How much room would 25 meat birds need?

I think if you have the space it's a good idea to let them have it. I think there is a misconception about these birds that they don't want to move much and therefore are just fine with very little space. Their top-heavy bodies and huge feet...make it hard for them to move fast...and it's rather sad really. However, from what I've seen, there is no doubt about it that they do appreciate, enjoy, and are healthier when they are given the opportunity to move around and enjoy some of the natural things that other chickens do...like a bit of hay to play with/lay in, some sawdust or sand to bathe in, a bit of room to run and scratch the ground, and simply some space to be in without being crammed next to the others. When we took our meat kings to the processing plant last year we were told they were in the best 'condition' of the birds killed that day. That was such a compliment. She also suggested that grabbing them by their legs to move them from one location to another, is not advisable. We picked up each bird gently around their big bodies and placed them in the crates to move them. I'm not bashing the way other people do things, I just wanted to express my thoughts on how we do it. These poor animals are with us such a short time, it's nice to know that they were raised with care and thoughtfulness. : )
 
I'm late to this thread. I'm considering raising some birds for meat, possibly dual purpose type, only because I'm unsure of the "meat bird" types. Something about them seems unnatural. Thoughts on this are welcome. My main question is if I were to free range them (another reason to not use fat slow meat birds) how much space is needed per future freezer camper in the coop with no run?
 
Hey! I know that this a very old thread but, I want to move the tractor enough to not have dead grass,( and I am willing to move it once a day.) I am thinking 15 birds in a 30 sq ft tractor. Would this work, or just kill the grass? Thanks!
 
Im wanting to order some meat birds, Im thinking of getting 25. I havent built anything to keep them in yet. I just dropped 500 in my first coop for my first chickens. I dont want to do that again. I want to keep it simple this time. Maybe like one those tractors that you can move around. Is there a common area per bird to go by with meaties? Anyone have any pictures of their setup?
When I was in California, I kept mine in a 12 X 12 box stall and bedded them on shavings. That was really larger than what was needed. I had the feeders and waterers on chains and hung them from the roof. That way I could adjust the height as they grew. I wanted them to stand as they ate and drank and not just plop to eat and drink. You do need something that is well ventilated but not drafty. Cornish X are not heat tolerant, so keep that in mind. I never got around to putting up something suitable when I moved to Missouri. I did think about getting one of those metal carport roofs and then putting some sort of wire or livestock panel around the bottom. People have also used those little tool or yard sheds available at Home Depot or Lowes. I am no fan of tractors, but that is me. By the way, I found that Broiler Booster, a vitamin electrolyte supplement formulated for meat birds available from Murray McMurray, went a long way in preventing the health issues the Cornish X are heir to.
 

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