Letting my broody raise 20 meaties. Now I have a rooster raising 50 CX chicks~new batch!

[vfem]

UGH! Went out this morning and fed all the meat birds. Everyone running around happy and healthy, eating grass in the new tractor coop. Totally thrilled to get some fresh water (they kill a gallon a day easy!).

Then after work I got out to bring them some treats (yes, I will spoil them so they die fat AND happy!), and one of the hens is dead?! No runny poo, full crop, still warm even. I have no idea how she went from super active and great this morning, and 4 hours later after work dead?!

Do meat birds just dropped dead for no reason? I hear they are prone to leg issues due to weight, but could she have suffered a heart issue because of their growth?

I'm concerned because its just too random, and I don't want to lose risking anymore meat birds. I only have 5 left and to make this worth time and effort, I need the rest to pull through for at least 2-3 more weeks!

Here's the tractor coop, I built it all by myself... which says a lot because I am NOT handy with power tools. I move it each morning and afternoon. They'd had it since Sunday now and are loving it.

 

[Beekissed]

UGH! Went out this morning and fed all the meat birds. Everyone running around happy and healthy, eating grass in the new tractor coop. Totally thrilled to get some fresh water (they kill a gallon a day easy!).

Then after work I got out to bring them some treats (yes, I will spoil them so they die fat AND happy!), and one of the hens is dead?! No runny poo, full crop, still warm even. I have no idea how she went from super active and great this morning, and 4 hours later after work dead?!

Do meat birds just dropped dead for no reason? I hear they are prone to leg issues due to weight, but could she have suffered a heart issue because of their growth?

I'm concerned because its just too random, and I don't want to lose risking anymore meat birds. I only have 5 left and to make this worth time and effort, I need the rest to pull through for at least 2-3 more weeks!

Here's the tractor coop, I built it all by myself... which says a lot because I am NOT handy with power tools. I move it each morning and afternoon. They'd had it since Sunday now and are loving it.

I've not had any do so but I'm only on my second group of meaties. Others report this problem and they attribute it to heart problems, for the most part.

That you only have that amount of birds and they are going through a gallon of water a day could be indicative of their hydration status. When you are dehydrated you have an exceptional thirst and often hyper-hydrate, which is sometimes just as dangerous as dehydration.

You see, when they lose electrolytes from pooping so frequently and the stools are loose, they lose valuable electrolytes that provide for adequate cardio function. When they drink lots of water they replace fluid volume but not the electrolytes so the increased water merely causes even looser feces which takes even more electrolytes from the body. It's a vicious cycle that leaves birds with abnormal cardiac function, weakened muscles and compromised immune function.

You can add electrolytes to the water but it still doesn't solve the problem of the loose, frequent stools. Stopping those is the key to proper hydration. Let me show you the difference~I have 50 CX who consume 1-2 gal. per week as opposed to your gallon a day. Mine derive some moisture from their fermented feeds and the moist bugs they consume but it still wouldn't stave off this breed's typical water usage.

From the first day I recultured their bowels and the fermented feeds and mother vinegar in the water have continued to do so. Those healthy bowel cultures insures their feed is digested properly and that their moisture is absorbed in the large intestine instead of shooting out the other end. Their stools are well-formed, normal chicken feces that have very little, if any, smell. This tells me they are getting normal absorption in their large intestines and normal digestion further up in the small intestines.

When birds are that depleted in electrolytes it doesn't take much stress to induce a heart attack...pushing and shoving at the feeder can cause it. High temps outside can cause it. Any form of stress can cause an already compromised heart to accelerate and then go into fibrillation.

I'd work on their digestion and electrolyte replacement if you want to help with these problems and avoid further deaths. I'd also not spoil them until they die if you want them to make it until processing day...they may die happy before you get to be happy about eating them.

 

[vfem]

Ok, I see you said fermented feed? Could you explain how this is done?

I do understand added ACV to the water, so that can easily be done.

As for a gallon a day, honestly, my nipples I ordered haven't come in yet (Thank you for that btw!), So refilling the gallon waterer each day could also be from spillage of course. I can't accurately figure that out until the nipple set up gets done when they show up.

