New to meat birds

[Arielle]

That was my plan. To raise them separately. I have 14 egg layers, but will raise the meaties in their own tractor. I have read mixed reviews on them free ranging, but I am going to try that also.

The tractor is a great idea-- they are never a quick moving bird, though they do stay mobile. I have four 9-month olds and they waddle very fast. They are bowling balls! Given their physical limitations to avoid predators, if you are able to maintain them in a tractor your losses might be less due to predation, or if you can supervise and protect them then a little while freeranging for an hour. Far easier to chop a few handfuls of grass with scissors than to let free range when only 5.

Have fun, and enjoy the experience.

 

[Beekissed]

For free ranging of meaties....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-your-cornish-x-meaties-tractors-do-not-count

For raising them with layer flocks....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...have-a-rooster-raising-50-cx-chicks-new-batch

For getting by cheaper on feed, improving health, survival rate, taste of the meat, increasing vigor, and eliminating the smell of the feces....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/644300/fermenting-feed-for-meat-birds

For additional controlling of fecal output while they are in the brooder and coop....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/70/deep-litter-method

 

[cbascom]

Thank you all for the great advice. Do you find you need to separate the Cornish right away or after a couple of weeks?

 

[Beekissed]

When I raised mine with the layer flock, I didn't separate them at all. They resided together but ate out of different feeders, with the CX being fed first.

 

[annie82005]

I'm sure that I'm not the first person to ask this question, but what can I do with all of the innards? It just seems wasteful to throw it away. Can I compost it or something? What are your thoughts?

 

[Beekissed]

The heart, liver, gizzard and even the testes can be utilized for food. I don't remove the kidneys either as they are one of my favorite parts in the bird. I've never eaten the testes but it's pretty common in other cultures. That just leaves the digestive/intestinal tract minus the gizzard, the trachea and lungs, and the oviduct on the females and none of those are appealing for eating. There's really little waste at that point. I throw mine out for the wild animals. Some people compost them.

I feed the pancreas, testes and sometimes the liver to my flock to eat but make sure they only get parts that are easy to consume and nothing stringy with connective tissue on it, as they can get that lodged in their crop and start a bad process, such as botulism growth.

 

[BCMaraniac]

The heart, liver, gizzard and even the testes can be utilized for food. I don't remove the kidneys either as they are one of my favorite parts in the bird. I've never eaten the testes but it's pretty common in other cultures. That just leaves the digestive/intestinal tract minus the gizzard, the trachea and lungs, and the oviduct on the females and none of those are appealing for eating. There's really little waste at that point. I throw mine out for the wild animals. Some people compost them.

I feed the pancreas, testes and sometimes the liver to my flock to eat but make sure they only get parts that are easy to consume and nothing stringy with connective tissue on it, as they can get that lodged in their crop and start a bad process, such as botulism growth.

Now, Bee, you know that the hens get the gonads......brings a smile to their beaks....

 

[Beekissed]

Now, Bee, you know that the hens get the gonads......brings a smile to their beaks....

Of course! And I also made sure Toby got the testes of his rivals...it has a level of irony to it that I like.

 

[annie82005]

Well, I did it. I just placed an order for 15 meaties. I hope this goes well.

 

[BCMaraniac]

Well, I did it. I just placed an order for 15 meaties. I hope this goes well.

.......to the new and exciting world of meaties!! Keep us posted with pictures and notes.