Got my first meat birds!!! (PIC heavy!!!)

[stuckinthecity]

Your first chickens AND first meat birds? Good luck not getting too attached. These little buggers will grow on ya! lol Welcome to chicken ownership!

 

[hydroswiftrob]

Brought the chicken in for his 4 week old birthday pic in the usual spot on the counter with my wife holding it. Went to take the pic and he pooped. It grossed my wife out and she screamed, then he pooped again. Needless to say I think he made his last trip inside until he is in the freezer.

. The previous pics will have to do for this week.

 

[honeynajar]

You waited and watched to see who hadn't pooped in awhile didn't you???? LOL
We get our first ever meat chicks next Wednesday.... so we've been watching these posts and looked forward to your pic.... Guess we'll be seeing an update pic next week... outside? LOL

 

[hydroswiftrob]

Week 5 and it seems like they are growing like weeds again. Between week 3 and 4 I didn't see much change, but it could have been from the adjustment to being outside. I have also upped the protein another 2%. They are getting to big to one hand hold and take pics and my wife is done holding them, so I am stuck with me holding and her taking the pics.


The layers in this pic are the same age as the meaties. Big difference in size and weight.

 

[xC0000005]

Neat - mine seem to have caught up for the most part except that they are still very bald. Those look like some fine birds. What is their target departure date?

 

[hydroswiftrob]

Neat - mine seem to have caught up for the most part except that they are still very bald. Those look like some fine birds. What is their target departure date?

Are you keeping pics on a post? I would be interested in comparing the differences.

 

[Dingo]

I have one ginormous cornish x. He's pushing 5lbs if he hasn't reached it already and he's only 4.5 weeks old. The others(3) are about the same size as yours were at 4 weeks. Mine are bald on their bellies, but they spend a lot of time laying down. Mine were supposed to be done on Friday but it's been delayed til the 22nd.

 

[hydroswiftrob]

I have one ginormous cornish x. He's pushing 5lbs if he hasn't reached it already and he's only 4.5 weeks old. The others(3) are about the same size as yours were at 4 weeks. Mine are bald on their bellies, but they spend a lot of time laying down. Mine were supposed to be done on Friday but it's been delayed til the 22nd.

Why the delay? I am anxious to do mine, but I am also wanting a 7-8lb bird.

I will say that mine are pretty active birds. They do spend time on their bellies, but I think my layers in the coop with them keep them on their toes. The food and water is also 10+ ft apart from each other, so they have to move. When I come out at night to check on them, a few of them are always asleep with their head in the feed trough. lol

 

[hydroswiftrob]

Decided to get 27 more today. I know, I am crazy. I had a random person stop by my work today, he had heard through the grapevine I was raising meaties and wanted to buy some. When I told him the price I would have to get it did not scare him off one bit. I wanted to keep all of the ones I am currently raising, so there was my excuse to buy more. Atleast that is what I told my wife.

 

[23Matt23]

One of my birds was also panting the first few days. I was worried also. But they are about a week old now and there has been no more panting. I'm not sure what was the matter with the chick but it seems to have got over it.