Is anyone else raising fall broilers? Our chicks came today: 8/18

[pichuris]

My last batch had some MEAN chickens in it! At 3 weeks there was a little guy in there that left a welt on my hand because he actually attacked me. It's the first time I've run into it, so I'm not sure it's usual. The roosters in that same batch were fighting each other BLOODY before we processed them at 6 weeks. We raised 12 dual-purpose roosters to 16 weeks and didn't have bloody fighting like that!!

Yeah, that's what these are doing to my hands. With my other chicks (not for meat birds) they would charge your hand but never actually peck me. Heck no these little guys are like "get her". Not cool. But they are not fighting with each other yet. I'm sure that is to come though.

They are outside for the first time today. Put them in the garden since the first freeze took good care of everything. I think I may have coddled them too much since it seems their feathers are slow to come in. So I turned off their heating lamp a week ago and that seemed to get things moving but now they are stagnant again. So today is a nice day with a little wind. Yes, its a bit chilly but I've been watching making sure they aren't getting too chilly and they seem to be doing well. I'll bring them back if it gets any more cold.

 

[pichuris]

Here are some of our 4-week-olds venturing outside today. They haven't been able to get out much because it's been rainy, windy, and COLD. Hopefully, they're going to be able to spend a lot more time outside from now on.

Holy Crow 4 weeks! Your guys are 3 times the size of my red broilers who are going to be 4 weeks on Thursday. Now to rethink things.

 

[TamTurkey]

5 week fatties!

 

[Pearce Pastures]

Look at those things! They are little chunks! I just ordered 50 more from Meyer today and they might be here tomorrow. Might need to start a Fall-Winter thread

 

[TamTurkey]

I get 50 more Mid December if you create a fall/winter page let me know I will be posting our progress weights and feed and photos on my own thread for these next ones.

 

[Pearce Pastures]

I have a whole bunch of yellow fuzzies in the barn! I will start a fall-winter broilers thread and would love to hear how other's cold weather projects turn out. I am really excited to try this again (hopefully with lower costs this time now that I have learned a little more).


Edited to add a new thread link for anyone interested.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/718691/winter-broiler-projects-share-your-progress

 

[SIMZ]

Congratulations on those little cuties!

 

[milleryardchx]

Odd question has anyone ever done a week by week weigh in on their meat birds? This is my first round of meat birds and they are 4 weeks old today and I grabbed up the smallest bird and weighted it today and she was at 1lb 7.5 onces is that on track for a good size bird by 8 to 10 weeks or are they behind?

 

[Pearce Pastures]

I was just reading a thread under the Meat Birds section in which a member was comparing the growth rates of her chicks on different feeds (crumbles versus fermented). That might help you since they were posting weights every week or so.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/672135/meatie-experiment-ff-vs-crumbles/80#post_9822159

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I processed my 5 biggest CX today, and one that was developing a leg problem. NO fat, none anywhere and hearts were small... I was shocked! I free range them from around 11am to 6pm currently. They are on all flock, not meatbird feed. I finish the rest Sunday. Will post pics then... and should be able to offer a taste report then as well! I am looking for a scale to post finished weights also. These guys went a lot longer than planned due to family member in the hospital.