Jason, the breeder farms that produce these modern meat hybrids need to practice some interesting practices to keep their adult birds alive, healthy, and reproducing. They use both feed restriction and lighting to control their, shall we say, impulsive eating behavior
.
. . . the feed only shows up now and then and chickens don't eat in the dark . . .
The chicks don't usually make it past 8 weeks of age before butchering. They are also in danger of breaking their legs during their rapid weight gain. If these birds (or their parents) are going to make it to breeding age, fairly drastic things have to be done.
My understanding is that the Delaware was the most common meat breed on the east coast before the advent of these "suicidal" hybrids.
I've raised heritage breeds a few times for meat. The Light Brahma was probably the best choice I made. However . . . when you are feeding a chicken, you are supporting both its body maintenance needs and its weight gain. Slow maturing birds that have to maintain their bodies over a long period of time require more feed to do so.
I found that my Cornish X's were eating
only their commercial feed and costing me about what I'd spend for meat at the supermarket. Heritage breeds were costing me a good deal more. Not having much room anyway, I gave up on raising meat birds and have only layers these days.
Something that will work in your favor, however, is that as the bird passes about 8 weeks, it will begin to eat a wider and wider variety of foods. With some careful attention, you should be able to keep your feed costs down by doing things like pasturing them.
Joel Salatin claimed that his broilers' diets are 30% grass and legume pasture. I don't see the university researchers going above 20% in their claims. But, these are for 8 week old birds - so I find this quite remarkable.
With 12 week-olds, I think 30% would be very reasonable. Free foraging may work even better but increasing their exercise will lower the feed to weight gain ratio.
Just a few thoughts . . .
Steve