I had been adding nutri-drench to the water at the beginning and stopped. Do you think starting that back up would be of any use?

 

[Beekissed]

Yes! Any way to replace those electrolytes during these hot months is a plus.

Here's a thread about the fermenting and there are several trying it with satisfactory results:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/644300/fermenting-feed-for-meat-birds

 

[Beekissed]

This morning I am processing 15 of the CX. I wanted to wait for 10 wks but we have need of getting all these chickens gone before we have a family reunion here, so we can mulch the garden without it getting torn out and so that I can barter some of the chicken for beef before the family reunion....gonna GRILL!

I would have preferred to wait so that all pin feathers would be grown, so the meat was more flavorful, so that they had a chance to be all they can be....but, alas, it is not to be. They are all healthy as horses and doing well, still foraging, still flying up to the roosts and beyond, still tearing things up and pooping everywhere they shouldn't.

This batch, overall, aren't as large as my last CX...they weren't as large as chicks and are still not as large at 8 wks. They also are not as smoothly and fully feathered as my last CX were, so the genetics on these aren't quite as nice. I doubt I'll just blindly shop for CX anymore without seeing a good sample of their grown stock first. There is a BIG difference...these are more round and short, the others were taller, more elongated breasts and bodies.

Still, it's more meat than any DP and I got 50 birds to 8 wks on around $120 in feed, so that ain't bad at all. Will try and get some weights but all I have is a bathroom scale here and it isn't the most accurate...it's the old type.

 

[vfem]

Well I'm very happy with the FF. I went right over to it the day I posted about it here. Everyone has recovered, is doing awesome, none-stinky poo and they have actually increased in what they are eating and their weight gain. I went from twice daily feeding to 3 times a day. I move their tractor coop twice a day and I see they are eating the grass and bugs really well too. Very strong legs impressively enough!

Mama hen is getting moved back to the coop tonight, she deserves a break. I don't even think she expected her kiddos to outside her so quickly!

AND...Turns out the Pekin duck is a girl. So she probably won't make it to process and we'll put her with our duck flock... she has NO idea just how lucky she is!

Here's the birds as of today. They are 8 weeks this week and we'll probably process next week just because I am running out of free weekends next month. I know July will be too late, and don't want tough birds. Rather have smaller birds that are less tough. If we're happy, I've been told the local bird auction has had meatie birds up there that are 4-5 weeks old selling for $1 or so each! Might grab me some more up.

Here's the little click eating from last night....

 

[Sarahndipity723]

Hey there,Beekissed,would u be so kind as to tell me how u snuck the meat chix under the Broody hen?I have some guinea chix I m pickn up in the nxt day or 2 and I will try to sneak them under my broody(?) hen.I m new to laying hens,as I ve had them since early winter only,I m wondering if I swap the chix for the eggs that my broody hen is sitting on at nite will that work?I have Buff Orp hens a yr old,that have never had chix before and two Broody hens that share a nest...
thanks,Sarah

 

[Beekissed]

It will work....just don't use much light when you do this switch, do not lift up the hen to do the change out...just slip a chick~hand downward with chick in the palm because she may peck~ in and take an egg when you pull your hand out. Keep doing that until the exchange is made. Try to slip in under her behind instead of her front. Keep it dark, stay calm, keep her quiet and in the dark as much as possible the next day but if you cannot, just make sure you make the exchange early in the night so that she has all night to sit on those chicks. Get out there in the morning pretty early and monitor her actions.

I've never had this method go bad but others have reported problems, so it may just all be in judgement and technique..not sure.

 

[M3g4d37h]

I slipped a few some chicks under a broody BO last week with no issues. Always do it at night when they are sleeping.

I went under her palming three chicks, let them go, and palmed the three eggs on the way out. a cackle or two, then right back to sleep.

 

[Helen in the Desert]

Has anyone raised up the cornish X and bred them? I would like to out cross a cornish X roo with my wyandottes to make a meatier dual purpose bird.