Meaties 101

[AlbionWood]

Excellent summary.
Now I have to figure out how to adapt to my climate... when it's warm here the pasture is dry, and when the pasture is good it's cold, windy, and wet. Either I basically give up on pasturing, or figure out how to keep them warm in a tractor.

 

[bigredfeather]

Quote:
I get them from a small hatchery called Eagle Nest Poultry, right here in Ohio. Chicks are shipped out on Wednesday afternoon, and I get them by 10:30am on Thursday. Not only is shipping cheaper than places further away, but I have very few chicks DOA.

Here is a link to their website: http://eaglenestpoultry.com/

I have been very happy with them. Prices and product are both excellent.

 

[Brunty_Farms]

What are the prices... I don't see them on the website?

 

[bigredfeather]

Quote:
This year they were $.84 straight run and $1 for cockerals only. I know that isn't the best per price around, but for me the reduced shipping cost from being so close and the lower DOA rate from being in the box less time makes up the difference. Shipping for 100+ chicks was less than $9 I think. And to answer your next question, they get some Hubbards and some Ross's. Both have performed well. They only difference I can tell is one of them has white/cream colored legs and the other yellow.

 

[bigredfeather]

Quote:
How cold are you calling cold and how wet are you talking? Have you tried them in this weather (cold/wet)?

 

[Brunty_Farms]

Quote:
This year they were $.84 straight run and $1 for cockerals only. I know that isn't the best per price around, but for me the reduced shipping cost from being so close and the lower DOA rate from being in the box less time makes up the difference. Shipping for 100+ chicks was less than $9 I think. And to answer your next question, they get some Hubbards and some Ross's. Both have performed well. They only difference I can tell is one of them has white/cream colored legs and the other yellow.

$0.84 is a really good price. I'm paying $0.88 without shipping. I might have to try them out.

Which line did you like better? You normally can't tell the difference unless they are raised commercially as the differences are usually very small on our level. How much are their layers?

 

[bigredfeather]

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I'm not sure which is the Hubbard and which is the Ross, but the ones with cream colored legs had a wider variance in finished weights.

Not sure what they charge for layers. She is going to be mailing me a price list as soon as she gets it done.

 

[CatsvsDogs]

Hey Big Red I would love to see your chart that you use for approximate daily food consumption for up to 8 weeks. I have kinda poked around the forums here but couldn't find anything.

 

[DesertChickens]

Quote:
X2

I was going to ask the exact same thing. I'd like to try your method. I've had good luck with mine, but have wanted to do a more metered approach.

Great post- thanks for spreading the word!

 

[AlbionWood]

Quote:
How cold are you calling cold and how wet are you talking? Have you tried them in this weather (cold/wet)?

Not cold by your standards - I'm on the northern California coast, so "cold" is in the 30s to low 40s at night, 40s to low 50s daytime. Lots of wind though, I'm looking right down a canyon at the Pacifc and the ocean breeze gets a good shot at me. Spring winds are often 15-25 mph and we had gusts to about 40 recently. Wetness varies a lot, some years it rains almost continuously and others it's fitful; average is 42 inches, nearly all of it between November and April. In Spring it's often windy and drizzly, punctuated by occasional downpours. They are saying we might get snow here tomorrow, for the first time in about 25 years!

Sorry I missed this query - lost track of this thread, I guess. I'm still trying to figure out how to manage the meaties once they are out of the brooder and into a field pen.