when to butcher?

[Straubby]

i have a pair of cornish rock chicks about 6 weeks old they are fattening up quite nicely but i have been trying to finish out a bag of chick start and grow before buying a flock manager feed for everyone. should i let them eat a new feed for awhile or just give them another week or so,i've heared 45 days for cornish but dont know if its true. any opinions?

 

[Bettacreek]

It's usually between 6-8 weeks. I'm at 5.5 weeks and I plan to go by the birds. My little birds will probably live to 8-9 weeks, my larger ones may be butchered at 7. I'm watching to see how well they do. If ones starts to hobble around, it'll be butchered. I started out with "chick starter" that only had 20% protein, now I'm using a locally milled mash that has 21%, and I plan to keep the flock on it until laying age. So, basically, do whatever works for you.

 

[silkiechicken]

Butcher them when they are a size you want. Figure 75% dressed weight. I feed start/grow all the way to the end.

 

[Straubby]

I cant believe how lazy they are i watched one just kind of roll over on its side today i think it was dust bathing but it just kind of slowly tipped over then layed there for a few then rolled to the other side they evn lay down to eat LOL