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

[Wolfwoman]

I am getting my new 25 meat chicks today, am going to try and document as best I can the same as you did

in another thread. We'll see how it goes!

 

[Beekissed]

That would be great! Please give it a catchy title so I won't miss it and can watch your progress.

Mine are nearing butchering time here and I'll probably post some pics of the processing...with a graphic warning, of course.

 

[Wolfwoman]

Not very catchy, I didn't see your post...LOL

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=361413

I might do some butchering pics with the 2nd batch as I'm sure the first batch will be more stressful...lol

 

[Wolfwoman]

Pictures today, which means they are 8 weeks and 2 days old.

 

[sommrluv]

Did you butcher yet, Beekissed? I'm dying to know how they turned out. Do you think even with the "feeding frenzy" that they ate less because they free ranged?

Thanks!

 

[BeccaOH]

They look good. Mine are going on 9 weeks and need done up ASAP but I can't seem to find time.

 

[Wolfwoman]

I'm waiting on my processing cone

 

[Beekissed]

I got my extra one the other day....a 2 gal. bleach jug! I already have one on the tree but wanted another before I did all these birds.

I really have no more pics to offer on these birds, as they have just reached a certain size and stopped. I'm very disappointed to see that they walk just fine in the cool of the morning and the evening....but any other time they are just like all the other meaties you see:

Take a few steps and lie down.

I know their breasts are just too heavy but I was thinking the slower growth of feeding less would make them more strong, with stronger bones and joints.

How is it that I fed once a day and not even a broiler mix, my birds free ranged at will, gained exercise by going up and down a steep ramp into the coop and out again to get water and food.....and they still ended up the same size, shape, and general physical appearance as the rest of the meaties on this forum?

I guess I did learn one thing. You don't have to offer high protein feed 24/7 and burn electricity all night to get them to processing size, so one can save money on this project.

If I do this again, it will be:

.... earlier in the spring or in the fall, when it is cool.

I will keep them outside in a larger penned area that still provides free range forage and space~like my fenced in garden or winter sheep pen.

I will feed them a mix of whole grains such as corn, oats, barley, etc. and provide grit. I will rig up a 5 gal. bucket with a water nipple attachment.

All of these things would save me time, save my coop from the stench, would put the manure right where it needs to be later on, will benefit the birds better than co-habitating and eating the same as my layers.

These are the things I've learned about raising meaties. When I process them I will provide pics of the process and the finished birds.....I'll try to do the average weight as well.

Anyone else learn things that would make you do things vastly different next time around?

 

[mrsp523]

This has been a great thread to follow....I will miss it

Thanks for letting us follow this story "as the chickens grow...these are the days of their lives"

 

[Wolfwoman]

I have 14 birds in my 4x8 coop/run and this time around there will only be 11 per run as (for me) that's too many. They didn't fight or fuss or peck or anything, it just looks too crowded to ME now that they are 8 weeks old and 5-7 lbs each or more.

Other than that, I was quite happy with this being my first batch. Now, I did keep them in a coop down the hill on the property for at least two weeks, maybe three. They poop too much for a coop.... so into the tractor they went and now I have a VERY well fertilized front lawn.

They next batch is going down to the end of the property, they are going into tractors as SOON as they are feathered some and they will be moved 2x a day rather than once.

As far as health, they seem fine to me! They do the usual walk a few steps and lay down, but other than that they are ok. There are three Sexlink roosters in with them that won't be ready for processing for at least a few more weeks I'd think. Not sure what the weight on them should be.

I fed mine at 9-10am, threw about 1/3 or so of the feed on the ground so they had to GET in and about an hour later went and gave them the rest in their bowl. By 9-10pm 95% of the feed was gone, so I didn't even bother taking it out. When the bowl started being empty at night I upped the feed a bit in the morning to make sure there was enough. 12 on, 12 off feed. They are going thru about 5-8 gallons of water a day depending on how hot it is. We've had some pretty cool weather.

So, the next batch is in a new thread and we'll see how that goes!