A Beginner’s Excursion into Meatbirds

[RUNuts]

Almost. I ordered 25 dual purpose layers and butchered 7 of them. I didn't classify that as meat birds. I was fully expecting losses since I was new to this. Originally planned on getting down to enough eggs for one family, but everyone wanted eggs so I kept a larger laying flock.

@AllenK@new2this Chasing down a roo - I think that would make a good exercise video. Would you classify it as a cardio workout?

 

[AllenK RGV]

Almost. I ordered 25 dual purpose layers and butchered 7 of them. I didn't classify that as meat birds. I was fully expecting losses since I was new to this. Originally planned on getting down to enough eggs for one family, but everyone wanted eggs so I kept a larger laying flock.

@AllenK@new2this Chasing down a roo - I think that would make a good exercise video. Would you classify it as a cardio workout?

Usually it isn't much on the cardio front as he isn't the brightest lad and likes coming up to be a porch monkey and traps himself in a corner with a bit of guidance. One time it was cardio for the dogs as I enlisted their help and they gladly obliged.

 

[teriz1091]

The chicks are outside! And my house smells better already. What a relief!

They are still in their brooder (dog crate), just outside in the chicken house. I’ll get daylight pictures this weekend. The structure is downright hideous, & could easily be in a horror film. But it’s a good shelter, & I think it will serve its purpose well.

I left their heat lamp on them, & I’m sure it will be on for them for the rest of their time.

They are about to outgrow their brooder. Before I turn them loose in their pen in the chicken house, I’m going to give them a section of it first. There is a roughly 8’ x 6’ space in the back of it which is already closed off with a short wall & gate. (I’m not sure what it was used for originally - pig, goat, dog?) We’ll leave the chicks in that area for another week or so until they are large enough to have the full space. Again, I’ll get pictures this weekend.

 

[wyoDreamer]

I have raised 4 meat birds that are huge and I need to butcher soon. I raised them with layer chicks so they are pretty active. They run to me everytime I go near the pen. They area really friendly so it is going to be hard to dispatch them.
I used the Momma-Heating-Pad method and raised them out in the unheated barn. DH had installed electric so it seemed the best way to raise them. It worked great and i would highly recommend it. They feathered fast and are very active.
I am a little concerned with your set-up right now, from the photos it looks like they don't have an area where they can get away from the heat lamp. A laerger area would benefit them greatly.

 

[teriz1091]

So here is the chicken house. I think it could easily belong in a horror film. The left ~1/3 of it is what was sectioned off already, & we finished closing it off for a meat bird pen.

It’s not anything that can be considered easy on the eyes, but I’m hoping it will be functional, which is all that matters. I don’t know what this penned off area had been used for years ago, but we put a tarp over the corner where the heat lamps are (I added one more since it was chilly), & put a short piece of plywood along the short wall to block the wind coming through. It’s holding heat decently under there, the chicks seem comfortable.

Once they’re large enough, we’ll open up that little gate & they’ll have a larger additional area to use.

 

[teriz1091]

I have raised 4 meat birds that are huge and I need to butcher soon. I raised them with layer chicks so they are pretty active. They run to me everytime I go near the pen. They area really friendly so it is going to be hard to dispatch them.
I used the Momma-Heating-Pad method and raised them out in the unheated barn. DH had installed electric so it seemed the best way to raise them. It worked great and i would highly recommend it. They feathered fast and are very active.
I am a little concerned with your set-up right now, from the photos it looks like they don't have an area where they can get away from the heat lamp. A laerger area would benefit them greatly.

I haven’t heard of the heating pad method. What does that entail?

They were getting a little big for the dog crate. We just moved them outside a few days ago, still in the crate. It’s been chilly, so they prefer to stay under their heat lamp. Now that they’re out of the crate, they haven’t bothered to explore their whole pen yet. It was cold today, so they stayed in the area warmed by the heat lamps.

 

[teriz1091]

Well, we lost our first chick tonight. I’m not sure from what. It was frigid today, highs in the teens with single digit wind chills. They all looked comfortable this morning. They’re still under 2 heat lamps with a tarp over the heated area. I don’t have a thermometer, but it’s comfortable under there. Their water does freeze, but I give them fresh water twice daily. Not sure if the chick got smothered by the rest trying to huddle for warmth or what.

We did also make a new waterer today, from a 5 gallon bucket & roaster pan. Hopefully it works well & isn’t too much of a pain if it freezes. I did put it somewhat under the tarp, too, hoping it will keep it just above freezing.

These meat chicks have definitely been a learning experience. Biggest lesson so far has been to avoid getting them when it’s freezing outside. Hope we don’t lose anymore, we’re 3 weeks in right now.

 

[wyoDreamer]

At 4 weeks, our chicks were completely feathered out and sleeping on top of the Mama Heating pad, I had it turned down to its lowest setting and only had it on at night. It was about 40 degrees outside at that time, a little warmer than that in the barn. I didn't get them butchered and am still feeding them bowling balls. They are 16 weeks old and one laid an egg yesterday, lol. It seems everytime I plan to take them to freezer camp, DH comes up with something else that needs doing. I am starting to get attached to them, they are so friendly!

 

[teriz1091]

Update - the chicks are 4 1/2 weeks old now, & are absolutely huge.

This is my first experience with meat birds, & I must admit that these birds are not what I expected. I think I was imagining them to just be fatter versions of our egg layers, but still with the desire to be, well, a chicken. These birds are absolutely not that. All they do is lay in their own filth & waddle to the food or water. They have zero desire to do anything else whatsoever. We opened up the larger portion of their pen yesterday, I put food out for them, & we shooed them all out of the gate dividing the areas & showed them the food. The act of moving a maximum of 10 feet exhausted them, & they plopped down where they were until they built up enough energy to waddle back to their original area.

Is this normal for all Cornish X? Or should I consider a different source next time around? These birds may end up being wonderful to eat, but I’d prefer that they behave a little more like a chicken & enjoy life at least a little bit.

Side note - they are on a 12 on/12 off feeding regimen.

 

[Molpet]

Normal if you feed that often
Some people feed what they can eat in 20 minutes 2x a day... I kept one for breeding for almost a year