Difference in raising meat birds and laying hens???

[erinszoo]

We have 10 laying hens, 1 duck, 2 geese, and 1 turkey right now but we have ordered 15 CX for this fall. Is there anything we need to do different with the meat birds than with our layers? We've never had meat birds before so we're a little nervous. Any advice would be great.

 

[Avalon1984]

Hello Erin,

I understand there are feed restrictions for the CX. I believe you should only feed them every 12hrs so they don't eat themselves to death but I have not yet raised them. I feed my layers designated layer feed and my broilers get broiler feed

 

[myhubbycallsmechickeemama]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=436974

Best tread ever!!

 

[mcf3kids]

Quote:
x2 - will help a lot - good luck!! We bit the bullet and are 2 weeks into our meaties!

 

[Denninmi]

Well, I'm on week 4 1/2 of my first adventure into raising cornish cross meaties. Really, nothing fundamentally different -- the main thing I find is that they are super glutinous, so be prepared to keep the feeder full and be prepared for a mad rush when you bring them food in the AM after restricting them at night.

But basically, chickens are chickens. They just grow a lot faster, eat a lot more, and poo a lot more.

 

[trulyblessed]

Yes, I ditto above. The main difference is the amount of food, poop, and smell. The meaties are little machines

 

[erinszoo]

Thanks for the info all. Not sure about the increase in poop however it probably won't be any worse than my geese. Looking forward to taking the plunge!

 

[booker81]

Their food (and water!) consumption seems to be exponential - in the beginning, they are cute and fuzzy and seem to eat and poo a bit more, but man, at the end, I felt I was running a losing race to keep them fed and watered. I had a 15lb feeder and a 3 gallon waterer that I filled twice a day at the end. I almost swear that last week (I processed at 7 weeks) they doubled their feed consumption from the previous week.

On the other side, that same 15lb feeder keeps my layers (which numbered 2 more than the number of meaties), fed for a week+. They have a pool in the summer that keeps them watered, and a 5 gallon bucket that I have to dump each week in the winter to make sure they have fresh - they don't drink near as much -maybe a gallon a day. MUCH cleaner too.

I still think I'll do another batch of meaties this fall - the results were worth it to us. I had all roosters and I admit they did make me laugh when they would puff up and try to attack me....and then lay down from the effort.

 

[LilyD]

Quote:
Cornish cross can't have food 24/7 only every 12 hours. They will eat themselve to death. They also don't forage well like egg layers. They would rather lay down to eat the grain than work for their food. They poop more so need more cleaning and they tend to drink more as well so I check their water like 4 times a day even though we have 4 waterers with them. Other than that they are okay but their mind revolves around food and they tend to not think of much else lol.