Do they only eat seed and mealworms? Maybe it's a calcium deficiency leading to thin breakable shells and your RIR feeling the need to eat shells.
Why not get a big feeder and fill it with proper feed once a week or so? That may also be easier for your hectic schedule. If you're feeding...
Agree, you can even see the huge bulge where the crop is.
I couldn't tell if one of my hens had a sour or impacted crop, but what I did was feed her olive oil by a dropper a few times a day. Massage the crop. After a day or so, I would gently push on the crop while I held her laterally. She...
Basic googling says a pound of roasted chicken is 1,000 calories roughly. So a larger bird 6 pounds dressed would solve the caloric needs for an average person 3 days
I'm sorry, but why are you keeping them to this point? I know you love them but they aren't meant to last past 10 weeks or so.
If you don't eat chicken, can you give them to someone who does? It's not fair to keep them much longer especially as summer approaches.
No offense intended - just...
Just FYI, usually vaccinated for Marek's disease.
I've had over 100 meat birds at this point without vaccination and haven't had an issue with that. Anecdotal, I know, but still. Seems like a waste to me.
I have a 8 x 12 aluminum pen with hardware cloth on the sides and top and corrugated metal roof covering about 70% of the top. Plenty of fresh air to go around and protection from the elements. 25 chickens have fit in there no problem, but I prefer a max of 20. Or I'll process some around 5...
I have this one, and it seems nearly identical, when it was on sale earlier in the year. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B082TR3976/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I have never tried a duck or goose but it's definitely big enough for that. I've done two large cornish cross at...
Hi folks! I have had 4 successful batches of raising and processing Cornish Cross meaties. Sometimes I process a few at around 5 weeks to have a nice 3-4 pound Cornish hen (yes I agree the name is confusing and dumb!). It's a perfect size to roast whole for my small family.
However, I am not a...
The only way you can learn here is by doing. Removing all the internal organs cannot be described or shown. You get a general idea but it all comes down to feel.
What does the heart feel like? Oh the gizzard is the big hard thing. How hard do I pull without worrying about breaking the bile sac...
You'll do great!
Something that helps me is to think, if you let them grow too much longer, you'll only be torturing them. It's almost a mercy to end it at the right time. Even better that nothing will go to waste.
I say thank you to each one when I dispatch them. It seems to help
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I haven't had any issues with animals digging (well more than normal). There always seem to be chipmunks and rabbits messing about and getting around my fence. Larger animals seem to stay out.
That's awesome! However, the bones are made into bone meal very easily for the garden, too. Bake at a low temp and then grind up using a cheap grinder or a plastic bag and mallet.
Really seems to help the onions and garlic :)
One tip if I can help more: They really are easy to take care of as long as you have fresh water and move them often (or clean their bedding when indooors).
I'm sure you read this, but I found it pretty critical to start to restrict their food in the 2nd or 3rd week. I use the chart that's...
Part of the lack of feathers is the "draw" of raising Cx. Especially as you are hand plucking; it will go much quicker with these birds vs heritage that are fully feathered. Even when they are out in the tractor, they will never get many feathers on their chest. And the ones that are there will...
I assume that's dressed weight based on your comment? I don't think that's too bad but it is a bit on the low side. I just processed 17 at 8 weeks and they averaged over 5.5 lbs; all female.
Did you have a mix of roosters and hens? Did you restrict their feed? Where did you get them from?