Meat Bird Project - Delaware, White Rock, Dark Cornish

[KoopOnTruckin]

My chicks are 6 weeks old today. I plan on getting some weights a 8 weeks old.

Yes, realistically there is no need to weigh them until they are about 8, 12, 16 and 20 weeks old, that way you can see the general growth rate and know which would be the best breeding stock. Most heritage breeds won't be to butcher weight until 16-24 weeks old. I'm merely doing it to satisfy my curiosity to see if the biggest at the beginning stay the biggest throughout. And of course temperment (thanks to @Dlmillion ) throughout to see if the biggest/healthiest also match up with the best personality.

Really interesting guys and nice to see someone else at this now! Great spreadsheets! I'll be sorting mine by cable ties as well which are cheap and coloured in those bargain stored

The zip ties are kind of a pain, IMO. They slide off if they are too loose, and they get too tight quickly as their legs thicken. They need to be checked almost daily to make sure there is enough room to snip. I thought I would leave a bit of a tail on the tie so I could simply loosen a few notches after a week or so, but the mechanism is far too small to manipulate while holding a chick that doesn't know what you're doing and is eager to make it clear that he's uncomfortable.

 

[KoopOnTruckin]

I read all of the stories about how well chicks usually transition to FF, and how older birds may need a bit longer to take to it - not my birds! The layers all took to it like it was a treat, I took away their dry food and gave the the FF and they immediately all crowded around like I threw a watermelon rind in there with them. The older chicks took to it, but with slightly less intrigue. And the youngest chicks haven't shown any interest yet.

With the dry food, I used a 5-gallon bucket with holes toward the bottom, flowing into a galvanized hog pan. With the FF, since vinegar is involved, I switched to plastic bowls (my dogs aren't terribly thrilled that I took their bowls from them...). I'll just take a few scoops out there as the bowls empty to see how quickly they consume it.

 

[Kiki]

I read all of the stories about how well chicks usually transition to FF, and how older birds may need a bit longer to take to it - not my birds! The layers all took to it like it was a treat, I took away their dry food and gave the the FF and they immediately all crowded around like I threw a watermelon rind in there with them. The older chicks took to it, but with slightly less intrigue. And the youngest chicks haven't shown any interest yet.

With the dry food, I used a 5-gallon bucket with holes toward the bottom, flowing into a galvanized hog pan. With the FF, since vinegar is involved, I switched to plastic bowls (my dogs aren't terribly thrilled that I took their bowls from them...). I'll just take a few scoops out there as the bowls empty to see how quickly they consume it.

Awesome!

 

[KoopOnTruckin]

So I've been doing the FF thing for a few days now, and here's what I've learned:

-It is a LOT more work, mainly because I don't have the proper type of dish/feeder to give them FF. As of now, I'm lugging a gallon of FF out there 3x a day, as well as a bowl or 2 for my 2 sets of chicks. It's a pain to feed them, not to mention the work of actually getting the feed fermented...
-They aren't eating less than they were before - in the 3 days so far on FF, they've gone through the same amount of feed as they would have if it was dry.
-They are drinking the same amount of water that they were before.
-Their poo is looking better, and less stinky. That's a definite bonus.

I think I am going to put them back on dry food and just do the FF thing as a treat 2-3x per week in a separate bowl. Maybe that will get me the best of both worlds, get them the probiotics and good bacteria they need while still being much less work than what I have been doing. We shall see.

 

[Kiki]

So I've been doing the FF thing for a few days now, and here's what I've learned:

-It is a LOT more work, mainly because I don't have the proper type of dish/feeder to give them FF. As of now, I'm lugging a gallon of FF out there 3x a day, as well as a bowl or 2 for my 2 sets of chicks. It's a pain to feed them, not to mention the work of actually getting the feed fermented...
-They aren't eating less than they were before - in the 3 days so far on FF, they've gone through the same amount of feed as they would have if it was dry.
-They are drinking the same amount of water that they were before.
-Their poo is looking better, and less stinky. That's a definite bonus.

I think I am going to put them back on dry food and just do the FF thing as a treat 2-3x per week in a separate bowl. Maybe that will get me the best of both worlds, get them the probiotics and good bacteria they need while still being much less work than what I have been doing. We shall see.

