks and fed them organic feed
Friend B kept hers outside in a hampster cage and fed them organic feed
I kept ours outside in a dog kennel and fed them organic corn and soy free feed

Friend A has chickens that are now 1 1/2 times bigger than the other 15 chickens. They have more feathers and are just huge and healthy looking. She seems to have 1 rooster and 3 hens. They are about 4 weeks old now.

What on earth is making them grow so fast? Any ideas here?

I thought it was the feed, but then realized that both friends are feeding the same feed.
One thought is that she had a light on them that had been for the lizard. That there was something special about the spectrum light. But the others got real sunlight. Also, after the first 2 weeks, these also got real sun light.

I am so curious!!! Would love to figure it out and then repeat it and make it a 4-H project for DD to put at the fair.

Sorry I don't have any pics.
 
Well, they all had lights. Hers was different, though. I think the others ate all night, too, though. Mine sure did. They had the red light which is supposed to let them sleep, but they ate all night. We though that maybe there was something about her bulb since it was for a lizard and not just a light bulb.
Still baffled
hu.gif
 
Red reptile bulbs are just plain red lights. There are UV bulbs needed for certain species of reptiles. They give off UVB rays, but lose that after about six months, and unless it it a Mercury Vapor light it doesn't give off a lot of UV rays. And no man made lights compare to the UV rays given off by the sun.
 
I have done several broiler projects for FFA. We intensively manage thier enviroment including temperature and stimulation. We keep our birds inside a building with heating and during the summer A/C. We also stimulate them as much as possible causing them to eat more. Space and arrangement also effect competition for food. We do leave lights on 24/7. We feed show quality feed and add electrolytes and vitamins to thier water. In a space of 42 days we will have cornish crosses that weigh 8 1/2lbs.
 
friend A had only 1/2 the amt of birds you and friend B have, so the competition at the feed trough would be a factor for consideration
 
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nah... only if they had the same amount of trough space... i'm assuming there was compensation - as in more feeder space for more birds. at least i would hope so..!
 
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Hi,
Cornish rock crosses are bread to grow fast on high protein food. I read somewhere that they are ready for market in 56-59 days so expect big birds quick (not 8 1/2 lbs). Did any of them have heart attacks, did any have deformed toes?
Joe
 
Possibly the area? The aquarium may be smaller (less room to move) and is draft free so they don't have to use any calories to stay healthy. They are inside, perhaps less stress??
hu.gif

Slinky
 

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