My Meyer Hatchery Meat Birds. The Conclusion.

[mylilchix]

LoneCowboy, we just picked up our 16 birds from Bill at Northern Colorado Poultry on Thursday. It was a 2 hour drive one way from Conifer, but I'd use him again. We had 10 meaties from Ideal, and 6 assorted roos from this summers batch of chicks. Bill did a really nice job on the birds. We ate one of our buff brahma roos last night. Big boy weighed in at 8lbs.!! I tried calling the guy in Fort Collins, but he didn't return my calls either. Guess he doesn't want the business!! Our Ideal birds at 10 weeks were around 5lbs+.

Sonja

 

[blueskylen]

I also kept mine in a coop for the entire 8 weeks. i didn't use medicated feed, as they weren't outside, and don't think that I lost any to disease. started with 52 - ended with 45 - most that died were within 2 weeks. I think that the ones that died were just weak and had muscular or genetic defects, a couple from heat. I did have one that just did not grow, and at 10 weeks is still the size of a 2 or 3 week old - otherwise is just fine.

am planning on getting another batch in the spring, as I was so pleased with the 5 - 6 lb. dressed birds!

 

[LoneCowboy]

Oh dang, mylilchix, I picked mine up on Thursday too. We must have just missed each other. It would have been nice to meet another BYC'er.

I like Bill and NCP I don't mind going all the way out there. They take good care of me, and do a good job on my birds. The turkey I have was processed at the Fort Collins place and the bag wasn't printed. I like the printed bag, it's good info for my customers.

 

[PurpleChicken]

LoneCowboy, that is a great report and some awesome information.


Since this was our first time with broilers it's hard for me to average
anything out. I split and order with Moodusnewchick and PerfectlyPolish.
All three of us had different results with the same birds.

My mortality was high and spread out from chick to 6 weeks. Cocci was
almost definately to blame for most. The thing is we raised ours side by
side with fryer roos from Meyers and had an extremely low mortality
with them. I also lost 7 of 15, four week old silkie chicks to cocci.
I don't medicate any of my birds.

They are 8 weeks old today. My scale is busted but I'm guessing they
weigh from 5 to 7 pounds. They have been on a 26% protein feed.
My Colored Range Broilers were larger than this by 8 weeks.

As for Meyers they still have my customer loyalty. If I try Cornish again
I will give Meyers another shot.

Chances are I won't ever order Cornish again. Even if these birds were
10 pounds they still could not compare to the Range Broilers. The smell
they produce is not pleasant. Quite frankly, my wife and I are repulsed
by them. They hobble around on their fat legs. Their feather growth
can't keep up with their body growth. They sleep and poop in their feed.
They aren't friendly or joyful to watch.

I've raised my own mutt roos, Colored Range Broilers, Muscovy Ducks,
Meyers Fryers, Meyers Turkeys, and Corurnix Quail for meat. In my
opinion all of these birds are a better experience to raise for meat
production. I realize feed to meat ratios don't match that of Cornish but
that's just not a priority for us.


We will be processing our Cornish sometime soon. I'm considering
this Sunday just to be done with them.

 

[LoneCowboy]

Thanks PC for your input.

Yes they are totally disgusting, poop in everything and have no personality, that's why I have no problem having them processed.

If it were one of my pretty layers. I'd bawl all the way there and back.

My husband told me that pigs would get gross and disgusting too so I wouldn't have any problems. Unfortunately, they never did stop being cute and loaded with personality so I did bawl the whole time they were processing the pigs.