meaties are **3 weeks** today!

[LindsayB]

I love it when it gets that cold here!!

 

[tgrlily]

Quote:
Try it for 5 to 6 months of the year!

 

[backyardmenagerie]

I suddenly feel so much better about our 50- 60 degree weather. I couldn't imagine still dealing with snow this time of year... or 80s, for that matter!

As for the 12 hr on, 12 hr off, I've been filling their feed morning and night, enough that they run out about 4 hours before I refill. It makes me feel better (I feel like I'm starving them if they go 12 hours straight without food!) and so far I've not had any casualties. I think food management is a matter of personal preference/ experience. A friend of mine who raises far larger numbers of meat birds several times a year, never restricts food, and has yet to lose one, out of hundreds. But she also butchers at 6 weeks, and I'm hoping for an 8-10 week grow. So, to each their own.

ETA: I started restricting food at 10 days old. They were starting to go bald on their chests and bellies from lying around so much.

So... I was thinking of making a chart, with % protein, raising style (tractor, free-range, or stationary coop), hatchery source, and average weights. Can everyone interested post their stats (protein, source, etc), the birthdate of their meaties, and their weights so far? (If you haven't weighed yet, or just got yours, just give me your stats). Then I'll post the updated chart each week, so we can see how the factors compare. What do you guys think?

 

[LindsayB]

Sounds good to me! heres mine...

6 cornish x

hatched- march 8

housing- 'mini' tractor

feeding- Dumor 20% unrestricted

week 1- 6-8 oz

week 2- 12-14oz

 

[tgrlily]

Quote:
I'm planning on moving them out to a hoophouse or an empty breeding pen if it ever warms up here. Worse comes to worse, I have a 4x8 brooder I can keep in the garage.

Sounds great!

6 Cornish X

hatched- March 7

housing- large brooder for now

feeding- Agway Gamebird Starter 26% unrestricted

week 1- didn't weigh

week 2- 20 to 24 oz

 

[backyardmenagerie]

Let's see if I did this right...

ETA: bleh, it's blurry, I'll see what I can do about that as we get further along. Should work fine, though.

 

[LindsayB]

 

[tgrlily]

NICE!!

 

[Renee']

I have a question, (may be a dumb one). Regarding the chart, I understand that the columns to the right are numbered 1-8 for the weeks, however do the numbers in the table represent the average weight of the chicks or the average weight of feed that each chick consumes?

 

[averytds]

DS will be home this weekend and we can get the 2wk weights. Didn't do any when we got them and didn't get to it last weekend.


As for the outside tractor, we put out our last batch in something similar at 3wks this winter. Wooden rectangle and only the back half was completely covered with that foil insulation (salvaged pieces) and a tarp. I was worried about them getting cold and put a box in for them to sleep in at night. The box was at least 3 times the size of the area they were taking up at that point. I ended up with piling deaths. Something like 2 nights with the box and two mornings with dead squished chicks at the back corners. So I took out the box and they all did fine despite the cold.