Chronicles of Raising Meat Birds - Modern Broilers, Heritage and Hybrids

[jolenesdad]

All are doing well so far. Added in a few pekins yesterday. I have hardware cloth coming today so I can hopefully finish my tractor soon and get them outside during the days within the next day or so. Daytime temperatures here right now are mid to high 80's-low 90's for the next week. I'll bring out the heat plate for them just in case.

Omg all the yellow fluff. Those Pekins are cuuuuute.

 

[Bookworm0124]

Omg all the yellow fluff. Those Pekins are cuuuuute.

They really are. I have to keep telling myself that I don't need anymore keeping ducks lol.

 

[Bookworm0124]

Building the pen got a bit delayed yesterday. I learned the hard way to wear actual shoes and not flip flops. Lots of blood, a cut of toe nail and an urgent care visit later I am back at it today with boots on lol. Progress is going pretty well so far but I'm running low on zip ties and it's getting hot. Supposed to be in the 90's today. And more importantly, nap time is almost over!

 

[jolenesdad]

Building the pen got a bit delayed yesterday. I learned the hard way to wear actual shoes and not flip flops. Lots of blood, a cut of toe nail and an urgent care visit later I am back at it today with boots on lol. Progress is going pretty well so far but I'm running low on zip ties and it's getting hot. Supposed to be in the 90's today. And more importantly, nap time is almost over!

Looking good!!!! Sorry about your toe!!!!!

 

[Bookworm0124]

Finished it up today they're going to spend the next 4 hours outside today. They're pretty happy walking about and taking dust baths. I like them. They're pretty laid back as far as chicks go. The egg flock was pretty interested in them.

 

[Bookworm0124]

Also. Zip ties are the best invention ever.

 

[Bookworm0124]

Finished it up today they're going to spend the next 4 hours outside today. They're pretty happy walking about and taking dust baths. I like them. They're pretty laid back as far as chicks go. The egg flock was pretty interested in them.

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I was debating on leaving them out over night but the temps are going to go from 90's to 75. Thoughts?

 

[jolenesdad]

I was debating on leaving them out over night but the temps are going to go from 90's to 75. Thoughts?

Do they have some sort of heat if they wanted it? Honestly, if you have 10 or so chicks at 75 overnight LOW, they will likely just huddle and not even use the heat. My outdoor brooded chicks last August never once used the heat plate, they just huddled together in a corner at night and were completely comfortable. Those were laying chicks, too, and didn't produce as much of their own heat as the Cornish.

The only caveat to being outdoors is they need draft protection. So as long as they're protected from drafts and predators, I would go for it.

 

[Bookworm0124]

Do they have some sort of heat if they wanted it? Honestly, if you have 10 or so chicks at 75 overnight LOW, they will likely just huddle and not even use the heat. My outdoor brooded chicks last August never once used the heat plate, they just huddled together in a corner at night and were completely comfortable. Those were laying chicks, too, and didn't produce as much of their own heat as the Cornish.

The only caveat to being outdoors is they need draft protection. So as long as they're protected from drafts and predators, I would go for it.

I do have one of those plastic igloo dog houses im gonna put it and I do have a heat plate I could put out for them. Now that you mention it, it is CRAZY how much heat they put off!! I thought it was just the temperature. They are HOT.

 

[jolenesdad]

Week 11 - specialty
Week 8 - Cornish

Weights
Specialty broilers are nearing 8 pounds. Cornish have a range to them but mostly 4.5-6.

I’m going to take some comparison and final body shots this week before processing so I’m photo light this week for body shots. My phone was dead when I went to weigh this week.

NOTES:
Robust white, for the win. I love these birds. They move so well, they’re just like very large non-broiler chickens. What’s incredible is how CLEAN they are. Just about the only dirt on them is from the wet mud they drink in sometimes and whenever we get rain. They dwarf my layers. Lol.

The Cornish are Cornish. Yes, a few range. They go with the others for most of the day, sometimes far off. Those are nice birds. 10 of them rarely leave the pen. A lot of those have difficulty walking. That has nothing to do with their weight or rate of growth, they just are clearly not really meant to run around. It’s not necessary for them, and they’re clumsy. I feel bad for them, some are CONSTANTLY run over the top of. They just can’t move fast enough. They can barely jump a foot off the ground and that takes some work. Some of them literally make me clean AROUND them. Hehehehehe.

So, while I definitely agree there are ways to slow the Cornish and get them on pasture, I won’t be raising Cornish cross again. I think they’re INCREDIBLY suited for tractors, which I don’t do. They don’t want to move too far, so a tractor gets them on some grass. After everything I’ve learned through this process, I’m leaving the Cornish for where it was bred to be... confinement.

I’ve got 25 Delaware coming sep 9. I’m
Curious about holding back a robust female or two to breed to a Delaware Cockerel.... will think about that over the next week. I just don’t want the broiler to suffer through an extended life.

The birds taste amazing with a very nice texture.