I am so sorry you are having such a hard tim with the FF.
I wish I could give you some advice on how to make it easier.

Try is a few more days.

I can't believe they are still easting the same amount as if it were just dry.
I'm kinda surprised to hear that.

 

[KoopOnTruckin]

I am so sorry you are having such a hard tim with the FF.
I wish I could give you some advice on how to make it easier.

Try is a few more days.

I can't believe they are still easting the same amount as if it were just dry.
I'm kinda surprised to hear that.

For my layers, it actually seems to be a bit more - looks like they aren't foraging as much these past few days instead they have broken into my garage (through a doggy-door) to get to the FF. In total, they've gone through 4 days of food in 3 days. It's almost like it goes through them so much quicker, so they're hungry more often? I'd be willing to put in the work if they were eating less and it was more cost efficient, but at this rate I can't imagine I'd be saving any money for the amount of work I've put in.

The older set of chicks seem to be eating the same amount per day, and the younger chicks aren't even interested in it. I'm a bit disenfranchised by the whole thing. Oh well, back to my original plan: 22% for the older chicks, 24% for the younger chicks, and 16% layer feed for my layers. I'll still give them fermented scratch a couple time a week to make sure they're getting the necessary probiotics, but as far as their regular food goes, it'll likely stay dry...

 

[KoopOnTruckin]

On a side note, I found one of the WR cockerels dead this morning, not sure what happened but it looked like natural causes. Rigor had already set in. It was the second largest cockerel from the older chicks, so I'm definitely disappointed, but it could be worse. Then to top it off, my kid's 10 month old puppy (who definitely knows better) tried to "play" with one of the Dels, and some neck feathers were taken out. Not a good day for the chicks.

Once I get calmed down a bit, I will go out there and weigh them. Not sure what to expect with the changes in feed this week, but I can tell they are definitely heavier.

Numbers to follow....

 

[KoopOnTruckin]

3 days 1 week 2 weeks 3 weeks
DC
61.8 (g) 84.4
168.4
269.2
growth - 137% 200% 160%
DEL 60.4 81.6 160.8
236
growth - 135% 197% 147%
WR 68.8 100.6 209.6 328.25
growth - 146% 208% 157%

The numbers above are in grams, average weight. My largest DC is 315 g (11.1 oz), DEL is 281 g (9.9 oz), and WR is 353 g (12.4 oz) at three weeks.

The average of my 1 week younger flock of straight run WRs is 205.6 g, with a similar (slightly higher by 2-3%) growth rate. They have stayed at 24% since the onset. The largest male there 248 g at 2 weeks old, compared to the largest from the older flock at 2 weeks being 229 g. So far the 24% protein is winning (who knew??).

TGIF, this has been a cruddy day - losing a chick, pup scalped another, and then the frustration of weighing 32 chicks. I'm gonna go grab a glass of wine (or 3) and slip gently into this weekend!

 

[Kiki]

3 days 1 week 2 weeks 3 weeks
DC
61.8 (g) 84.4
168.4
269.2
growth - 137% 200% 160%
DEL 60.4 81.6 160.8
236
growth - 135% 197% 147%
WR 68.8 100.6 209.6 328.25
growth - 146% 208% 157%

The numbers above are in grams, average weight. My largest DC is 315 g (11.1 oz), DEL is 281 g (9.9 oz), and WR is 353 g (12.4 oz) at three weeks.

The average of my 1 week younger flock of straight run WRs is 205.6 g, with a similar (slightly higher by 2-3%) growth rate. They have stayed at 24% since the onset. The largest male there 248 g at 2 weeks old, compared to the largest from the older flock at 2 weeks being 229 g. So far the 24% protein is winning (who knew??).

TGIF, this has been a cruddy day - losing a chick, pup scalped another, and then the frustration of weighing 32 chicks. I'm gonna go grab a glass of wine (or 3) and slip gently into this weekend!

Awesome....just drink another glass for me and you will kill the whole bottle!
Rest up!

(Now I will read your info)

 

[Kiki]

Sorry about your chick and the dog "incident"
Your weekend WILL be better!