Just placed my order for 5 layers and 7 meat birds from Ideal.

[tomsgonefishin]

Hi,
I know it seems like an odd number of birds but I wanted to add 5 layers to my flock. In addition, I went ahead and ordered 7 cornish X birds to round out an even dozen.
I can handle the layer chicks ok, but I've never experienced raising meat birds. I am cautiously excited and the chicks are set to ship from Ideal on Feb 6th.
Since it is cold here in Raleigh, NC, I plan to keep the chicks inside for around 4 weeks. Question: Is that even going to be feasable for the meat birds?? As fast as they grow, and as much as they poop, from what I read, is it reasonable to think I can keep the meat birds in the house in a brooder for 4 weeks?
I plan to set up a brooder with a heat lamp or a hoover (homebuilt) outside to see if I can keep the temp warm enough for them. I got so fired up I placed my order possibly a little too early instead of waiting until Spring like most seem to do.
Oh well, here goes nothing!!! I plan to document the entire project because my kids are homeschooled and this will be a great project and experience for them. My two boys are excited about the meats but my daughter is not so thrilled. My kids do love our layer hens and are looking forward to expanding our layer flock. We just ordered 5 layers ( 1 Americauna, 2 Gold Sex links, 1 Delaware, and 1 Australorp). This will add to our 3 cuckoo marans and 2 production reds.

thanks in advance for any suggestions on the meat birds and the cold weather. If I can house them inside (living room brooder) for 4 weeks it will be March when they go out. Not sure if that would be possible.
Tom

 

[snugglepup]

I doubt it. By 4 wks they will be HUGE... and tasty! I'm thinking my birds by 4 wks are weighing like 3-4lbs each. And producing about that much daily poop!

Do you have a garage or something? Maybe you could keep them out during the day, and bring them in at night? It's pretty freaking cold (for me) this week! Although, who knows... it could be 70 again in a week or two!

 

[tomsgonefishin]

I do have a 12x20 workshop that I could setup with a brooder area. I need to figure out if a 250 watt heat bulb can keep a brooder warm enough. I hear ya on the cold, it really cooled off this past week. I'm hoping for some reasonable weather.
I just start planning that they'll need to be out of the house. Maybe I can set up a heater....

Cool, you are in Creedmoor.. just up the road!

Thanks
Tom

 

[silkiechicken]

Yeah, put them outside... at 4 weeks, they will be as big as your layers will be at 2-3 months... if not bigger. I personally find though, keeping layers with meaties, the meaties calm the layers down. However, since meaties poo so much, might want to cuddle your layers inside, and put the meaties outside.

 

[tomsgonefishin]

Well, my chicks have been shipped today and I'm pretty nervous.


I have everything ready go. I didn't buy quick chick but I have some V&E.
Can I use V&E for chicks, maybe diluted a bit more than normal. I was thinking about adding it to the meat birds waterer the entire time to avoid leg problems.