Broilers and rabbits?

[CindyinSD]

I have mine in a tractor. I kept this batch outside in a big watering troth, under the tractor, in the back yard for two weeks, with heat lights. They didn’t like the lights despite nighttime temps in the 50s. They chose to lie in the areas away from them, so I turned them off except one at night, which they shunned. Go figure. It was pretty warm in there, though. Not 90*, but warm to me. I had it tarped front and back during brooding and for a few days afterward, at night. This is the tractor:

With red broilers...

and white.

Some of the white ones actually use the roosts, mostly to get to the feeders when I hang them up against the ridge pole. I’ve found pullets IN the feeders.

 

[hereford_girl_01]

I have mine in a tractor. I kept this batch outside in a big watering troth, under the tractor, in the back yard for two weeks, with heat lights. They didn’t like the lights despite nighttime temps in the 50s. They chose to lie in the areas away from them, so I turned them off except one at night, which they shunned. Go figure. It was pretty warm in there, though. Not 90*, but warm to me. I had it tarped front and back during brooding and for a few days afterward, at night. This is the tractor:
View attachment 1862994
With red broilers... View attachment 1862970
and white.

Some of the white ones actually use the roosts, mostly to get to the feeders when I hang them up against the ridge pole. I’ve found pullets IN the feeders.

Thank you for the feedback!! Your’s are beautiful! I live in Oklahoma so it’s pretty hot, I was wondering if you thought I still needed a heat lamp.

 

[CindyinSD]

Thank you for the feedback!! Your’s are beautiful! I live in Oklahoma so it’s pretty hot, I was wondering if you thought I still needed a heat lamp.

I doubt you’ll need one, but if it were me (‘cause I can be possibly overly cautious) I’d give them the option. If you find they’re avoiding it, you can always turn it off and only turn it on if you’ve got a cold night predicted. That said, with 15 of them, they’ll get a lot of warmth from one anothers’ hot little bodies. Also if you use deep litter (With 30 chicks, I dumped a whole bag of pine shavings into the tub then sprinkled new ones over the top to cover each day’s poop.), the litter will heat up quickly and also keep them warm.

 

[CindyinSD]

Oh yes... I also bought a new oil change drainage pan and keep it full of fresh (sometimes iced) water in case the nipple waterer isn’t enough for hot days. Very important with your climate. I also put ice in the nipple waterer if it’s really miserable out. I’m not sure the ice is needed in a normal summer, but this summer has been a real scorcher for many folks.

 

[hereford_girl_01]

I doubt you’ll need one, but if it were me (‘cause I can be possibly overly cautious) I’d give them the option. If you find they’re avoiding it, you can always turn it off and only turn it on if you’ve got a cold night predicted. That said, with 15 of them, they’ll get a lot of warmth from one anothers’ hot little bodies. Also if you use deep litter (With 30 chicks, I dumped a whole bag of pine shavings into the tub then sprinkled new ones over the top to cover each day’s poop.), the litter will heat up quickly and also keep them warm.

Okay I’ll watch them and see what they tell me lol.

 

[hereford_girl_01]

Oh yes... I also bought a new oil change drainage pan and keep it full of fresh (sometimes iced) water in case the nipple waterer isn’t enough for hot days. Very important with your climate. I also put ice in the nipple waterer if it’s really miserable out. I’m not sure the ice is needed in a normal summer, but this summer has been a real scorcher for many folks.

Do you think I should use a rabbit?

 

[CindyinSD]

I hope you’re gonna come back here (or start a dedicated thread and link it here) and share your experiences as you grow out your showbird broilers. It would be fun to follow your adventures, and really helpful for lots of folks, I think.

 

[hereford_girl_01]

I hope you’re gonna come back here (or start a dedicated thread and link it here) and share your experiences as you grow out your showbird broilers. It would be fun to follow your adventures, and really helpful for lots of folks, I think.

That could be fun!

 

[CindyinSD]

Do you think I should use a rabbit?

I don’t know anything about using rabbits... that’s a new idea for me. As long as you have your feed elevated so the rabbits can’t reach it, I guess it wouldn’t hurt. If it doesn’t seem to be working out, you can always invite the rabbit to dinner.

My broilers don’t need much to keep them moving. They swarm me whenever I enter the tractor (‘cause they think I’m there to feed them, which I only do in the evening). I’m not in a hurry for them to get big, though. I’m going for old-fashioned chicken flavor, which I’m told comes of taking more time to finish them. If you’re feeding them all day, they might need more stimulus. It’s hard to get anything but pet rabbits around here, but you might want to consider a meat breed that could start off your next project if you find it interesting.

 

[hereford_girl_01]

I don’t know anything about using rabbits... that’s a new idea for me. As long as you have your feed elevated so the rabbits can’t reach it, I guess it wouldn’t hurt. If it doesn’t seem to be working out, you can always invite the rabbit to dinner.

My broilers don’t need much to keep them moving. They swarm me whenever I enter the tractor (‘cause they think I’m there to feed them, which I only do in the evening). I’m not in a hurry for them to get big, though. I’m going for old-fashioned chicken flavor, which I’m told comes of taking more time to finish them. If you’re feeding them all day, they might need more stimulus. It’s hard to get anything but pet rabbits around here, but you might want to consider a meat breed that could start off your next project if you find it interesting.

Thanks! They ship out August 16th so should be here in 1-2 days after that. The fair is the first week of October. Do you think I should allow them feed 24/7 or feed them every night?