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

[loanwizard]

Great question!

I lost 11 in one day due to my stupidity and the heat. I have around the farm several 2x4 covered by tin shelters that were originally for the hogs/goats. I think they were maybe 4x6 or thereabouts.
I moved the fence one day last month and forgot to move the shelters so they only had one. I might add that I have used fence stakes wire and tarp for extra shade, but failed to move it.
They piled on, not at night but to get out of the sun.

That day I built a Hoop House.... sort of.

I took 2 12 foot 2x4's and angled the end for the sled, then took 2 8 footers to frame it, braced the corners with 2x4's then hooped up 2 hog panels attached with fence staples. That job took 2 people unless you brace it against a building or maybe a t post....

I then mad an A out of 2x4 on one end for rigidity, then placed a large tarp over the top attached by zip ties, and a small tarp on one end which gives additional shade. That and one shelter gives plenty of shelter.

Keep in mind that my birds are outdoors mostly. A lot sleep outside by choice.

My plans for next year include another 160 feet and another hoop house to carry 200 birds although I may let them free range and close the fencing at night. I think that moving the fence weekly is too much work but will have to keep an eye on the dogs and loss.

Also know that using the fence, the birds only use the hoops as shelter, not as a tractor as there is no wire around the perimeter of the hoop house. The fence is a great predator deterrent.

Shawn

 

[SIMZ]

Got it.......your shelter doesn't have sides. That's a great idea about letting them sleep in open shelters (and probably even healthier!). Ours is covered in wire and has a door that closes at night. (I'm overprotective! LOL) It sounds like a great set-up to allow you raise quite a few at a time.

The electric fencing is wonderful, isn't it? We found a dead weasel right inside the fence a few months ago. The fence paid for itself that night!!

 

[kelpieschick]

Have you done the fermented feed before? It sounds so interesting but I'm somewhat scared to try it.

Hi there, yes, I did it with my last batch and had really good success with it. They were super healthy and active right up until processing day. They did not lie around the feeder all day, my guys loved to play and forage and would run to the fence whenever they saw me. They were very gentle birds and not smelly at all.

 

[SIMZ]

Hi there, yes, I did it with my last batch and had really good success with it. They were super healthy and active right up until processing day. They did not lie around the feeder all day, my guys loved to play and forage and would run to the fence whenever they saw me. They were very gentle birds and not smelly at all.

Did you find that they grew slower or was it about the same? Thanks!

 

[catnipchickens]

Great question!

.......That day I built a Hoop House.... sort of.

I took 2 12 foot 2x4's and angled the end for the sled, then took 2 8 footers to frame it, braced the corners with 2x4's then hooped up 2 hog panels attached with fence staples. That job took 2 people unless you brace it against a building or maybe a t post....

I then mad an A out of 2x4 on one end for rigidity, then placed a large tarp over the top attached by zip ties, and a small tarp on one end which gives additional shade. That and one shelter gives plenty of shelter.

Keep in mind that my birds are outdoors mostly. A lot sleep outside by choice.

My plans for next year include another 160 feet and another hoop house to carry 200 birds although I may let them free range and close the fencing at night. I think that moving the fence weekly is too much work but will have to keep an eye on the dogs and loss.

Also know that using the fence, the birds only use the hoops as shelter, not as a tractor as there is no wire around the perimeter of the hoop house. The fence is a great predator deterrent.

Shawn

Hi, do you have a picture of the shelter mentioned above? I'm interested in building a shelter without sides myself. I'm just a very visual person and can't "see" this. Thanks for your help.

 

[10ducks]

I'm getting my first 25 meaties on September 6. I've raised laying ducks and chickens and meat turkeys, but these are my first meat chickens. Standard Cornish Crosses. When they are old enough, I will be putting them in an 8X12 foot PVC tractor. When are Cornish X feathered out enough to be outside? (I mean outside with shelter from the wind and rain, and moved inside at night to a heated area.) Of course I know this will depend on the outdoor temps, which in autumn in SE Michigan can vary widely. Just need a general idea. Thanks!

 

[SIMZ]

I've let mine outside on days that are in sunny and in the 80's when they're still just days old. Maybe only for a little bit and I'll move them back if I hear loud peeping or see huddling. We're going to try to move ours to their outside shelter tomorrow (it doubles as a brooder when they're small) and I'll give them the choice to go out because it's going to be in the high 80s. Of course, I'll be keeping a close eye on them for huddling and peeping. If you want to be safe, you can wait until they have good feathering, which should be around 2 1/2 - 3 weeks.

I hope this helps!

 

[kelpieschick]

Did you find that they grew slower or was it about the same? Thanks!

It was my first time doing it so not sure how it would compare to free feeding the dry food. My lowest weight was 4.36 and my highest was 6.7 dressed. I think the average was 5.7 dressed. There were only a couple in the 4 range and the rest were larger. I know that others get birds in the 7 and 8lb ranges but I'm not sure if it compromises the health and happiness of the bird if they are carrying that much weight. This worked good for me and I'd even slow it down slightly more to get some lower weights as most people requested smaller birds next time.

 

[SIMZ]

Yesterday we processed our 10 roosters that we've been growing for meat. They were 16 weeks old, very loud, and had really been stepping up the fighting. It was definitely time, but it's still sad to not see "the boys" out in their pen. I haven't gotten actual weights on them yet, but a few of them looked like they had a good amount of meat on them (the cuckoo marans). We had 5 marans mixes, 2 Delawares (needed more time to grow!), 1 Orpington/RIR mix......... and 2 Mille Fleur d'Uccles.

We hated to butcher the bantams, but we've been trying to sell them and give them away for weeks.

Overall, the catching and processing went very well. I'm still not sure it's worth the hassle of raising them for so long in a separate area and putting up with the noise. The broilers are so much simpler to me, even though I really like the taste of a 4-5 month rooster. Next year I think we'll just raise a few of our cockerel hatchlings with a broody in the main coop.

 

[loanwizard]

Here are some pics as requested of my birds and set up.


Just to show that chicken poop makes grass grow.... fast. This was the last batch's pen spot.


These birds go to processing tomorrow night. 12 weeks on the nose.





Pictures of the hoop shelter.







A better picture of the results of nitrogen.