Can I put my layers with my meat birds?

[mhopson19]

So, right now I am raising 6 RIRs for eggs and have 2 ducklings in the brooder also. I am about to start building their coop. I am going to get about 25 Cornish X for meat birds once the RIRs go outside in a few weeks. Would it be alright if I put the CX with the RIRs? I assume its okay, but just checking if anyone has a different opinion on it. Also, any insights on how big I should make the run for 6 RIRs and then 25 CXs (which will only be in the run for a few weeks)? Also, what type of feed should I feed my CXs? Just starter/grower? Any help or advice is appreciated!

 

[thriftyfarmer]

How old will they RIR be when the CX chicks are added?

 

[Happy Chooks]

The Cornish X are pigs and will keep others away from the feeder/waterer. So if you do put them together, make sure you have a lot of space and feeders/waterers out. They are very messy as well - what goes in, must come out.

I fed mine mostly Flockraiser, but I did use up a bag of layer feed on them. I started with 25 also, and they went through 350 lbs of feed by 10 weeks.

 

[lazy gardener]

It depends on how you do your feed management for your CX. I have Pioneers with layers. They're about 6 weeks old now. Yes, the meaties are pigs, but I feed enough so that the meaties get their crops filled, then the layers have plenty of time to pick at the FF before it's gone. I've been feeding them 2 - 3 x/day. In the morning, there's a feeding frenzy. My bigger fear with having meat birds with layers is that if they get into a pig pile situation, the more fragile layers could get squished. An other factor that might enter your decision process is: how many chicks are you raising. If brooding 25 or more CX, I don't think I'd put layers with them.

 

[mhopson19]

Hi all,

I started this thread a month ago and have since decided that I am just going to brood the Cornish X separately and set up a temp pen for them outside. I was going to put them with my layers, because i only had 6 and they would be 8 weeks by the time I got the Cornish X, but I have since got a lot more layers so I will be moving them into a bigger coop and pen and will move the Cornish X into the old pen and coop, then take it down in the winter.

Thanks for all of the replies, though!