Meat Bird sizes and grow times.

[Nekatlla]

So I've been raising meat birds this year and have noticed something I'm hoping someone can set me straight on. Had some red ranger type broilers supposed to take 12-14 weeks to get to slaughter size/weight. We were able to slaughter 1/2 of the 50 birds for an average weight of 3.75 lbs at 14 weeks. I then had to wait for another 4 weeks to get the same average weight from the remaining birds. our next batch was CC's, arrived 8/7/17 first 8 slaughtered 10/16/17 thats 10 weeks, the next week we did 18 and the next weekend we did 14 , last weekend we skipped and we'll be finishing all but 3 this week end. Why are they not all ready at the 8 week mark like everyone says they will be? How do you set up a processing plant run for large batches if not all the birds will be ready? I can't imagine getting back some of the birds I would have sent at the end of the eighth week, average weights would have been about 2 lbs. Is this normal or am i doing something wrong?
The only thing i notice is they grow slow to age 7 weeks then pick up in groups. As we slaughter a group of big birds the next week the next bigger birds will grow a bit quick to the 6 lb live weight range. Once they're gone the next and so on. The last batch I separated and sent to a friends farm but still same results. Just perplexed. Is a 4 lb carcass above the norm? That's what we are shooting for and I know I've read on here about 6 lb carcasses and so on.

Broiler mash 21% for first 4 weeks then
Broiler mash 18% last 4-12 weeks

Any help appreciated.....
Thanks

 

[Hawgfan]

While I haven't grow any meaties yet personally (although I grew up on a commercial broiler farm), your staggered results don't sound typical of what I hear from others on this site. It looks like you are providing ample protein for them. If I were to venture a guess as to what the issue could be, I might be concerned about access to feed. Do some of the larger ones bully others away from the feed? Adding additional feeders might be the fix. I don't know how many feeders you have, or what might be required for 50 birds, but something to consider.

 

[Parront]

Another question, are they mixed sexes? The females are slower. Since they grow faster after some are removed, maybe separating into groups? The guy here to ask is @rjohns39

 

[rjohns39]

There is something off here. Where are you located? What has the weather been like? Do you know what strain of CX you got?

I know some of my friends have had issues with weight gain during hot summer months.

I can tell you how I do it and my results. I try to avoid middle of summer and grow mine out spring and fall. I prefer either Cobb 500 or Ross 708 CXs as they are slower growing and do better in my environment. Next spring I'm going to run 75 of each under identical conditions and who does best.

I feed a non-GMO 18% protein ration for their entire life. I'll put 75 birds in the brooder.
They spend 3 weeks in the brooder and I feed twice a day, generally what they can eat in 45 minutes. I'll also give them treats everyday to get them moving around. My brooder is setup like a triangle. Heat, food, water as far apart as possible. Again to keep them moving.

At the beginning of week 4 they move onto pasture, I split them into two 8X8 movable shelters. I adjust their feed each week based upon what they can consume in 45 minutes and they get that ration twice a day. Every morning they move to a new patch of grass and i'll give a small handful of meal worms to get them running around. Near the end I often will move twice a day depending on manure load. They stay on pasture for 35 days. I generally process on Saturdays. So they might go a day or two later. I'll take them off feed at noon the day before processing, and at 4:00 I'll crate them and move them to the processing area.

Last batch I did this way, 5% mortality rate, average carcass weight 5.5-6 pounds.
First batch I used 30 minutes as a guide: 3% mortality avg carcass 4.5-5 pounds
Middle batch I gave them free choice feed. 10% mortality avg carcass 6.5-8 pounds.

Hope this helps.

