Rocky Pine chicken chick
In the Brooder
- Jul 7, 2023
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I want to get started on raising meat birds but I have know idea where to start? What breed is best? Can I free range them? What kind of brooder/coop do they need?
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For meat buy the cornish cross or broasters from the farm supply store. Feed them high protein chick feed, non medicated. Leave them free access to feed and water. In 6-8 weeks, butcher and put in fridge.I want to get started on raising meat birds but I have know idea where to start? What breed is best? Can I free range them? What kind of brooder/coop do they need?
Interesting about the game bird feed 1x/day + free-ranging thing. How long do your birds take to get to processing size (whatever size that is for you) using that method?For meat buy the cornish cross or broasters from the farm supply store. Feed them high protein chick feed, non medicated. Leave them free access to feed and water. In 6-8 weeks, butcher and put in fridge.
If you want your chickens mobile, rather than sitting in their own fecal matter, feed them the high protein (game bird feed), once a day like you would a layer. If you do this they will grow more slowly, but be more sound and in my opinion, healthier (and happier). I let mine free range.
If they grow more slowly it takes them longer to reach full size, and if they free range they will have denser (tougher), meat. Brining before freezing helps a lot. Freezing also makes meat more tender