Meat Bird Feeding Experiment

[Arielle]

I have watering nipples in my brooder where the heritage birds are and my pasture pen with the CCs and by 4 weeks they are abt double the water consumption. At 5 weeks my 50 CCs were at close to 8gal per day.

That's an ENOURMOUS amount of water. Was this on dry crumbles??

 

[travifive]

  That's an ENOURMOUS amount of water.  Was this on dry crumbles??

Yep. Dry crumbles and 70s and 80s during the day. Every little thing seems to add to their water consumption. Ive decided to switch to fermented feed so that should drop the water amount.

We had a freak storm come through and we lost almost the entire batch. I have red rangers coming in as replacements. I'm not sure if I'll do CCs again. You know, you feel like you are finally getting your system nailed down and then that happens. Its very annoying. Especially when we have about 75 heritage birds that are the same age and didn't lose one in the same storm. :/

 

[Arielle]

I have heard these birds are more tender and not bred for the farming life. SOrry you lost so many-- what a loss.

BOy these beasts eat!!

I wanted to do FF, but I"m not getting good fermenting going. sigh.

 

[Arielle]

On May 3, at 1 hr to sun down we moved the cornish X to their new digs.

I divided them by a simple system. DH picked the two biggest and put the biggest in the right pen and smaller in the left pen. I picked up the next 2 biggest, and put the biggest in the LEFT pen and the other in the right pen. That should make for even distribution of the poults by weight and hopefully by gender. 7 in each pen.

Structure was made of scrap wood. a 4 x 4 coop area for shelter, heating, food and water. I built them exactly the same , though some things are in the opposite position. Same waterer, same feed pan. Same heat light. Run is 4 x 7.5 feet, with solid sides at 12-14 inches high ( plywood) and topped with chicken wire. Coop door is a large pc of plywood that when lifted accesses both coops at once.

Need to get the blocks under the waterer to be the same.

Feed, crumbles and 22% pellets, or 22% pellets. Moving them from medicated crumbles which are 16% to the non medicated 22% feed. A little worried about putting them out on the ground without the medicated.

Bought Braggs vinegar tonight and will start adding that back into their water. If they really drink a lot of water, this could be a factor and a way to have them get enough good bacteria.

The FF I tried while still brooded in the house had mixed results. The first dish was completely eaten in no time; the second dish was 1/2 eaten then ignored. Don't think I have the nack to make this feed.


I think the experiment will be altered a bit. 22% crumble v 22% crumble plus chopped grass. Both pens will need to have gravel added. I think the feeding of the grass is important. Free choice will have a different effect than fresh twice or three times a day. THe dropping in of feed stimulates feeding frenzy.

Plan to let them adjust to the pens, get them weighed ( need a scale) and let the fun begin.

GOal -- cheapest method for growing the most meat. My source of 22% feed ( Waruegan Feed) has increased the cost by a packet!! About $16.50 / 50# up $2. Hoping plenty of freely available grasses will decrease the feed bill.

 

[dmack]

If you don't have enough greens your should be able to get alfalfa pellets at your local feed store. Or just get some small bails of alfalfa. It's a good way to give them some extra greens and the love them.

 

[travifive]

If you don't have enough greens your should be able to get alfalfa pellets at your local feed store. Or just get some small bails of alfalfa. It's a good way to give them some extra greens and the love them.

I'll second that. My chickies love alfalfa pellets. It makes a really cheap treat/supplement.

 

[BackyardAR]

By alfalfa pellets do you mean rabbit food or something else?

 

[locoguru]

Going to watch this thread very closely as I am intrested in some meaties!

 

[dmack]

feed stores will have alfalfa pellets for rabbits hogs horses ect. It's a great alternative to scratch every now and then. We have a feed mill in town but if you have a TSC or murdochs or any place you can buy feed for live stock with have small alfalfa pellets. They are great for the winter when there is no green grass and weeds for them to free range on.

 

[dmack]

Going to watch this thread very closely as I am intrested in some meaties!

Feel free to ask any questions..