- Jan 10, 2013
- 10
- 3
- 67
We raise chickens for eggs, but a new Tractor Supply opened nearby with a variety of chicks for sale, so we decided to pick up some Cornish X to raise for meat.
I got them on the weekend of April 3rd and the guy claimed they were hatched the weekend before on the 27th but I think they couldn't have been more than 3-4 days old at that point (no wing or tail feathers at all). So they're either 3 or 4 weeks old but either way they certainly don't look as big or lazy as any Cornish X I've seen online of those ages.
From a few days ago. One of them is sort of a runt but is steadily growing. I hope she pulls through!
Now this isn't necessarily a BAD thing... I hate how bloated and half-naked most Cornish Cross I see look. But these guys are INCREDIBLY lively and fully feathered. I've been giving them treats like mealworms and some fermented feed as an extra but could that really be affecting how they grow so much? They have a feeder of 24% protein chick feed available at all times but don't seem to be eating as much as I usually see.
Or was accidentally sold a slower-growing breed? They only carried Cornish Rock X, ducklings, bantams and some red-colored breed, so I'm not sure how likely that is but it's a possibility.
I got them on the weekend of April 3rd and the guy claimed they were hatched the weekend before on the 27th but I think they couldn't have been more than 3-4 days old at that point (no wing or tail feathers at all). So they're either 3 or 4 weeks old but either way they certainly don't look as big or lazy as any Cornish X I've seen online of those ages.
From a few days ago. One of them is sort of a runt but is steadily growing. I hope she pulls through!
Now this isn't necessarily a BAD thing... I hate how bloated and half-naked most Cornish Cross I see look. But these guys are INCREDIBLY lively and fully feathered. I've been giving them treats like mealworms and some fermented feed as an extra but could that really be affecting how they grow so much? They have a feeder of 24% protein chick feed available at all times but don't seem to be eating as much as I usually see.
Or was accidentally sold a slower-growing breed? They only carried Cornish Rock X, ducklings, bantams and some red-colored breed, so I'm not sure how likely that is but it's a possibility.