These are fast growing, meat-type chickens grown and raised by thousands of Americans across the country. We often use the term "explode" when referring to their rapid growth, as they are in the 5-6 pound dressed weight range at 49-56 days.
CORNISH ROCK CROSS
Start your Cornish Rock broiler chicks just as you start any baby chick. Start them on a 20-22% Chick and/or Broiler Starter. Keep them on that ration for the first 4.5 to 5 weeks. At that age, switch them to an 18% Chick Grower.
Please make sure you restrict the feed as we outline below!
Provide 3 inches of feeder space and 1 inch per chick of watering space.
You will "full feed" your broiler chicks around the clock for the first 5 days (of age). At 7:00 P.M. of the 5th day, make sure your broiler chicks are completely out of feed. That means there is positively no feed in the morning. You will need them out of feed for 12 CONSECUTIVE hours. Water, yes, ... but no feed.. NOT EVEN A THIMBLE FULL! Continue this minor feed restriction program... removing the feed every night, until time of slaughter. Failure to follow this feeding program may result in heart attacks. Sudden Death Syndrome or "FLIP" as it is sometimes called! If this occurs, it is the result of the very rapid growth of your Welp broiler chicks. Following the above restriction outline, religiously, every night commencing the 5th night of their 5th day of age, will reduce "flip" substantially.
Regardless of your location in the U.S., you must follow this feed restriction program when growing Cornigh-Rock broilers.