Cornish X Questions...

[rjohns39]

Well shoot, I definitely don't have enough space to move them every couple of days. I have one 8'x15' space, and one 12'x20' space. Definitely don't want poop buildup, but if I throw in enough straw or mulch, won't that combat the manure? Maybe I should start out small, around 10, and see how it goes in my yard I know it sounds like a stretch to raise meat birds in such a small space but I'd really love to; we'd love to buy a larger property, but not until we are able to move out of California.

I thought rabbits might be better for our situation, but I'm just so comfortable with chickens.

We DO have hawks, I forgot about them. I have a lot of tree cover in my chicken run and my hens have been fine. But they will often land on the fence and stare at my chickensj.

Give me a few minutes to do some math.

 

[rjohns39]

Just to be clear, they don't have to be in shade. Do you have any more space hiding about?

 

[Parront]

I belong to an association that does this professionally. I'm just starting out... My first teacher runs 19,999 per year, most of the group I work with on the other side run between 3000 and 5000. Typical layer flock is 600, with at least 3 or four flocks. They also do beef, pork and turkeys.

35-40 sounds like enough for me!

 

[jennifer0224]

Not really We've squeezed in a permanent 15x30' chicken run, a garden, and a swimming pool. We can't move anything

 

[rjohns39]

How big do you want them to be?

 

[Parront]

Not really We've squeezed in a permanent 15x30' chicken run, a garden, and a swimming pool. We can't move anything

Maybe some parts of the garden are finished? 8x8 isn't very big . . .

 

[rjohns39]

Ok, here's a tactic that I think will work. We do everything in uniform numbers cause its easier. But things are not uniform. A four week old won't eat or poop as much as a 7 week old. Build yourself a 4X4 shelter (4-8' PT 2X4s, 2-8' 2X2 and material to make the doors, generally 1X3 or 1X4). I would use 1/2" welded wire 2' tall around all four sides, and on the entire top including doors. You'll also want a tarp for one door and the back half. Start your shelter on the 8x15 side. Give them 2 days per spot as long as the ground doesn't become poop capped. If it does, move them to the next spot. Basic math says 1.5 days per spot--but I'm trying to buy you time for when you really need it. You'll be a foot short on the sixth day and the 12th day, but should be ok. Then move them to the 12X20 space, that's 5 rows of 3, leave them a day and a half or a little longer (judgement, but you'll see what I'm talking about) until that is too long then start moving them daily. Manage your grass. Don't worry about the poop cap as with your weather you should see grass back in six weeks or so. Tell me how big you want the birds, ie 6 pounds and I'll tell you how much feed you'll need for 10 birds.

 

[jennifer0224]

I'll try it! The shelters seem easy enough to build, think I can use plastic netting instead of the more expensive hardware cloth? I probably have enough scrap lumber to build the rest of it. My garden is done for the Summer but I'll be planting again in a couple of weeks for a Winter garden (the one upside to living in CA I guess?). I do have a slope of fruit trees in the back of the yard and I wonder if I can rig something up to allow them up there to buy me a few extra days to allow everything to grow back.

I don't know how big I'd like them, but what is more important to me is the length of grow out time. I'd rather only go 6 weeks and have a slightly smaller bird than go 10 weeks for a fuller size. Mainly because of the neighbors...

 

[rjohns39]

Well, the plan I laid out for you is a total of 8 weeks, 3 in the brooder and 5 on the grass. If you want them at 6 pounds or 60 pounds of chicken, then I'd probably get 200 pounds of feed (about $80 for good organic broiler), if you need help finding it I can tell you how in a pm. I'd be concerned about plastic wire as ground predators will go through it. Chicken wire might be a good compromise. Also, when you build it I'd make sure the uprights are a 1/2" from the bottom of your bottom 2/4. If not they tend to dig in when your moving the shelter.

 

[jennifer0224]

Thanks rjohns I will call our feed store to find out if they are able to order. When I have an idea on when we will be starting this I will PM you to find out where to buy feed if that's okay. Both our organic layer and organic starter that we buy at Costco and Tractor Supply are $20 for 40 lbs and I think that would be more like $100.