meaties are **3 weeks** today!

[LindsayB]

I'm going to process mine at 6-7 weeks. So probably the last week in april. We'll see how much they weigh though.

 

[jcfuente51]

hi in the pic when i had them all they were week old the other pic was just taken today march 20 and they are 33 days old

those look healthy I hope i can eat them in 3 or 4 more weeks i have a question one of the male its always triying to make love to the girl if i let them can she have an egg??

 

[jcfuente51]

Hi Lyndsay b how many do you have??

ever had any problems like i did this time?

if you do lpease be specific and how did u treated them thank you..

 

[backyardmenagerie]

Quote:
She'll be butchered long before she is old enough to lay an egg. They don't reach sexual maturity and start laying until 20-24 weeks old.

As for a butcher day, I'm aiming for anywhere between May 3 and May 17, which would be 8-10 weeks. I'm hoping to get a good size finished weight, and will take into consideration any slower growth due to the lower protein. I may even do the larger half at 8 weeks, and let any smaller ones have an extra 2 weeks to grow.

 

[NonnasBabies]

Quote:
They will not "mate" at 33 days old. They would not start laying till their at least 5 months old. So if your going to process in 3 or 4 more weeks then I'd say no she won't lay any eggs!!

 

[jcfuente51]

wow all these its so interesting thank you ... but last year i decided to keep one to lay eggs and after 10 weeks old she die due the fatness i bet cus she could barly walk..

 

[LindsayB]

jcfuente I haven't had any problems with them sneezing and dying...but...I do have one that is already down on its legs. Its been limping on its left leg and now the leg is kicked out to side when shes laying down. I also noticed that leg trembles alot...weird. I've been adding alittle baby vitamins to their water thinking it would help the one that has the bad leg, but its not.

 

[LindsayB]

My little ones are now right at 2 weeks. I weighed them and our smallest is 12oz...the biggest is 14oz. And apparently I'm an idiot and didn't know how to read our meat scale right...so the weights I had for the first week are not right...Guess my blonde hair was working...lol

I took a video of them a few minutes ago, so I'm going to try and figure out how to post it on here.

 

[LindsayB]

okay, heres the video...hope it works!



You can see the little one thats hurt...I don't know what I should do with it...

 

[backyardmenagerie]

Weighed my guys today, and I guess the protein does make a difference! My little runty 2 are 7 oz, and my 2 giants are 10 oz. Everyone else was about 8-9oz. I'm starting to wonder if some of mine are different ages. The 2 biggest are feathering out nicely, while the little 2 still have a lot of down.
So far my meaties have consistently doubled their weight each week. Hope they keep it up!