Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Beekissed]

Lately the day time is from 90-100. Night time is from 75-80. They go out on the cooler side of the day and have half shade and half sun so they have a choice. If the temps are good with low wind I will let them outside several times a day. At night they are inside as I have no way to control the outside temp then. It was 96 when the ill ones wanted to stand as close to the heat lamp as possible. I thought that was strange. When the temps get a little warm I look for signs of laying in the shade and their breathing to see if they need to come inside. Right now they have an 8'X8' (non stop it seems it needs to be moved) run and within the next couple of days they will be moving to the big run. When they come out of the brooder I plan to let them free range with my flock.

With temps like that, I don't know that I'd be using a heat lamp at all...maybe you could try it a little and just observe their behavior. Was thinking maybe the hot temps of the heat lamp coupled with the heat from the lamp might have contributed...or not...just spit ballin' here.

It is strange that they wanted to stay close to a heat lamp in those kind of ambient temps...my meat chickens would have died outright if I had provided heat with ambient temps at 75...I took away their heat lamp at temps of 50-60 and let them provide their own heat for each other.

But, yours are just a few days old, aren't they? Could be they still need a little warmth?

 

[RoseMarie1]

Anyone know what kind this is? The fatness is a couple of my chicks.

oh man I'm sorry it got your chicks!

 

[RoseMarie1]

Well I mixed in some of the sulfur into the soil in the run area that still has the dirt so they can dust themselves in it just to be on the safe side. I also put some more on their roost as well just as a precaution since they are free ranging.

 

[foreverlearning]

With temps like that, I don't know that I'd be using a heat lamp at all...maybe you could try it a little and just observe their behavior. Was thinking maybe the hot temps of the heat lamp coupled with the heat from the lamp might have contributed...or not...just spit ballin' here.

It is strange that they wanted to stay close to a heat lamp in those kind of ambient temps...my meat chickens would have died outright if I had provided heat with ambient temps at 75...I took away their heat lamp at temps of 50-60 and let them provide their own heat for each other.

But, yours are just a few days old, aren't they? Could be they still need a little warmth?

Until today I didn't have a heat lamp outside because I thought it was warm enough. After seeing the one drained last night needing extra heat I put it out there in case the others that I drained today needed it. I only had a few that needed draining today so I placed the heat lamp facing 1 shaded corner. It covers about 1 square foot. The healthy chicks want nothing to do with it out there. Its strange to me that they need that much heat, but if that is what they need to help heal then they get the option.

 

[Beekissed]

Yep...I'm wondering if these birds are carrying a temp, so they might be feeling a chill? If so, this is an inflammatory condition, perhaps. You might never know...but it sure is a curious thing, isn't it?

 

[maryhysong]

If its hot where you live, they will drink lots of water to stay cool and also practically HOSE the ground with their droppings! It's gross but its normal. It's a cooling method.

SULFUR? I have never heard of using sulfur for dusting. I would be way too concerned about them breathing it in. Also, they rake the ground with their beaks to loosen it for dusting so they would likely be ingesting it too. There are safer things to use.

I think sulfur is a lot safer than some of the chemical stuff out there, it is after all a naturally ocurring element and is part of the make up of proteins in the body. It also works a whole lot better than DE and that is also stuff you don't want to breath in .

 

[foreverlearning]

Yep...I'm wondering if these birds are carrying a temp, so they might be feeling a chill? If so, this is an inflammatory condition, perhaps. You might never know...but it sure is a curious thing, isn't it?

After the week I am having, I just have to thank the good lord that they are still alive.

 

[Beekissed]

After the week I am having, I just have to thank the good lord that they are still alive.

Yep! I'm wondering what kind of meat bird those are...never saw a black meat breed before. Is this something new on the meat bird scene?

 

[foreverlearning]

Yep! I'm wondering what kind of meat bird those are...never saw a black meat breed before. Is this something new on the meat bird scene?

This is what the website had:
Black Broilers

Black Broilers are efficient producers of broiler meat for those who do not wish to have white plumage broilers. When broiler rations are fed, producers can expect to have six pound broilers in seven weeks or less. Since Black Broilers are more active than Cornish Rocks and grow slightly slower, they rarely experience leg weakness or Ascite, which is fluid in the body cavity. Black Broiler hens are not a good choice for efficient production of brown eggs.

They had a special on the blacks when I bought them. I wanted something a little slower growing than cornish to avoid the health problems.
These are the other two that they sell:
Cornish Rocks

Cornish Rocks are fast growing broiler crosses that are efficient producers of broiler meat. When broiler rations are fed, producers can expect a six pound broiler in six weeks or less. When growth rate exceeds genetic potential, Ascite, fluid in the body cavity, and/or leg weakness may result and it may be necessary to restrict the feed to slow down the growth rate. "Cornish Rock Hens" are Cornish Rock females fed a high energy - high fat ration and processed when they are 4 to 5 weeks of age.

Red Broilers

Red Broilers are efficient producers of broiler meat for those who do not wish to have white plumage broilers. When broiler rations are fed, producers can expect to have six pound broilers in seven weeks or less. Since Red Broilers are more active than Cornish Rocks and grow slightly slower, they rarely experience leg weakness or Ascite, which is fluid in the body cavity. Red Broiler hens are not a good choice for efficient production of brown eggs.

All are from Ideal Poultry.

 

[Beekissed]

Huh! Never knew they had a choice out there as to the colors, other than the red ones. Wonder what breed genetics went into all that. Their statement about not developing ascites is a little ironic, though....I sure hope that is the end to all that and you turn out a fine crop of meat birds when all is said and done! You'll have to report back to us with the finished product and let us know if their health held out.