meat vs. layer feeds

[farmerhopeful]

We hatched some chicks and are going to eat the roosters and keep the hens for layers. They are all in the same run/coop. Do I start them all on the high protein diet and then when the roosters are gone switch to the layer feed? Also, do I start the roosters on a high protein meat-bird-feed upon hatching or when they get off the medicated chick starter? We processed our first two roosters and they were very very scrawny, but have been on meat bird food since 8 weeks. They are (were) 12 weeks.
Thanks so much!

 

[Saltysteele]

i didn't see that you mentioned what breed they were.

if they are meat chickens, they wouldn't be scrawney. ours at 12 weeks were over 5-1/2 pounds dressed, and we had freedom rangers (take longer than the cornish X).

it varies by breed. you could pump them full of protein, but if it's not in the cards, it's not going to happen. my black australorp roosters are giants compared to my easter eggers of the exact same age, exact same feed

depending on the breed, you may end up feeding them for a lot longer to get some mass built up