Keeping Cornish x clean

[WalkingOnSunshine]

I guess to me, the point of raising my own meat is to have it raised better than Foster Farms does. An 8 week old meatie, just sitting still, takes up at least a square foot right there.
My Cornish cross have been free ranged and you'd be surprised how much they'll move around, given the chance. Granted, not as much as my active layers, but how much can you expect them to move when each bird only has that much space? Your birds physically CAN'T move around.

I wholeheartedly agree. Mine are pastured (when they free range, they get eaten by predators) and they mock-fight and waddle around and try to catch bugs. Then they have to stop and rest, but they still move and are chickens. If I couldn't let them out to play every day, I wouldn't raise them. I don't really enjoy them and their huge amounts of poo, but for us part of the point is that our meat had a chance to be a chicken while it was still alive.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

THEY HAVE NO interest in moving unless it is to get food or water

You don't actually know this, since yours stay in the tractor. Mine stay in a tractor for four weeks, then go out to pasture. They don't move in the tractor. Once they are let out, they do move about. Watching a meatie waddle after a butterfly is perhaps the funniest thing I've ever seen.

Granted, they don't go too far from the food. But when they're in the tractor, they do absolutely nothing but sit next to the food dishes. When given space to roam, they do move away.

 

[Mikedero]

You don't actually know this, since yours stay in the tractor. Mine stay in a tractor for four weeks, then go out to pasture. They don't move in the tractor. Once they are let out, they do move about. Watching a meatie waddle after a butterfly is perhaps the funniest thing I've ever seen.

Granted, they don't go too far from the food. But when they're in the tractor, they do absolutely nothing but sit next to the food dishes. When given space to roam, they do move away.

Actually I do as per chance when you assume something you know what that makes you right?? this is not my first go around with them and my last house I owned I did this and lost half I repeat half my flock and not just once but 5-6 times. Look at 90% of the others on this site that raise them in tractors.
I personally don’t care what you do. if you like it that is fine that is your right to do and like what you do. BUT to tell others your way is better than everyone else’s well then your preaching.
But facts are facts they DONT need that much space. NOW if you WANT to give more than that is up to each owner. I have no desire to sit and watch my FOOD play around. I do not spend time with them I do not play with them. I feed them, water them and make sure they are safe and healthy that is it.
Each person has their own reasons why to raise meat birds, my reason is different than yours I want cheaper food plain and simple. I worked on many different farms from Veal to Chickens. It does not bother me how things are raised. They are FOOD nothing more not pets. I have worked butcher plants out west I know what goes on in those places and I trust myself more than others.
Back to the subject at hand to the OP please look the this section you will see that others like myself and you keep meaties in chicken tractors with the 2-3 sq foot is enough to raise them. There are others that insist that their way is better than everyone else’s and some are and some are not.

 

[bestponymilo]

Uhh..okay..

I was just going to pop in and suggest more space for them as well. My 5 Cornish are 7 weeks and in a large area sectioned off from the main pen--it's probably about 4x5' with a 3x4' attached house. They're very clean, move around quite a bit and I rake out their living quarters once a week and give them fresh bedding. They share the space with 5 Red Rangers, but the Rangers hop out of the fence and forage with the egg layers.

I'm not looking for cheap food though, just avoiding the factory farms.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Actually I do as per chance when you assume something you know what that makes you right?? this is not my first go around with them and my last house I owned I did this and lost half I repeat half my flock and not just once but 5-6 times. Look at 90% of the others on this site that raise them in tractors.
I personally don’t care what you do. if you like it that is fine that is your right to do and like what you do. BUT to tell others your way is better than everyone else’s well then your preaching.
But facts are facts they DONT need that much space. NOW if you WANT to give more than that is up to each owner. I have no desire to sit and watch my FOOD play around. I do not spend time with them I do not play with them. I feed them, water them and make sure they are safe and healthy that is it.
Each person has their own reasons why to raise meat birds, my reason is different than yours I want cheaper food plain and simple. I worked on many different farms from Veal to Chickens. It does not bother me how things are raised. They are FOOD nothing more not pets. I have worked butcher plants out west I know what goes on in those places and I trust myself more than others.
Back to the subject at hand to the OP please look the this section you will see that others like myself and you keep meaties in chicken tractors with the 2-3 sq foot is enough to raise them. There are others that insist that their way is better than everyone else’s and some are and some are not.

