Keeping Colored Imperials

[welewis]

I have 4 colored imperial chicks (1.5 week old). My daughter and I did an egg hatching at home project and we stupidly decided to keep 4. I did not know they were imperials until after we decided to keep them! And I have no idea how many will be roos- cross that bridge when I get there.

Question- Has anyone ever raised AND kept an imperial as a "pet" chicken? Do they get TOO big? Will they fall over from a heart attack? I think I got myself into a situation...

Need advice!

 

[pozees2]

I had never heard of these, looked up and first hit was Moyer’s hatchery, they say they grow more slowly than most meat birds but didn’t give any indication of longevity if not processed. Maybe someone who’s had them will chime in.

 

[jolenesdad]

I have!

they’ll be fine. See if you can find an all-flock feed that is around 18% protein. They’ll free range on their own.

you’ll be able to tell the males by the growth of the comb around 4 weeks. Maybe earlier. The males will also grow a little faster.

I have several that I have held onto from batches of meat birds. They free range just as vigorously as the rest of my flock, and act like real chickens. They need access to a lower roost because they do get big. Not unmanageable or uncomfortable big. They lay very reliably.

they will benefit with bi-weekly supplementation of Poultry Cell or something similar with B vitamins in it, until they are 6 weeks old.

 

[jolenesdad]

Do you have other chickens?