First Time Raising Meat Birds Advice

[jessicayarno]

Definitely lots of bedding, as they got older i had to put new bedding in 2x a day, they poop ALOT... 20lbs of feed seems pretty high.. I keep track of every bag of feed that I buy and mine only went through 500lbs of feed for 35 birds, which averages out to be around 15lbs of feed per bird. I fed my birds 24/7 and once i put them outside i put their feeders away from the coop, so they didn't sit and eat all night. I have heard pros and cons of both 24/7 feeding and 12 on and 12 off and honestly I think that when you take the food away for 12hours these little guys are starving by the time you bring their food and will just gorge themselves (jmo)...

 

[FarmTillURdead]

I have never used medicated feed on my chicks. I do give them keifer made in raw milk to get a probiotic in them instead of an antibiotic. I make it with our goat milk it can also be made with raw cow milk. Keeping the brooder area cleaned daily and changing the water at least twice a day has kept me from having any issues.
I have had cancer and REFUSE to use medicine on a bird I plan on consuming. I use iodine on injuries and that's it. I also choose not to raise birds that were bred to have unnatural body parts. But that's my reasoning and I respect everyone elses reasons.
I have only lost 3 chicks in my years and it was due to them not eating. Some are born a little "slow".
Turkeys on the other hand and very difficult to raise medicine free. I do. But I have loss.
When stools get loose I use a strong organic green tea in the waterer for a day or two. It clears it up.
Occasionally, I will use Apple Cider Vinegar. Just enough to color the water for a day.
I pasture raise my birds. I don't use any bedding in the summer time. They leave the coop and the droppings dry out and I scrape them up with an ice scraper. (Nice clean garden fertilizer).
In the winter time I use straw or hay. Just enough to insulate the ground. They pick through it and eat the seeds... I save the last few batches of straw they pick through to mulch in my garden so I already have the weed seeds picked out.
I plant lots of extra garden foods to cut down on bag feed. (organic is not available here).
Chickens do get worms. I use an herbal wormer every few months... and I cook them well before consuming.
Hope you get something helpful out of this. I know everyone has their own way. This just fits me and my needs. Bless your chicken adventures! They are fun to raise, squeeze, hug and eat!!!