meaties are **3 weeks** today!

[BigDaddy'sGurl]

How much did they end up weighing before you processed? And did you weigh them after? How many did you process and did you leave any to get to full size?

Now I'm thinking of doing mine early, lol

 

[Bubbles_erin]

6 weeks yesterday, weigh in at 3lbs 2oz

getting fat!!

 

[Chick Charm]

I was shocked to see LINDSAYB had butchered the Cornish x's today. Funny I not only get attatched to my own birds and raising meat birds but to yours also. They did look to be prettty good size for eating. BUT couldn't you have put up with their "nasty-ness" for another couple of weeks. Good for you anyhow on raising the birds like you did. I am only in week 2 and am looking forward to bbq in about another month and a half.

 

[lotzahenz]

I too have a couple of pens of meaties now. I wanted to share something I just read. Some feeds are lacking Niacin, a B vitamin. So, the article said to pick some up at the store (Walmart has it) and I got a bottle of liquid B complex vitamins. I add a half dropper to their water every other day and will till it runs out. I am hoping this will help with the legs and heart problems. I can't remember it's cost, maybe about $5.00 per bottle?

A question: What are your thoughts on medicated feed for them? I have used only the TSC Dumor 24% feed, no medicines at all. I think it is best, but have no idea if a medicated feed is approved for eating birds? I am sure it is used often though. I just wanted mine to be completely chemical free. I should weight some of them, they seem to be very heavy already at almost 4 weeks old. I have mostly hens, due to my mistake of NOT remembering which feathered out faster. It's the girls who get the feathers faster BTW. I have mostly girls and a few boys. Maybe, though, they ship mostly girls to TSC in the first place. Next time I will choose the less feathered chicks and see if it helps. They are sexable at day old, by wing feathers.

Those little cornish hens looks so good, I will have to have some of those. HenZ

 

[LindsayB]

I didn't weigh them after but they were 2 1/2 lbs live. Its been really warm and humid here and we live in a neighborhood...They really do poo ALOT and they were very stinky. We had every fly within a 5 mile radius coming to our backyard lol. I would move the tractor everyday and there would be piles of poo. I don't think our neighbors would of appreciated the smell either once they were bigger. I did want to wait 6 weeks, I wanted bigger birds, but it didn't end up that way. But even though they are small they will still make a great meal! I'm thinking about wrapping them in bacon and putting them on the grill.

 

[lotzahenz]

NOw that sounds too good. There is a place in Gatlinburg TN called the "Dixie Stampede" and they serve those little birds, roasted whole. They are small, but more than one person can eat usually but oh so good. Yum. They use a Rotissarie and some spice. I go there for the good as well as the show.

I understand about the POO. MIne are on deep litter and it is now about 10 inches deep in their coop brooder. I put 12 of them in a rabbit hutch with wire floor outside, as they were making such a huge mess. That is a good idea, no POO! I have them separated into 3 weeks old and 4 weeks old groups and the size difference is just amazing. I have the same age banties and they would sit on your finger and the little bowling balls remind me of the balls we have in the gym you use for weights.

I think meat is best aged a bit (not real sure) so tomorrow night would be perfect to try a couple of them out.

I must go to bed! HenZ

 

[BigDaddy'sGurl]

Quote:
OM Goodness I have not had breakfast and now I'm craving what you'll be having...

I don't blame you at all! I only have 4 of them but they are STINKING and we can't move our coop! Believe me, after seeing your pics, the thought of at least trying one out very soon has crossed my mind...

PLEASE let us know how the flavor is!!

 

[LindsayB]

I probably won't try them until this weekend. DH is going out of town again tomorrow for work and won't be back for a few days. It really stinks...He was gone for 3 weeks and only home for 4 days....

 

[backyardmenagerie]

Quote:

They look good! Great job!
When you get a chance to weigh them, dressed, I'd love to know what they finished out as. And let us know how they taste!

I finally got my guys moved outside, and I guess I have them in a big enough space or am moving them around enough, but I really haven't had much problem with the smell. If they had stayed in the house any longer, though, they would be looking like LindsayB's right now.

 

[ChickyLaura]

So, I'm a little late in joining this thread, but my meaties will be 5 weeks old tomorrow. I haven't weighed them, but I do see a real difference some days between when I feed them in the morning and when I get home from work at night. It's really weird, but twice now I've definitely noticed a difference!

I guess I should weigh them today. I'm hoping to go another 3 weeks. I do have one little one that has leg issues already, and I'm not sure what happened there. I've been feeding them 12 hours on and 12 hours off, but I just switched to 24% Dumor last week, and she started showing leg issues prior to that. I brought her inside to hang out with my turkeys, and she seems a lot better. She isn't in pain, at least it doesn't look that way, and she still can get around, just not as fast as the others. I'm hoping she can make it a few more days. Including her, I have 9 meaties that are 5 weeks. Now in another brooder, I have 15 meaties that are 1 1/2 weeks old. Honestly, it's a zoo around here. But, our freezer will be full! I'm not going to be raising any meaties over the summer!!!! I'll raise another 2 batches in September and October for the winter.