I have have received lots of help from you guys already, here's another question...Do I start them on medicated mash? How long...then what? Butcher at 6-8 weeks? Is this correct? Thanking all in advance :-)

-- Cheri in NY (t.asprion@worldnet.att.net), April 07, 2002

Answers

We never feed our meat animals medicated feed. Might as well buy chicken from the store. Find a good unmedicated feed, around 24% protein for the first couple of weeks, then down to 20% for the remaining time to slow their growth a little. Some people even drop it to 18% for the last 2 weeks. We usually start butchering at 5-6 weeks. You will be amazed at how fast they grow. If you like roasting hens, let a few grow to 12-16 weeks. Our last few that we let get this big dressed out at around 8 lbs. It was a workout to carry them to the chopping block! You do lose feed efficiency when you grow them this big, but if you like roasters it's worth it.

-- Joe (Botaur2@yahoo.com), April 07, 2002.

Hi Cheri, I found lots of good information on this site... www.welphatchery.com They sell the cornish chicks (and many others) and have information about them on the sit. They also offer a free brochure via your email request. We received our brochure in about 3- 4 days.

-- K Phillips (Philli@Peoplepc.com), April 07, 2002.

We raised a batch last summer. I believe we started them out on a chick starter for the first two 50 pound bags and then switched over to a grower till they were 6 weeks old. We then butchered half for cornish hens and then butchered the other half at 10-12 weeks for roasters.

Talk to the people in the store where you buy your feed. They should be able to help you out. Different feed stores have different start and grow programs.

-- r.h. in okla. (rhays@sstelco.com), April 07, 2002.