My Cornish X Rocks are dropping over dead

[Buster52]

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No comment.

Timing is everything, isn't it?

 

[Buster52]

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I'm not entirely sure about that. The CX is a very "fickle" bird from what I understand, and much less forgiving than heritage breeds. Sometimes they do in fact just drop dead.

But you are in good hands now. If they can be made to thrive, the people who are currently assisting you here can help with that.

 

[seymojo536]

I'm going to take the position that you are not overfeeding them unless you weigh a few and tell me they are over 3 lbs. each at 3 weeks old. Flockraiser is a 20% protein feed and that isn't high enough (imo) to blame for the deaths even with 24/7 feeding. We raise hundreds of these birds each year and only restrict their feed after they are 5 weeks old. And that is with a 30% starter ration.

Also, how many birds are we talking about? If it was 2 out of 10 then yes I would be concerned but 2 out of 100 sounds about right.

I'm more inclined to ask about the housing as the main cause.
You say they are in a tuff shed. Are you talking about the plastic sheds that some people use for storage? How big is it? Does it only have the doors on one end? Was it new or did you use it for something else before putting these birds in it?
How much bedding do they have under them? What kind?

I can see where one of those (say 8x10 with 50 birds in it) and a heat lamp, on a sunny 60 degree day really heating up to an uncomfortable level. They could pile up trying to get away from the heat.
Add in some old bedding with maybe a couple of wet spots from the waterers and then you have got a case for ammonia poisoning.
Or maybe it's an used shed and they picked up something from the floor, like a small screw or piece of wire.

It won't hurt to put them on the 12 on - 12 off feeding schedule, but I would check the temperatures at the bird's head level several times during the day and see what exactly is going on. You should have at least 6 inches of bedding under them by now and should add an inch every week. Be sure to muck any wet spots out and replace with dry every day.

Let us know what you find out.

 

[fancbrd4me02]

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No comment.

Timing is everything, isn't it?

I encourage Cornish keepers to read what Temple Grandin says about them in her new book, "Animals Make us Human."

OP, sounds like temp or rapid growth problems to me.

 

[Michele S]

It was an empty tuff shed. I cleaned it out really well before we got them. If I had left it up to the men, they would have thrown them in there with nothing. It's my neighbor's backyard, because my husband told me NO WAY. I went to the feed store and bought 8 cubic yards of pine shavings and food grade diatanaceous earth because they stink to high hell and we are growing them behind the tennis court and the neighbor behind the shed is a commissioner, so probably don't want to make HIM mad. There are 25 birds. Or WERE 25 birds. Now there are 23. I ditched the dead one today in the garbage and hoping the men can't count.

I really, really, really think I overfed them. I think I might be doing the same thing to my husband.

 

[CARS]

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You know the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.

 

[4-H chicken mom]

I don't believe you over fed them. My DD has raised meat birds for 13 yrs and they were fed Purina's Showchow 24/7. They had a red light on them 24/7 so they could eat anytime. At 3 weeks our birds would weigh about 3 lbs. Since meat birds grow at such an excessive rate their hearts can't take excessive heat/cold swings. Meat birds generate a lot of heat themselves. Slide your hand under the breast meat and you will see what I am taking about. This shed that you have them in, is it plastic? If it is it could be generating a lot of humidity. Meat birds don't like humidity either. It stresses them big time. They need air flow. Get yourself a thermometer so you will know exactly what the temps are in there at any given time. It is not uncommon to lose a few birds, so don't stress yourself over it. It happens. Also, when you go in the coop with them try to work slowly/calmly no sudden movements that will cause them to run scared. Not so much a big deal at 3 weeks but when they get around 6 weeks, you don't want them running around frightened. That's how legs get dislocated. Good luck.

 

[Buster52]

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No comment.

Timing is everything, isn't it?

I encourage Cornish keepers to read what Temple Grandin says about them in her new book, "Animals Make us Human."

Thanks!

 

[Brunty_Farms]

Quote:
No comment.

Timing is everything, isn't it?

 

[Brunty_Farms]

More than likely overfed. There are quite a few strains of meat birds that are designed for fast rapid growth in the beginning... and some that are not. It really depends on the strain you get and by 2-3 weeks you can tell which one needs to be restricted and which ones that do not.

I would start with taking the feed away first tonight... then go from there.