Dual Purpose Chickens - finisher food?

[DexterDog]

Hello,

I hope you are all well.

I have so far only been reading a lot in here but today I thought, I have my own question for you all.

We have decided to start using our chickens not just as egg layers anymore and would like to produce our own meat.

I know, broilers tend to be fed finisher food and I was wondering if that would have any benefit to "the chosen ones" of our dual purpose flock? Bear in mind, they will be older than the typical broiler when culled.

Thank you,
Anika

 

[Parront]

I do not feed a special "finish" food. All Flock is what mine get.

 

[3KillerBs]

I have heard of people finishing birds on corn, but I have no solid information on it.

 

[Parront]

I have heard of people finishing birds on corn, but I have no solid information on it.

Maybe extra corn/scratch the last couple of weeks if they were separated from the rest, the "chosen ones"
Mine are in with the rest of the growing birds so they get the same food.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Hi Anika, welcome to the forum. Glad you joined.

Mine also are in with the others so they all get the same thing, Grower (oyster shell on the side for laying hens), forage. kitchen scraps, and garden scraps and excess. I start thinning out the boys at 16 weeks and try to finish off the last ones at 23 weeks.

There are people on here that separate them their entire life, feeding them special. If they get a higher protein feed they grow faster and wind up bigger. Mine don't get as big as they could if I fed them differently.

I've seen a few people on here talk about doing what you are talking about, which is some finisher the last couple of weeks. I can't remember who, what they did, or what benefits they saw. The age you butcher may have an effect. I could see upping the protein content to increase size if they are still in a rapid growth phase, maybe confine them so they don't get as much exercise, or a heavy corn diet to add fat like corn-fed beef.

I know, not much help. But you chose a good title for the thread, it should attract the people you want. Welcome to this side of the chicken adventure, good luck, and once again

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

I feed our excess dual-purpose pastured roosters fermented 21% protein starter plus scratch to add a bit of fat (who doesn't like schmaltz?). Not all of them add an appreciable fat layer, but I think it's worth it for the ones that do. Best of luck!