I use a spay bottle with bleach and a few drops of dish soap. Spray and scrub all the equipment off before we start and again when done.
The birds go into a big tub with ice , salt and vinegar after plucking and gutting. I use as much stainless steel as possible.
I try to keep things as...
I will second Bigredfeathers comment. I did 50 rangers last year, they were not as hardy as the cx. I had lost 11 the first week. The remaining 42 ate my out of hose and home. I was not happy with their size at weeks at 8 weeks so I kept them to a little over 12 weeks. After the 8th week I...
I will join the bad weather ban wagon. I put my first batch out at 3weeks in the middle of driving rain, then it started to hail. I will agree with others, when it is cold and wet a layer of straw is a real asset. I also close in the tractor leaving just 1/2 of a side open. This year i even...
Buster
I am with you 8 x 8 is the way to go for size.
Jeff
I agree with you and your key phrase "perfect for him (Joel)"
You hit the nail on the head with the saw mill and the ability to cut is own replacement lumber. Also when he uses a 1 x 2 it is a true 1x2, not what we get at the big...
I think the 1/2 inch hardware cloth may be overkill. That said Chicken wire is not the best stuff, although I do use some.
I was having good luck with 2 foot tall rabbit guard as it has small opening on the bottom and larger on the top. My second choice is 1 x 2 welded wire. I think it is...
With you being in GA you might be able to get away with as little as 2 weeks in a brooder. 2 weeks olds can tolerate 50 degree lows and 3 week olds about freezing temps. I use a 4 x 8 brooder with a removable floor. I normally keep the peeps in the house a few days in large plastic totes...
Fishman65
That is a long time to carry birds for the freezer. I wish I would have kept better records but I had freedom rangers last year that were carried to 12 weeks. I can tell you that they were mighty expensive compared to the Cornish x. If memory servers me I was putting almost 100 lbs...
I do not use a 12 on/12 off rotation. The have food and water 24/7. The feed ration is 18% range bird mixed by the local mill and i have used it with wonderful results. I was concerned about about leg issues and have had none. The bids are nice and clean, they develop well. I have tried some...
If you cut the protein and go slow you should be ok. Free range them if you can . They will still have a shorter life expectancy that a non cornish x bird.
Flash
You better figure on about 20 lbs of feed per bird to grow them to 8 weeks. This figure may be a little high depending on waste that you
will suffer. These little guys will eat and poop all day long that is there lot in life. A movable tractor does a super job of spreading the manure...
Build yourself a tractor from chicken wire and some 1x 4 lumber with a tin roof. Make it light so you can move it easy. It does not need to be
to fancy as you meaties will only be in it several weeks at a time. Hope you made arrangements to buy food in bulk with your freinds, it will save you...
Just 12 degrees this morn. Have 2 lamps running and if I am lucky the nights are going to at least going to be in the 20's.
Just so hard to keep the temp regulated.
Mine is the same size and I have 70 2 week olds in it. I usually do 100 at a time but ended up with with this odd batch.
I have a removable floor and a divider to make it 2 4x4 sections. I keep mine in the house the first few days and then move them to the brooder by day 5. I keep them in...
I tried 6 last year BBW, got them in late july and they were nicely started, well feathered ( did not ask the age). Ran them 6 weeks with the red rangers I was trying. 3 were toms and 3 hens. The Toms made it to about 20lbs by Nov. They were super eating.
I smoked one of the hens for a football...
.90 a chick for st run 100 at a time. The local hatchery is close to work so they drop they off for me.
super quality - and like other said local is were it is at.
CHICK CHARM
I agree with you temp statement. The big problem with the spring here is the cold snaps or the prolonged rain and dampness.
Last year I lost 9 broilers during a 2 day rain event, the first day was ok temps around 50 the second day it dipped and we had a little wet snow and wind...