The Grand Experiment

[Ridgerunner]

So I don't know how much of this to attribute to weather.

That's the issue with any test isn't it, variables. What effects do weather, where you got them, or just things that happen have? From what I read on here you did a good job of limiting those variables that were under your control, but to be definitive the test would have to be repeated several times to see if the results are consistent. You would think that the hatching eggs each hatchery uses come from the same source but that might not even be correct. You can only do the best you can. I think you did well.

 

[aart]

That's the issue with any test isn't it, variables. ........to be definitive the test would have to be repeated several times to see if the results are consistent.....You can only do the best you can. I think you did well

Ditto Dat^^^

 

[Morrigan]

Who do you use for yours?

I use Jenx hatchery in Oregon and have used them for 5 years running now. They are great to deal with. I believe they only sell the Cobb 500 variety. The quality of the birds has ranged from excellent to good, but every year my experience has been slightly different.

This year's batch was the most challenging, but they may be because they had a full 3 day ship, as the postal distribution centers have been really slow this year. I lost 3 chicks in the first two days, but at least one of those was due to cold as it got stranded outside the brooding heat box I set up. I had several with dirty butts and they were more sluggish this year then usual. I had to cull another at 5 weeks due to sour crop, which I've never had in a meat bird before. But, the remaining 22 rallied when the weather cooled off, and I processed them in batches from 8+ weeks to 13 weeks without a loss and with all birds being able to navigate the ramp to the coop and move around the yard. Weights ranged from 5 to 10 1/2 pounds.

 

[Compost King]

I found a hatchery that comes straight out and says they use Cobb https://www.valleyfarmshatchery.com/online-store/Cornish-Cross-Broiler-Chicks-p103513127 .. I saw that and Remembered this thread and thought I would reignite it because its one of the more educational threads out there. I had no idea about Cobb and Ross lines before I found this thread last fall.

BTW, your experiment was not a failure, you weren't going for the best results possible, you were seeing which line would do better and you found out that with the conditions you had that one line did better than the other. I call this a success.

 

[aart]

BTW, your experiment was not a failure, you weren't going for the best results possible, you were seeing which line would do better and you found out that with the conditions you had that one line did better than the other. I call this a success.

Agrees!!

 

[rjohns39]

Thanks folks. I know total different time of year, but I'm gonna try again with McMurray birds although, I'm thinking about this new hatchery as well. But this time around I won't be able to do a head to head compare. My processing team has changed from a team to me. As has my grow out team. Although for this last experiment that was pretty much only me and DW. I couldn't count on the others to give accurate measurements of feed.

 

[aart]

Although for this last experiment that was pretty much only me and DW. I couldn't count on the others to give accurate measurements of feed.

It's hard to a truly controlled study.....you got pretty darn close.