How many birds?

[MyTDogs]

Hi all,

I am thinking of getting some meat birds this fall to try my hand at raising my own meat. How many birds could reasonably forage on 1 acre with out destroying the grass? I already have a small flock of layers & ducks. I'd probably have them forage together.

TIA!

 

[LilyD]

The rule of thumb is 10ft of outdoor space per bird. I have 2 acres and can have over 100 birds here without taxing the land. Only problem I have is that they love to dig right next to the house so I have large craters there where they have dug in to dust bathe.

 

[Jitamon]

I have 50 birds on 1/2 acre and they dont use it all.

 

[mstricer]

Tia, they will destroy it with poop. CX's don't forage that much. I got lucky with the batch I have, they forage some. A few will go about 150 ft from their tractor, but most stay pretty close. I have 48. You will be fine. You just have to move them a lot. Plus in 6 to 8 weeks they can't eat that much grass mainly will poop all over it.

 

[KeilFamilyFarm]

I really think that depends on how you raise them. My cornish free range ALL DAY and are extremely upset on days that they dont get let out. They go all over about 2 acres of my land