meaties are **3 weeks** today!

[BigDaddy'sGurl]

Went out and weighed two of mine today. The larger one was nearly 1 3/4 pounds and the smaller was easily 1 1/2! That means in just under a week they have gained a half pound!!!

 

[ChickenAlgebra]

Quote:
Nice deal! Our TSC sells out of chicks the day they get them, and I'm always so jealous when I hear others talk about the older bargain chicks.

Weighed mine today, and it looks like they're averaging a little over a pound. We're catching up, finally! And it's still too cold for them to go out. Hopefully the fresh air and spring grass will get them growing faster, if it ever warms up!

Yeah, couldn't pass up the deal for cheap food later. They aren't as big or feathered as other chicks here, but that's fine, we'll fatten 'em up no problem. There are several boys, so I may work up the nerve to try caponing, but think we would be better to use DP than Cx.

It's COLD here still, 19* this morning. So babies can't be outside. However, the Cx are set up in the barn with a heat lamp, and they were all popping around this morning, so I think they don't mind. They are NOT inside birds, they freaking stink.

 

[KathyK]

They do stink, don't they? I had mine in a large cardboard box in the garage. I kept adding shavings on top of the dirty ones to keep them clean. They went out at 2 weeks. That was the plan. Luckily I live in a warm climate. Plus we have been having unusually warm weather. I had read that the earlier you can get them on the grass, the better foragers they will be as they grow up. They started picking at stuff immediately.
I think maybe I'm reading my scale wrong. Maybe instead of 6 oz, they are .6 pounds. That would be 10 oz. A little better. I was planning on starting the processing of the larger ones at 6 weeks. May have to postpone if they are smallish.

 

[backyardmenagerie]

I agree, they smell

By Wednesday, if it hasn't warmed up some, they're going out, regardless. I'll cover their tractor in tarps if I have to.
ChickenAlgebra, caponizing is usually reserved for DP chickens. I think once you start feeding your chicks regularly they fatten right up. It may take a few extra weeks, but they'll get there. My concern with caponizing CX would be that capons have accelerated growth, and CX already grow too fast as it is. I would be concerned that you would loose even more than you normally would to heart attacks and broken legs. Just my two cents.

 

[Ravishaw]

Quote:
Hey, nobody said anything about processing!

I have a friend that has offered to process them for me, and there's also a butcher just down the road.
But I absolutely agree, their home-raised lives will be significantly superior to anything you get from the store.

Averytds, I use a kitchen scale to weigh my guys. I only have 10, so it's not too big of a chore, but on the days I'm feeling lazy, I just weigh a few and use that to calculate an average.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/82486_100_2359.jpg

PS, my meaties are 6oz today!

I think the bird's face is priceless... "Ya i'm gettin fat, so what?"

 

[KathyK]

Looks like he left a present in the bowl.

 

[ChickenAlgebra]

Quote:
Yeah, the only reason I would capon the CX is just for the learning experience. Probably won't bother. Thinking about ordering the Frying Pan special or just a bunch of cheap males from McMurray and using them as practice. We've got the Freedom Rangers who I don't feel comfortable practicing on due to how big they get as adults also.

But how much chicken do we need in the freezer?

 

[BigDaddy'sGurl]

A toothless termite walked into a bar and asked "Is the bar tender here?"

priceless.

 

[LindsayB]

they are 3 weeks today!

I just weighed 2 of them and they were both 1 1/2 lbs. The rooster is a few ounces bigger...and I think the one that had the leg problem is a rooster as well...so there goes my idea of keeping it! lol Its for the best though.

I'm amazed at how active they are now. They even jump on top of the waterer and perch on our raised garden. I put a small log in their pen for them to roost on if they wanted to.

heres some pics of them enjoying the yard!

 

[halo]

Those look pretty much like mine, I think they are the same age. Except that I have one that is bald, except for wing feathers. Its the oddest thing. Just.....bald....