Cornish Super giants

[elainewarfield]

My meatbirds are 5 weeks old. They are in the coop at night but on grass during the day. I am doing non medicated feed and supplementing with things like worms, dandelions, braggs organic apple cider vinegar and garlic. I also diffuse lavender essential oil in their coop at night. They were on nutrena chick starter and now on nutrena broiler feed. They will be taken to the butcher at 8 weeks. I have always had feed and fresh water in front of them 24/7.

Two questions: Is free feed correct up to the last 12 hours or so or do I remove the feed at night? Everything I've read says feed in front of them all the time. Second question: I want to give them some organic green supplement in their water, is there any reason I shouldn't do this? Is there anything that should not be given to the chicks? the green supplement is high in Vit. A, has Vit. K and B1. The ingredient is Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA) Klamath Lake Blue Green Algae. Is anyone familiar with this for chicks? Thanks in advance. Elaine

 

[Dogfish]

As long as there is no light, they will likely not feed at night, or if they do it will be very little. Mine don't. I withdrew food from them about 4:00pm the day before I was to butcher them, and then butchered them the following day around 2pm. No poop, no mess, in the killing cone.

No idea on the organic green supplement. I just gave them clean pure water from 3.5 weeks until butcher. 5.5-6.5lbs at butcher, and there was a lot of fat inside, so they were definitely healthy birds. I did give electrlytes for the first few weeks, but stopped that after 2 weeks.

 

[jaku]

Wow, you're doing a lot of stuff for your birds! I feed 12 on, 12 off after two weeks. There is a list of things somewhere on this site that you aren't supposed to feed your birds. Is this a poultry grade supplement, or a people type thing? Personally, I wouldn't waste money on supplements unless it was for poultry. I'm not sure about the one you're describing- I use Broiler Booster from McMurray, and I'm happy with it.

 

[uhuh555]

Vitamins A and K have a lot to do with how the body uses calcium--in short they make your bones stronger. Vitamins K and B1 also helps with the metabolism of carbohydrates/proteins and maintaining proper energy levels for the body especially for the nervous system, brain and heart muscle. Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA) Klamath Lake Blue Green Algae is a very good product containing many trace nutrients that are very important for proper digestive health and increases the immune system.

Sound like you have a very good handle on proper nutrition for your birds.

 

[elainewarfield]

Thanks for the helpful replies! This is a great resource. Elaine