What am I doing wrong?

[chickenfeverforever]

I guess my questions would be this.... What guarantees do you have that you actually have a Cornish X??? Also, the one you butchered who was having leg problems, how old was he/she? Awful small dressed weight for 27% feed unless it was really young. I am new to this to, So I a no one one to give advice but I think it could be a . Weak birds and too high % of feed.

 

[threesprings]

When I was picking up the first batch of birds, the feed store convinced me to use to gamebird feed to avoid medicated chick starter and as they said have fewer leg problems. (Of course, they also said to butcher right at 8 weeks and not a minute longer). I didn't even know this forum existed then. Like I said I've raised DP breeds off and on for many years, only probs I ever had were of the predator kind. I did pick up two different batches from two different feed stores. The second batch were a few days younger, now I'm beginning to wonder if I'm just losing chicks from one batch. Which makes me wonder are there different varieties or qualities of Cornish X? There seems to be alot of mystery about where they come from. Is the cheapest cornish X just as good as the most spendy? Do all the hatcheries get eggs from one monsanto type breeder or are they each breeding their own version?

 

[ChikeeMomma]

You can feed them game bird feed, but not for that long. I will feed mine a 24% protein for the first four to five weeks or until I think they need to be switched. With feeding 27% protein, I'd probably only do it for the first 3-4 weeks. Then switch to a 20% protein. Otherwise, they grow too big, too fast. The other group being even a few days younger, it may have not affected them yet. It's fine to feed them non-medicated feed -- I've done it for years. I do not free feed after 3 weeks of age -- 12 hours on 12 off. I just butchered my 8 1/2 week olds this past week (should say Amish butchered them

). Last year they were 10 & 11 weeks old (and it was extremely hot May last year, especially on the day they were hauled for processing 95+ degrees). I have never lost one Cornish X yet due to any of the heart problems, leg problems, etc associated with this breed. Last year I culled one at 2 1/2 weeks due to a failure to thrive type thing (out of 20) and this year I lost zero out of twenty (two years ago, I did free ranger type meatie -- lost one at a young age).

I buy my meaties at the local Family Farm & Home for cheap. Last year they were 99 cents a chick, this year they went up to $1.50 a chick. They come from the Townline Hatchery in Zeeland, MI. I have had very good luck with them. So in my instance, cheaper has caused no issues for me.