All you who raised 10lb+ birds in three months...GIVE ME THE SECRET!!!

[maplesky7]

Ok, If I can do it...so can you.

I ordered 30 straight run from Mcmurray. Gave them starter feed the whole time of 8 weeks never restricted. My birds dressed out at 7-10 lbs respectively. And if you are going to get the birds and bring them to a processor...watch the time they are to be dressed out.

First time I did it, one thing I encountered, the birds from all the county fairs....were ahead of me so we had to wait a couple more weeks to get in (so that time around all my birds were 10+ lbs). So when you get your birds...call that day and get on the schedule...whatever it is you want to do...8-10 ? weeks, but set it up sooner than later.

My 7 year old and 2 year old helped mommy bring them out of the coop every morning in the grass under the cherry tree and put them back in at night. Because some are just that lazy or unable.

me,
g

 

[Brunty_Farms]

The biggest thing to get big birds is the protein. At this point your not wanting to raise broilers anymore your trying to raise turkey's lol!

So if your going to raise them to be as big as turkey's.... feed them like turkey's. I would use a 27% protein to finish them on which would be the last month they are raised. At 8 weeks of age switch from 24% protein to 27-30%.

Like Greyfields said make sure you keep the temperature pretty consistant. At this point anything you do to these birds effects their ability to gain weight. Weather, feed, water, how long to feed, how much to feed, and so on.


Feed them normal for the first two weeks... 24/7 with a 20% chick grower.

3-8 weeks feed them a 24% protein only 12 hours a day then turn the lights out for the remaining 12. This is important if you want to achieve big weights at 12 weeks. Do a feeding schedule and stick with it. Any change in feeding will possibly stun their weight gain.

9-12 weeks feed them all they can eat for 15 hours of the day. I use to feed them from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm. Instead of turning the lights off.... leave them on and let them have access to water 24 hours a day.... this is extremely important as water, believe it or not, makes or breaks a broiler at this age. The water should never be empty, if it's empty before you fill it up for the day.... you need to get another waterer or fill them up more often.

Signs to watch for flip... Labored breathing, gasping for air, eyes closed... if you see any of these slow the feed back to 12 hours a day but continue to leave the lights on. *always watch for this, check everyday for these symptoms, once they start to get fluid in the cavity it's to late.

Also any kind of treats help as well. Milk products, meat scraps, or alfalfa works great too.

As far as a certain hatchery for broilers... you mine as well go with the cheapest as the hatcheries never keep the same line for more than a couple of months. There are four major producers in the country that sell hatching eggs of broilers. Each producer has about 4-8 different lines.... so the chances of you getting the same line twice are not good. That is for a totally different thread though!!

Good luck and can't wait to hear your results.

Jeff

 

[chickenporkarosa]

Hi, I've raised meat birds every summer for the past two years. I order them from the local feed store for delivery in early May. I get 50 straight run chicks and yes it is a good idea to call your processor and reserve a date. What I do is take in 25 after 7 weeks which are mostly roosters 8 to 9 lbs.lbs. Then at 8 to 9 weeks the rest go in and dress out at 9-11lbs. I get a second batch of 50 the 1st. week of September and start the process all over again. I live in Michigan, so these are the coolest periods to raise meat birds. It's less heat stress for them in late spring and late fall and cuts down on the electric bill when they are chicks. It seems like when you get staight run, you get 1/2 hens and 1/2 roosters and the roosters are where you get the heavier bird . If some people want large birds, it might be a good idea to ask for roosters specifically and keep them for 8 to 9 weeks. Either way, they are the most meatiest, most savory chickens I've ever tasted. My family calls them Turchickens cause they are so big.
Stacey
Family of 12 Rhode Island Reds, 1 Barred Rock Rooster, 2 Rhode Island Red Roosters, 2 Lhasha Apsos' and 1 Angora Cat. and looking into fainting goats to add to the family.