What will Cornish X's eat?

[bja105]

I'm feeding the 27 birds in my tractor a commercial feed, and its going fine. I would like to supplement their feed with something else. So far, they don't eat grass, clover, dandelion greens, or radish greens. They did eat a worm, but their hard to come by in quantity, besides, the soil needs them.

What do your cornish x eat?
Table scraps? Watermelon rind? Lettuce? I only have a month left, so I don't want a maggot farm, but it sounds fun.

Ideas?

 

[Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay]

There is no need to supplement their feed. Stick with the commercial broiler feed.

Jim

 

[NewHopePoultry]

Must people just stick with commercial broiler feed for their Cornish X's.

 

[Cyberous]

The following items my RIR's eat, but the Cornish X snub their noses at. I'm not supplementing, just trying to give them some variety.

Spanish Fried Rice
Cucumber
Cabbage
Strawberries,
Watermelon
Steak
Romaine

However, when I let the RIR's free range I let the meaties run around the coop, they immediately go chow down on the Layer food

They are strange birds

Don

 

[jamieneenah]

I make my own. I just started using a special vit / mineral mix I bought from a fellow Byc member. I will post my results of using this feed / supplment mix in the upcomming weeks as my flock grows out.
Jamie
P.S. ?'s on what I feed feel free to ask. 4 & 1/2 weeks at 5#'s Plus!!!

 

[brandywine]

I'm trying to figure out why other people's Cornish are so picky.

I've got four in with 100 JM range broilers, and the Cornish seem to graze just as actively as the rangers. There are 17 replacement layers in the same pasture, and they are possibly a bit more active than the meaties.

They all eat lots of grass and clover. They are five weeks old.

When I first put them out on pasture, I didn't bring their feed out for a few hours. Think that jump-started them all? I dunno, they attacked the pasture like I'd tossed them onto a pile of candy before they had a chance to miss their beloved trough.

Or is it just being in with the rangers and the eggers that has inspired the Cornish to act like chickens?

Or could it be specific strains? My four came from Tractor Supply, so originated at Mt. Healthy.

 

[pdpatch]

Some times it just depends on the birds on what they want to eat. Other times if they don't have there preferd feed they eventually try to find something else to eat.

Also Cornish Cross are the brightest chickens around and they do need some hep at times.

 

[Kali]

I saw one of cornishX chowing down on the bloody remains of a mouse once, ew! They did fairly well at foraging but preferred the feed.
We found sharp pieces of glass in the gizzard during our last processing.
My Orpington's will eat just about anything (they LOVE chili!) I give them.

 

[bja105]

Added to the list of what my birds won't eat.

Watermelon
Grape tomatoes
red worms served over chick starter with watermelon drippings
All served on my wife's Fiesta ware.

Maybe I need to serve their regular ration on a plate, so they associate it with food.
Maybe I should just eat them and be happy!

 

[Homesteading_Bound]

the first 8 weeks they only ate the broiler feed. Then the weather became warm enough to let them free range with my Barnies....

They will still eat there broiler feed...However, they have found a smorgasbord out there...and they want it all.