feed schedule concerns - freaking me out!

[vtgirls]

I posted this as an add on to another members thread, however to be fair I am starting a new one. Here's the story:



I am looking at a feed schedule (light restriction or 12 on/12 off is not my plan - these pullets must make it to 12 weeks) however there is major disparrity between storey guide and welp hatchery guide.

The mantra to follow from the storey guide is minimum amount of food required per 100 meaties is double their age per day--(100 meaties at 4 weeks should eat no less than 8 lbs /day)

Using these numbers I get a schedule sort of like this:

*each per day total to be split between two feedings...

Week 1 2x1 is 2lb x 26 (chickens) = .052lbs per day 3.64
Week 2 2x2 is 4lb, x.26 (chickens) = 1.04lbs per day 7.28
Week 3 2x3 is 6lb x .26 (chickens) = 1.56lbs per day 10.92
Week 4 2x4 is 8lb x .26 (chickens) = 2.08lbs per day 14.56
Week 5 2x5 is 10lb x 26 (chickens) = 2.6lbs per day 18.2
Week 6 2x6 is 12lb x 26 (chickens) = 3.12lbs per day 21.84
Week 7 2x7 is 14lb x 26 (chickens) = 3.64lbs per day 25.48
Week 8 2x8 is 16lb x 26 (chickens) = 4.16lbs per day 29.12
Week 9 2x9 is 18lb x 26(chickens) = 4.68lbs per day 32.76
Week 10 2x10 is 20lb x 26 chickens = 5.2lbs per day 36.4
Week 11 2x11 is 22lb x 26 (chickens) = 5.72lbs per day 40.04
Week 12 2x12 -s 24lb x 26 (chickens) = 6.24lbs per day 43.68
total feed 285 pounds (approximating)



Welp feed schedule – pounds per pullet for 26 birds (they have a chart on their website)

Daily Weekly

Week 1 .075 daily 1.95 (13.65)
Week 2 .128 daily 3.328 (23.296)
Week 3 .208 daily 5.408 (37.856)
Week 4 .289 daily 7.514 (52.598)
Week 5 .366 daily 9.516 (66.612)
Week 6 .423 daily 10.998 (76.986)
Week 7 .465 daily 12.09 (84.63)
Week 8 .489 daily 12.714 (88.998)
Week 9 .499 daily 12.974 (90.818)
Week 10 .505 daily 13.13 (91.91)
Week 11 .510 daily 13.26 (92.82)
Week 12 .512 daily 13.31 (93.17)

Total 814 pounds

This batch of 26 pullet cornish x are to be slaughtered at just shy of 12 weeks, along with a 7 week old batch (15 of theam) who have the same slaughter date. The original plan was some large birds, planning to section most of them up and some smaller, for rotisserie, etc.

PLEASE HELP _ I am looking at a difference of 500 POUNDS of feed between these two schedules. PLEASE> PLEASE ADVISE QUICKLY! The first batch is 17 days old now, and eating 3 lbs a day, split into two feedings - less than welp but WAY more than storey??!!??

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[bigredfeather]

Welp's chart is similar to the one I use, just a bit higher. You would have some hungry birds if you used the storey guide's chart. I have not been too impressed with their books. The goat one has a lot of misinformation in it afaic.

 

[vtgirls]

OK - breathe. I am going to stick with the Welp schedule and see how it goes for them.

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

the difference is that the welp guide was written by people who have chickens.

 

[sonew123]

Quote:

Katy!!!

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

HI sweetie pie!!!!!

when is the chicken stock???? I'M COMING!!!! But next year you must come to IDAHO

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
YOU ARE NOT!!!???? GET OUT!!!??? SERIOUSLY--THIS IS NOT A FUNNY JOKE SISTAH!!! If you have a chickenstock at your house in Idaho-I will come!

June 25th Sat!

 

[Brunty_Farms]

I wouldn't worry so much about feeding them exact amounts. The way I see it, they eat what they eat. The easiest schedule to get on, especially if you're not concerned about hitting exact weights at exact times is to feed them 24/7 for the first 3 weeks and then keep feeders full ALL DAY. Sun up till' sun down.... takes the guess work out. When the sun goes down, they should be sleeping. If they are inside with heat, take the feeders away.

Figure on 16 pounds per bird... and forget the charts as those are for confinement commercial broilers. Unless you have a heated building for when it's hot and huge fans to keep them cool.... keep the charts just for a guideline. Birds raised on pasture eat more than the ones in confinement, especially when the weather isn't perfect.

So for 100 birds figure 1600 pounds of feed. That will give you about an 8 pound chicken live weight and after processing you should get around a 4 - 6 pound bird.

Katy... are you driving? If so, you will be going right through... should make a pit stop. I'm just south of Cleveland, maybe 15 minutes at most.

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

we have friends in Ohio with a plane . . .

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

June 25th really????