Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
will be around longer. A more traditional flock for meat will take at least 16 weeks, but
no more time per day than a flock of Cornish Cross broilers.
Because its immunity can't catch up with the physical growth of the commercial cross,
leg sores are common and should be watched for signs of fungal infection.
Whatever methods, practices, or breeds you become most accustomed to, or most
comfortable with, should be the ones you build on from year to year. Each year you will
gain some experience and some knowledge that will help you determine the best way to
go about raising the meat birds for the following year. Though it never hurts to exper-
iment occasionally with a different breed or cross, or to tinker with butchering time or
bedding or feed schedules to improve upon your system, it's probably not a good idea to
radically change a system that works.
For example, experimenting with widely different types of grains or feed can be det-
rimental. It's never a good idea to switch brands of feed within the raising cycle. The
proteins and the trace minerals in a new mix might come from different sources, which
change the flavor. The unfortunate result can be a decrease in appetite and slowed or
stopped growth. Keep in mind that feeding too much of certain supplements, such as
flax, can change the flavor of the meat.
Try to be as consistent as possible with your feed and feeding methods so that the
birds know where to find the feed, when it will arrive, and what it will be. For most
practical purposes, it is best for feed to be available at all times. However, because com-
mercial cross breeds such as Cornish cross broilers grow at such a brisk rate, it's best
to pull the feed away at night to keep them from overeating. If they overeat, they can
