Thanks for the sawdust idea. We have a great local butcher shop just up the road from me.
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I had the same dilemma, I want to feed my birds great raw meat but what do I feed them, everything is so expensive and the least expensive are the large roasts... SO... I spoke with our local butcher shop and asked him about buying some "scraps" for my chickens and dogs. His immediate reply was "how about some sawdust"? He then explained to me that they clean out the band saws after cutting steaks and chops they have a clump or two of finely cut meat left over, they would usually sell it to the local rendering plant. I offered to buy every ounce of it from him. He'll fill up a 5 gallon bucket for about $10. The chickens devour it, I mean literally jump off the roost love it. I feed them 10 - 20 lbs of it a week.
Here is a video of my flock, at about :30 into it you can see the meat bucket with the "sawdust" in it.
It is interesting that you have so many birds in 1 coop................it is nice how they get along isn't it?Wonderful birds all
getting along !
If they didn't get along so well I'd be more inclined to get another box body so they could have more space, but honestly, they really do well exactly as they are and it keeps the space warmer for the birds. In the summer they spend more evenings out in the other structures but in the winter they love the warmth and confinement of the box truck and honestly, I'd rather them roost in the box truck that out in the windy 20 degree Ohio winter. They seem to be content with any situation they are in, just all around great birds!!!!Great set-up Dave! Your video also proves the point that Buckeyes can be confined and unlike a lot of other breeds, Buckeyes are known for not feather-picking when crowded.
We have a website again! It ain't pretty, but it's there. I'll need additional suggestions, pictures, content, etc.
www.americanbuckeyepoultryclub.com
If they didn't get along so well I'd be more inclined to get another box body so they could have more space, but honestly, they really do well exactly as they are and it keeps the space warmer for the birds. In the summer they spend more evenings out in the other structures but in the winter they love the warmth and confinement of the box truck and honestly, I'd rather them roost in the box truck that out in the windy 20 degree Ohio winter. They seem to be content with any situation they are in, just all around great birds!!!!
I wonder how many of the birds in the video came from your flock and their offspring. In my first years your roosters were the foundation sires and with the new batch of exceptional stock I received from you last year they are again the primary sires of the flock.
Your birds are the daddies and great grand daddies of BuckeyeChickens.com!