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

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Week 12!

Delaware Cockerels
3 of these boys - 4.5 lbs
5 of these boys - 3.75 lbs
The other half 2.9-3.5 lbs

Imperial Male
9 lbs

Imperial Females
Technical average is around 6.5 lbs
However, there are more right around 7 lbs and a few 7.5 lb females. A couple 4-5 pounders that throw off the “average”.

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I’ve had a few problems with the Imperials but overall they’re my favorite Moyer Broiler. I had no idea how big they had gotten until I weighed them today. They are super streamlined and unbelievably active for their size. So mobile. I find them all over and jumping up on all kinds of things. They’re sweet as can be, very curious. They’re definitely not as dominant as the Delawares, but with enough feeder space they’ve done excellent being raised together. There is not a SINGLE dirty butt in the group.

For a 25 egg hatch I’m over the moon excited with the Delawares. I’m keeping one of the 4.5 pound boys and my favorite heart feathered “Romeo” that is in the second group at 3.75. I’ll keep all 7 pullets.

4.5 pounds at 12 weeks is incredible I feel like for some of these boys. If it were another time I’d grow them out longer but I need the space.

the Delawares are honestly one of my favorite birds I’ve raised. They’re really smart, curious, hawk-savvy now, and incredibly robust. Very excited to work with the breed in general.

I hatched a total of 5 robust white/Delaware crosses. Four white and one grey. One of the white appears to have Delaware coloring the others don’t appear to yet, but are only a few days old. I’ll get photos of them soon.

Attached photos from the week.

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Nice report. My Imperial broilers are at 7+ weeks now. I haven't weighed them yet, but they are getting some girth on them. I haven't rationed food with them at all, but they are in an integrated coop and the older hens keep them on their toes, so I'm not sure if they are eating all that they could if they have easy access to the feeders.
 

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