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

[SIMZ]

Isn't it fun watching them loving life? lol They're fun to watch running around and playing in the dirt.

Do you have lights in your shelter or is it dark at night? We leave the food in at night because it's dark and they won't be eating. I fill the feeders in the morning and then again in the evening to get them back into the shelter. If they have light and would eat all night then now would be a good time to take the food out at night - or at least let it run out.

 

[Sandrachx]

good point; it's pitch dark at night so they won't be eating. i go down around 8am and start my morning chores, opening coops, pens, and pasture areas. that's also when i check their feed/water. they will go in by themselves if it's getting dark, but i like to take care of business while there is a little light since i have to put away turkeys, barn kittens, ranging layers, and a couple of ducks (peas make great bribes for the ducks!). we have our birds at the bottom of the hill, and i like to see where i'm walking on the return up the hill!

 

[RuChicken]

I am going to getting some meat birds soon. Looks like it will be closer to middle of October before I can get my hands on them though. The hatcher said that he only does special orders...... I was wanting to find a place local to get them, I am in Georgia, Does anyone know where I can get some from around here?

 

[SIMZ]

I don't know......... hopefully someone can help you out!

 

[finnfur]

My Ideal black broilers ship date 8/29 - 26 arrived and several appeared to have walking problems. They didn't appear to be getting over the problem after 2 weeks and started Sav a chick in the water but I had already lost three and put one down . Some just started gasping and died. Lost another yesterday. The rest except a runt now appear to be doing alright . The runt is hobbling to water and feed, but feet turned and
walks on the side of them. One that we dubbed 'Big Bird" is almost 150% the size of the next largest and six times bigger than runt. Seems like I am losing more than normal but don't know what the problem is.
These were the $.90 Black Broilers from Ideal - has anyone else had problems.

 

[Frizzle13]

I bred some purebred Orpington table birds they sold really well I think it was the novelty factor. And they tasted great. Will raise some more soon ready for Christmas. I breed them from my own stock.

 

[SIMZ]

I bred some purebred Orpington table birds they sold really well I think it was the novelty factor. And they tasted great. Will raise some more soon ready for Christmas. I breed them from my own stock.

At what age do you butcher them?

 

[Frizzle13]

I do them by looks normally not sure how old they are when I butcher them

 

[catnipchickens]

My Ideal black broilers ship date 8/29 - 26 arrived and several appeared to have walking problems. They didn't appear to be getting over the problem after 2 weeks and started Sav a chick in the water but I had already lost three and put one down . Some just started gasping and died. Lost another yesterday. The rest except a runt now appear to be doing alright . The runt is hobbling to water and feed, but feet turned and walks on the side of them. One that we dubbed 'Big Bird" is almost 150% the size of the next largest and six times bigger than runt. Seems like I am losing more than normal but don't know what the problem is.
These were the $.90 Black Broilers from Ideal - has anyone else had problems.

Hi, sorry to hear of the problems you've had with your bunch. I had 28 arrive on 8/29 and one was a 'runt,' half the size of the others and even now, 3.5 weeks later, it doesn't seem to have grown to the size of the smallest of the others. It also has this bubble of skin between its neck and right shoulder, like an air pocket, and it acts 'off' from the others although it is friendlier. Not sure if this one will make it to the 7-9 week mark. Hope it gets better for you from here on out.

For space reasons I had to sell 22, so I now have 6 (including the runt), 5 of which are outside. I'm not sure if I'd do broilers again, since they tend to be flighty, but I guess its understandable since I'd be flighty too if I was in their position. Its definitely been a learning experience though, in regards to their feed, protein needs, etc.

 

[pichuris]

My red broilers from Ideal will arrive on Friday. I just started fermenting feed (3 days) with noticeable difference with my layer chicks already. 50% less water consumption they did get a little diarhea i think from the change but now they appears to poo less and not as stinky. So Ill be doing this with my meaties. Never done the meaties before so I will be documenting pretty closely. Feed has gone up 5 dollars a bag since beginning of spring due to the drought in colorado so looking for any ideas on how to get more bang for my buck.