Wow. That's quite a rant, and what a lovely use capitalization. Above, you seemed very vehement and ALL-CAPS-y that no meat chicken will move from their food, and that is simply not true no matter how many times you want to state it.

 

[Mikedero]

I am not stating they never move for food but they would rather just sit there and eat. My statement is just stating that you and others that share the whole 4sq ft rule that they need a ton of space when that is just not true

and in response
was just going to pop in and suggest more space for them as well. My 5 Cornish are 7 weeks and in a large area sectioned off from the main pen--it's probably about 4x5' 20sq feet with a 3x4' cornish do not need a coop attached house. They're very clean, move around quite a bit and I rake out their living quarters once a week and give them fresh bedding. They share the space with 5 Red Rangers, but the Rangers hop out of the fence and forage with the egg layers. in total 10 birds in 20sq feet = 2 feet per bird

 

[bestponymilo]

It's really 5 birds in the run, the Rangers don't stay in there except when everyone is locked up into the coop at night. Yes, I need them cooped--too much predator activity at night and my fences won't keep them out

BTW--if they were sitting in their own poo, I'd increase their space, so far they're fine. They aren't super huge at this point, I prefer slow growth over a quick meal.

BTW, again, 7x9' total space (they have full access to the run and the coop during the day) is 63sf or 6.3 per bird, should they actually all be in there. But since it's only the Cornish in there most of the time, it's really double that.

(sorry so scattered, still not off the first cup of coffee!)

 

[carolinagirl58]

I may try mine in an electronet. I can set it up in the pasture so my dogs can keep them safe from hawks and other threats.

 

[Mikedero]

It's really 5 birds in the run, the Rangers don't stay in there except when everyone is locked up into the coop at night. Yes, I need them cooped--too much predator activity at night and my fences won't keep them out

BTW--if they were sitting in their own poo, I'd increase their space, so far they're fine. They aren't super huge at this point, I prefer slow growth over a quick meal.

BTW, again, 7x9' total space (they have full access to the run and the coop during the day) is 63sf or 6.3 per bird, should they actually all be in there. But since it's only the Cornish in there most of the time, it's really double that.

(sorry so scattered, still not off the first cup of coffee!)

When figuring out the run size you do not include the coop space as tha tis only at night or during bad weather. the below has nothing to do with you

Not trying to get into a pissing contest with anyone. Just stating facts about how many people keep broilers in chicken tractors look at Joel Salatin and all the others that keep broilers. some here keep 50 in a 8X8 area. what one likes to do is not facts, facts are they will be fine with 2-3 sq feet and I really hate how people on this site seems to think their way is law or just because they read it on the site makes it the best thing.

here are a few posts of what others have done and some homework that others need to read
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/461493/how-much-room-would-25-meat-birds-need

http://www.suburbanhomesteading.com/raising-meat-chickens-in-suburbia/barn
When the chick’s feather out at about 3 weeks of age they are moved to a growing coop. Meat birds need about 2 to 3-square feet of floor space to be comfortable

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-to-raise-chickens-for-meat-tips-and-pictures
There are many different coops that could be built for your broilers. The most important thing is that they are protected from predators and have plenty of space and ventilation. They now need 2 square feet of floor space per bird.

 

[bestponymilo]

Actually they go in/out of the coop all the time, all day long...so I consider it part of their living space. Your birds must be different than mine, mine are fairly active as all my meaties have been. This particular batch is from Hoover, though I've bought from McMurray and Ideal before.

I personally don't care how you raise your birds, I just was just curious about the thread because I've never had a dirty Cornish before.

If my birds (or any of my animals) were sitting in poop and filthy, I would change something not just say "everyone says only need 1.5sf of space, that's all you're getting I don't care how gross it is!!". The change could be cleaning more (tho the OP already is moving the tractor several times a day) or giving them more space so they can get out of their own waste, or not ordering so many birds next time