Bear with me, entering new territory with meat birds--just p/u a dozen yellow fluffballs ("Super Roasters" from the county extension office) for my daughter's first attempt at a 4-H broiler project...any input from you experienced folks would be greatly appreciated...
1) They are in a 4x4sf brooder with turkey show chow and water....I'm guessing they'll be OK for at least 2-3 weeks before they begin to outgrow it? It's huge right now..
2) Temps in OH are humid and mid 80's-low 90's...when the thermometer in the brooder is above 90 would you set up a fan just to keep air moving? I did yesterday, just indirectly (not blowing on the chickies), was afraid it would get too hot...then had the lamp on overnight when temps dropped into the 60's...am I overcautious? They seem to be doing fine (we've raised four batches of layers in the last two years, but earlier in the spring so the concern was keeping them warm enough) I'm keeping the temp at about 90...or trying to anyways....
3) I was planning on moving them to a 6' high chain link dog kennel (12x7), with some sort of ground level coop for cover, and also have a large tarp to cover most of the kennel..right now I've also attached a second layer of 'protection' around the kennel, 4 feet high and making an apron about 12-15 inches underground--this is chicken wire, I know it's not strong enough on it's own but I was thinking using it over the stronger, thicker chain link would be a pretty good predator deterrent...what are your thoughts?
4) I will be covering the top with livestock fencing (the 2"x4" squares type), and then put the tarp over that for weather protection...my goal is to have them outdoors with shelter, 24/7 for the last 5-6 weeks, putting a fan outside if needed...or would you shut them in whatever coop I have in there even in an enclosed run?
Do you think the kennel will be sufficient for the last 5-6 weeks before the fair? We have the usual predators here (hawk-owl-fox-coyote-raccoon-opossum), although we haven't had too much trouble overall since we began our expedition in the wonderful world of chickens--only lost two from them and more our fault, not paying enough attention while allowing the hens to free range. I'm planning on having a fan out there if weather warrants it but really wanted to keep them outdoors if possible rather than in the horse barn--more fresh air and sunshine I guess.
I see these awesome tractors with meaties in them on BYC and wonder, do they stay in them the entire time, 24/7, till freezer camp? Are they really predator proof? Wht a great way to spend your short time on earth...
Thanks for any input-constructive criticism-recommendation-hints about raising meaties for the fair--we welcome it all. (And I haven't even begun on the feed-how much, how long, any supplements,etc.)
Dawn
1) They are in a 4x4sf brooder with turkey show chow and water....I'm guessing they'll be OK for at least 2-3 weeks before they begin to outgrow it? It's huge right now..
2) Temps in OH are humid and mid 80's-low 90's...when the thermometer in the brooder is above 90 would you set up a fan just to keep air moving? I did yesterday, just indirectly (not blowing on the chickies), was afraid it would get too hot...then had the lamp on overnight when temps dropped into the 60's...am I overcautious? They seem to be doing fine (we've raised four batches of layers in the last two years, but earlier in the spring so the concern was keeping them warm enough) I'm keeping the temp at about 90...or trying to anyways....
3) I was planning on moving them to a 6' high chain link dog kennel (12x7), with some sort of ground level coop for cover, and also have a large tarp to cover most of the kennel..right now I've also attached a second layer of 'protection' around the kennel, 4 feet high and making an apron about 12-15 inches underground--this is chicken wire, I know it's not strong enough on it's own but I was thinking using it over the stronger, thicker chain link would be a pretty good predator deterrent...what are your thoughts?
4) I will be covering the top with livestock fencing (the 2"x4" squares type), and then put the tarp over that for weather protection...my goal is to have them outdoors with shelter, 24/7 for the last 5-6 weeks, putting a fan outside if needed...or would you shut them in whatever coop I have in there even in an enclosed run?
Do you think the kennel will be sufficient for the last 5-6 weeks before the fair? We have the usual predators here (hawk-owl-fox-coyote-raccoon-opossum), although we haven't had too much trouble overall since we began our expedition in the wonderful world of chickens--only lost two from them and more our fault, not paying enough attention while allowing the hens to free range. I'm planning on having a fan out there if weather warrants it but really wanted to keep them outdoors if possible rather than in the horse barn--more fresh air and sunshine I guess.
I see these awesome tractors with meaties in them on BYC and wonder, do they stay in them the entire time, 24/7, till freezer camp? Are they really predator proof? Wht a great way to spend your short time on earth...
Thanks for any input-constructive criticism-recommendation-hints about raising meaties for the fair--we welcome it all. (And I haven't even begun on the feed-how much, how long, any supplements,etc.)
Dawn