100 Broilers and Fermented Feed Project

[kuntrygirl]

KG-- I think this would be a good time to add dry  feed to their food bowl-- they seem to need more energy and protein than they can consume via FF. I suspect they might be starting to starve as they should be eating huge amts of grain to support the muscle which burns a lot of energy. Can you put out dry free choice? OF course will theyeat it is another concern! lol  THeylove the FF. Maybe top dress the dry with FF. . . .

That makes sense. And yes, I can dry feed to their FF.

I can't wait to weigh them so see the disappointing weight that they are.

 

[kuntrygirl]

 

Just came in from the broiler pen and I looked at the broilers that are remaining. I picked several of them up and it ain't lookin' pretty. Over half of them are scrawny with no weight. I really don't think they will gain any more weight. I think from this point on, I will be wasting money and feed trying to fatten them up. I will eye ball and pick out the heaviest birds and process them as soon as I can. For the scrawny ones, I'm thinking meat grinder to have chicken patties. That's all I can see doing with them. Unless I opt for some 1 pounders.


Any grind chicken meat up before? :/

You could make chicken nuggets by grinding the meat. Sounds disgusting, but home-made chicken nuggets are AWESOME. My wife makes them with a cauliflower base and some kind of coating.. not sure what, but it's a recipe to trick kids into eating veggies that are fussy.. 

I'm sorry, I know I'm a grown-up, but I still like chicken nuggets.. we make our own.. baked not deep-fried, but I'm sure that would be good too

The scrawny ones may be low on the pecking order and having a hard time competing for food with such a large group?

Need that recipe!! My kids are always begging for nuggets from McDOnalds- would love to have a food we can pack in lunch boxes. 

I would love the recipe too !!!

 

[Angelicisi]

I do this..."walk with me I have to do blah blah blah...watch out for poop! Hand me that thingy so I can clean poo off it please? Oh watch out for the cat, she's shady...how much can you lift? I have this thing I need to move on the rabbitry..." No one ever can stay...

Feeding time...let guests feed the CX, just once lol my football size CX they'll never make it out alive. But probably will call next time lol

Hang in there.  I don't think most people have a clue what taking care of animals entails.  People just don't think!  I always try and remind myself that they think they're being friendly and are not purposely trying to be inconsiderate.  Just clueless!

When people stop by at feeding time, I go out to the barn and start chores.  I'll talk to them while I work.  If they don't get the hint REAL QUICK, I put them to work dumping feed, watering, etc.  They usually find it's time for them to go...LOL...

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I do this..."walk with me I have to do blah blah blah...watch out for poop! Hand me that thingy so I can clean poo off it please? Oh watch out for the cat, she's shady...how much can you lift? I have this thing I need to move on the rabbitry..." No one ever can stay...

Same here but - I have an apprentice.
I went to a meetup hosted at a brewery by a local 100 acre historic organic farm. They take apprentices from May through September. They charge $750 for the opportunity to learn and work.
I stayed after the presentation and talked to some people. I snagged one of their customers who thought it was too pricey (ya think?) They don't even have chickens very often.
This guy wanted to know chickens and organic gardening, fruits and berries - and I needed help. Bonus!!!

 

[Coralietg]

Cornish Hens aren't supposed to have a cook weight of more than 2lbs, so you can have some gourmet meals out of the scrawny ones! I would think that being older, and still smaller, they would be more flavourful too.

 

[Angelicisi]

I segregated my slowest growers from this weird batch and let them have at food, greens and gave them the gardens before I planted. Nada. They are slow growing, eating same quantities for 2 weeks now and they just look Bleh compared to some in the same batch. These particular "broilers" we ordered definitely gave us a thorough outlook on CX

This batch seems like a mosh pit of genetic failures compared to the CX I am used to raising but I'd say the dozen that we can't sell (size wise and we only sell non issue birds- some of the dozen small ones have a limp or have tried to fly off the porch) will still be super yummy for our own table!

Can't wait to het back to well bred meaties next round.

 

[kuntrygirl]

I do this..."walk with me I have to do blah blah blah...watch out for poop! Hand me that thingy so I can clean poo off it please? Oh watch out for the cat, she's shady...how much can you lift? I have this thing I need to move on the rabbitry..." No one ever can stay...

Feeding time...let guests feed the CX, just once lol my football size CX they'll never make it out alive. But probably will call next time lol

Hang in there.  I don't think most people have a clue what taking care of animals entails.  People just don't think!  I always try and remind myself that they think they're being friendly and are not purposely trying to be inconsiderate.  Just clueless!

When people stop by at feeding time, I go out to the barn and start chores.  I'll talk to them while I work.  If they don't get the hint REAL QUICK, I put them to work dumping feed, watering, etc.  They usually find it's time for them to go...LOL...

I did that one year when a lady came by to do the census. I told her that I didn't have time to stop and talk but she was welcome to walk around with me in the chicken yard. I had her filling up waterers and picking eggs while she talked. Unfortunately, she really liked it because she grew up on a farm and she missed being around chickens and other animals. It backfired on me because she stayed there for HOURS!!!

 

[kuntrygirl]

I do this..."walk with me I have to do blah blah blah...watch out for poop! Hand me that thingy so I can clean poo off it please? Oh watch out for the cat, she's shady...how much can you lift? I have this thing I need to move on the rabbitry..." No one ever can stay...

Same here but - I have an apprentice.
I went to a meetup hosted at a brewery by a local 100 acre historic organic farm. They take apprentices from May through September. They charge $750 for the opportunity to learn and work.
I stayed after the presentation and talked to some people. I snagged one of their customers who thought it was too pricey (ya think?)  They don't even have chickens very often.
This guy wanted to know chickens and organic gardening, fruits and berries - and I needed help. Bonus!!!

 

[kuntrygirl]

Cornish Hens aren't supposed to have a cook weight of more than 2lbs, so you can have some gourmet meals out of the scrawny ones! I would think that being older, and still smaller, they would be more flavourful too.

I think yours may be almost the same size as mine. I would have hoped for better results. I'm still amazed that some of the last ones were only 2.90 lbs live weight.

 

[Coralietg]

I think yours may be almost the same size as mine. I would have hoped for better results. I'm still amazed that some of the last ones were only 2.90 lbs live weight.

For all the work you have put in, it's ridiculous that some are so small. I think I weighed them last on Friday, and the biggest one was 1lb 8oz.

ETA: Just weighed 4 of them, 1lb 8oz, 1lb 8oz, 1lb 12oz and 2lbs.

I was just sat under the carport mixing another 5 gallon bucket of feed up, and all I can hear from the brooder is "pffft….PFFFFFTTT….pfffft" over and over

No wonder their brooder is so filthy already.