new meaties comming need advice

[snowflake]

never had meat birds before should I give them broiler starter or chick starter? Didn't order extra for meat birds.I think I can still call and order some. what do you feed? game bird feed? some one said take the feed away in the evening, why? can I leave my other chicks together with the meat birds,for about 4 weeks? 6 mixed standard and 10 meat birds all hens(I hope)

 

[CARS]

Quote:
I have used chick starter will no ill effects. I have also left my meaties and layers in the brooder for a few weeks with no ill effects. (both that I can trace back to those reasons)

Now, after a few years of raising Cornish X's, I just use broiler feed from the first to last day of their lives. Again, I can't see any ill effects on doing so.

I do take feed away at night (12 hrs. on, 12 hrs. off) after the first few weeks. But I am not brooding mixed flocks together anymore. I think taking the feed away would hurt a laying hen.

 

[ChikeeMomma]

I am feeding mine a chick starter that has 24% protein. I think the regular chick starter has only 20%. Go for the higher protein. Last year I fed my meaties broiler feed from beginning to end. Again, it had 24% protein. This is my first year with cornish xs (last year I did a Dixie Rainbow ~ like a colored ranger meatie). So I think after two or three weeks free feeding you then start the 12 hours on feed 12 hours off feed routine. There is a good thread about that on here somewhere. I am leaving my meaties and regular chicks together for as long as I can -- going to see how it goes. One week in so far so good. I have friends that leave theirs together until the meaties are in the freezer.

 

[snowflake]

thank you I can separate them after 3 or 4 weeks with no trouble I have a large coop for the hens and roosts I now have. and two tractors I plan to keep the new hens separate from my old ones till they are beg enough to mix and the meat birds in the other. I will try to find the thread on feeding as I am curious about why 12 on and 12 off, do they eat them selfs to death?

 

[CARS]

Quote:
Yep, pretty much sums it up. They are animals

 

[kassy68]

HI,, I had mine on 24% chick starter the whole time per Hatchery's suggestion.. They feathered in great, grew great with out problems.. processed at 7.2 weeks cuz my 8 week mark was already booked when I called. I keep feeders and waterers full at all times and took food out at 7pm and put back in at 7 am from 2 weeks on. They did great.. I also raised my water and feeder as they grew so they did not lay all the time.. (my thoughts where if they stood and grew leg muscle they would not break) and I had no heart attacks, no broken legs no deaths until process time.. The processor that they were the nicest he'd seen.. they were clean too.. lol.. I didnt change their bedding except where the waterer leaked.. I just added a bag of shavings once a week on top... 9x12 and 39 birds.. OH>. the brand I fed was from TSC and it was Dumor 24% non-medicated. Good luck...

 

[jaku]

Give them broiler feed from day one until butchering. Switching feed is a waste of time, and just complicates things. Get broiler feed of 20-22% protein, and take the food away at night. They don't need to eat 24/7, but they are programmed to do so, which is horrible for them.