Cornish meat birds housing

Date sort Score sort
drake01

drake01

In the Brooder
6 Years
Apr 1, 2013
18
1
24
Dansville NY
So I'm new to raising meat birds and have a few questions. First of which is the housing. I was thinking tractor style but I want to put some hog panel on the bottom so nothing can in theory dig in but I think it would be a pain to move because their little feet would go thru the holes. Has anyone done this and how do you move it without having to mess around with the birds. Maby put 1/4" plywood in to move them and then pull it out after. I don't know ? Or is it better to just make their coop permanent and do a deep litter idea?
 
I did a tractor. If you teach them to move when you move it, its not too bad. We had a few get a foot or leg stuck because they didnt move and I didnt see them, but no one ever got hurt. I just moved them before feeding, then threw feed on the ground at the end of the tractor, moved it, and fed. They would flock to the end close to me and it worked out really well.
 
While I personally have never had any problem with predators digging into my meat bird tractors, some people have major losses this way. For protection from these digging predators, most people put wire down on the ground around the outside perimeter of the tractor. They attach it all around the outside to the walls and then it lies flat, about 12in wide, from each side. This deters digging predators and doesn't cause any problems on their feet, as well as still lets them access the grass (which is the important part as it makes for a healthier, tastier bird while also cutting down your feed costs).
 
Like this?
200x200px-ZC-5c6f9daf_16513_meaties_002.jpeg
 
Ok so no panels under and wire around got it. Next question will they destroy my yard if I only move it 1 time a day? My yard is pretty nice and my wife is worried they will kill the grass. I work 6:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday thru Saturday and really would only be able to move it 1 time i always seem to be running late
 
drake01 said:
Ok so no panels under and wire around got it. Next question will they destroy my yard if I only move it 1 time a day? My yard is pretty nice and my wife is worried they will kill the grass. I work 6:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday thru Saturday and really would only be able to move it 1 time i always seem to be running late
Click to expand...

How many are you going to put in your pen? How big is the pen? Mine is 8x8 and I move it once a day, but to get them not to destroy that grass I have about 30-40 birds in there. You have to watch out for times when the grass is vulnerable, such as when it's dry or when it's just rained. In the end, they will fertilize your lawn and make it greener.
 
I have been reading and so far came up with a 5' x 12' tractor can hold 50, doesn't seem right to me with waterer feeders and such , so I am working on a 8'x12' for 50 but I plan on butchering some when they get to the "Cornish game hen" size so it will only have Maby 40 from 4 weeks on, roughly.
 

Similar threads

Esrun
How to house meat bird in a stationary coop?
2 3
Replies
20
Views
2K
Acre4Me
Acre4Me
J
    • Like
Is this too early to move Cornish Cross to tractor?
2
Replies
12
Views
2K
JeffandLori
J
K
Switching to Meat Birds (Ideal's Black or Red Broilers)
Replies
2
Views
476
FunClucks
FunClucks
A
    • Love
    • Like
My own variety of meat birds
2 3
Replies
24
Views
2K
LaurenRitz
LaurenRitz
The_Desert_Druid
    • Like
    • Love
Raising Meat Birds in the Burbs- A How To Guide
2
Replies
10
Views
3K
reaganFF
reaganFF

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom