SillyBird
In the Brooder
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. : )