Alex's Journal of Keeping Heritage Cockerels for Meat

[SquareInchFarm]

How about a heating pad for extra warmth.  It might help. 

Edited for content:  How are they acting?  Huddled together?  Are you losing any to bunching?  Keep us informed. 

Hi linda,

My week old straight runs are doing ok in 60s temprature at basement, and these day old cuties are enjoying 89 F according to the thermometer. I gave them 95 at first bur noticed many running away from the lamp so decided to keep it lower. Now they r running jumping everywhere. Here s a latestt pic h

 

[SquareInchFarm]

I learnt today that this package is likely to be pullets heavy, not much cockerels not to mention heavy cockerels. It s ok, i dont mind keeping most of them as pets and just use one or two unfortunate heavy males as meat source.

Ps, i got some cull hens from a friend n am really struggling with the idea of eating hens when they have finished being exploited of eggs. They are still living in my basement. Any thoughts on this?

 

[SlipsWife]

Hi SlipsWife, i got 45 chicks and 2 ducks. I requested to have no waterfowl but i understand it is their choice and the two ducklings look pretty cute so i m satisfied

That really surprises me, the 'no waterfowl' has probably been the one request across the board that they have done.

Our ducks are so messy...the BEST water option we've found is an empty milk jug, cut a large hole out that they can fit their heads in. If you want I can take a picture of ours. We had to separate them from the chicks because they kept making such a mess with the water we had to keep changing the bedding.

 

[SquareInchFarm]

That really surprises me, the 'no waterfowl' has probably been the one request across the board that they have done.

Our ducks are so messy...the BEST water option we've found is an empty milk jug, cut a large hole out that they can fit their heads in.  If you want I can take a picture of ours.  We had to separate them from the chicks because they kept making such a mess with the water we had to keep changing the bedding.

Yes plz i wanna learn that! My ducklings are already starting to spill water when drinking.

 

[LindaB220]

I learnt today that this package is likely to be pullets heavy, not much cockerels not to mention heavy cockerels. It s ok, i dont mind keeping most of them as pets and just use one or two unfortunate heavy males as meat source.

Ps, i got some cull hens from a friend n am really struggling with the idea of eating hens when they have finished being exploited of eggs. They are still living in my basement. Any thoughts on this?

Exploited of eggs. Too funny.

You'll have a lot more coming.

 

[SlipsWife]

You can use any type of container, some people use sour cream containers with lids and a cut out. We always have milk jugs so it was the best choice for us.

 

[SlipsWife]

I would only use the milk jug waterer with ducks, our chicks were out with our ducks in a pen outside today and I only saw one chick go to it, they all went to the chick waterers.