 

[Nekatlla]

Rjohns39
Thanks for the help, I believe you helped me once before this year, I do not know what strain I have gotten, I did add the corn to the 21% mash I get here. My mortality rate generally is really low. @ out of 52 or 54 from this last batch and only 1 was not expected, the other got "played with" by a little girl. She didn't understand they can't really fly.
Any how i was going to try setting the feeding schedule as you do but because I've seen that they only eat for about an hour then stop and about 4 hours later they'll eat again, they do this all day and all night on and off untill the food is gone, usually for 25 birds they get 20 to 25 lbs a day. sometimes they don't finish it all and I only refill the feeder.
They also run around and chase worms every day when I first move the tractor.
I do only have 1 feeder 4" pvc halved length wise 5 feet long. It does seem that the roos get bigger first but there are some hens that get huge with the first run also.
I do plan on getting the cobb 500 next year, any good strain to try for freedom rangers? We like to do a batch of each each year.
Weather wise this year, near their 4th week the weather went cold, down to low 30's with frost probably 3 or 4 times then the weather stayed around 40's to 50's at night until this week, now we have frost and snow flurries each morning. I was supposed to be done with these birds 1st or second week of October. Looks like at least 2 more weeks for 4 lb birds to finish. Also my moveable shelters are 10 x 6 and I put a max of 30 in each.

 

[junebuggena]

Only feed should be given the first 4 weeks, no corn added. That early nutrition is really important, when the growth rate is at it's fastest and protein intake is most vital.

 

[Nekatlla]

Only feed should be given the first 4 weeks, no corn added. That early nutrition is really important, when the growth rate is at it's fastest and protein intake is most vital.

Yup 21% to start first 3 weeks. Then the start of the 4th we put it down to 18%.

 

[junebuggena]

Yup 21% to start first 3 weeks. Then the start of the 4th we put it down to 18%.

But you stated you mixed that 21% with corn, which would reduce the overall protein intake.

 

[rjohns39]

A good broiler mix will look like this but also include 60 pounds of nutri-balancer.
Ingredients: Limits LBS %
Corn Grain, Cracked 1020 8%
Fish meal,62% 5% 75 62%
Oats, (total in combination with Barley) 15% 215 10.0%
Oyster Shell 25 0.00%
Soybeans, Roasted 605 38%
Total 1940 19.5%
Nutrient Name: Amount Units
Crude Protein 19.5% %
Crude Fat 8.3% %
Crude Fiber 3.5% %
Calcium 0.78% %
Phosphorus 0.49% %
Salt added 0.04% %
Sodium 0.04% % per KG
Energy 1,439 Kcal/LB 3166.1
Vitamin A 394 IU/LB 867.53
Vitamin D 0 IU/LB 0
Vitamin E 0 IU/LB 0
Choline 1682 IU/LB 3699.8
Biotin 22.8 MCG/LB 50.155
Manganese 42.5 ppm 93.39
Zinc 17.9 ppm 39.458
Copper 3.58 ppm 7.8726
Selenium (added) 0.00 ppm 0
Lysine 1.12% %
Methionine 0.38% %
Methionine/Cystine 0.60% %
Arginine 1.29% %

 

[Nekatlla]

A good broiler mix will look like this but also include 60 pounds of nutri-balancer.
Ingredients: Limits LBS %
Corn Grain, Cracked 1020 8%
Fish meal,62% 5% 75 62%
Oats, (total in combination with Barley) 15% 215 10.0%
Oyster Shell 25 0.00%
Soybeans, Roasted 605 38%
Total 1940 19.5%
Nutrient Name: Amount Units
Crude Protein 19.5% %
Crude Fat 8.3% %
Crude Fiber 3.5% %
Calcium 0.78% %
Phosphorus 0.49% %
Salt added 0.04% %
Sodium 0.04% % per KG
Energy 1,439 Kcal/LB 3166.1
Vitamin A 394 IU/LB 867.53
Vitamin D 0 IU/LB 0
Vitamin E 0 IU/LB 0
Choline 1682 IU/LB 3699.8
Biotin 22.8 MCG/LB 50.155
Manganese 42.5 ppm 93.39
Zinc 17.9 ppm 39.458
Copper 3.58 ppm 7.8726
Selenium (added) 0.00 ppm 0
Lysine 1.12% %
Methionine 0.38% %
Methionine/Cystine 0.60% %
Arginine 1.29% %

Nope mine looks nothing like that. Mine lists soy, corn, and 1 broiler packet (not even sure what vitamins) per 50 lb bag.
I have been wondering if I should start with the grain, it has been the most common item between all the batches.