I want to try broilers...need some advice

[sadies0111]

I am pretty new to the chicken world...I have 6 young layers in a small coop right now. I am interested in raising some meaties in the spring (probably cx). I saw some pics of coops for broilers, but need a little more info.
How many sq feet per bird in the coop
how many sq feet per bird outside
most of the pics that I saw were pretty much just fenced with hardware cloth, with an area of shelter (not an actual coop)...is this really ok?
Age that they can be outside in cool spring weather
How many lbs of food per bird to maturity

Thanks for the advice!

 

[bigredfeather]

Quote:
You can raise them in a coop w/ a run, but you'll find that it is much easier and cleaner to do them in a tractor (portable pen). Some have had luck getting their birds to go out and use the run, but others I have heard say they have a difficult time getting them to leave the feeder. Not sure what the sqft should be for a stationary coop, but sqft for a tractor is 1.5-2 sqft/bird.

They can be moved outside as soon as they are feathered, which is usually about 3 weeks. You will find that the quicker you reduce the heat in the brooder, the quicker they will feather.

I raise my broilers for 8 weeks, 5 of which is on the pasture, and I figure 16-18 pounds of feed/bird. If you don't do them on pasture, you may need to allow for an additional pound or 2 per bird.