Newbies - A few questions about 5 week old chicks

[achickenhead]

We have 10 meat birds (cornish cross giant broilers) and 10 layers (isa brown). We are completely new to raising chickens and have enjoyed it like crazy!

We live in Northern Ontario - Canada and have a few questions...

- Do the meat birds roost ?

- We have recently moved them into the coop. What is the lowest temp they can be overnight?

- We've left the door open to the outside pen on nice days but they don't want to go outside...they seem interested but will not leave the coop??

- Should food be left out all the time or just specific amounts should be put out?

- Can we eat the egg layers too? Do they taste as good?

Any advice is greatly appreciated..

 

[Judy]

Meat birds do not roost.

Lowest temp depends on their age. Since they are already out, I'd check to see if they are piling on top of each other; that would be too cold. If they are just cuddled up, that's fine. They may be frightened of going out, or cold, or any number of things. Chickens don't like change. Give them some time.

For layers, feed 24/7. For broilers, most people feed 12 on, 12 off after a certain age; I've never raised them so will not try to be any more specific on that; you can do a search in the meat birds section and find lots of recommendations.

Sure, you can eat any chicken. "Just as good" is a personal preference. I think the difference has more to do with texture than flavor. The broilers will be more like store bought chickens. The layers will not have much meat on them if you process them young, and if you let them get big, they tend to be tough. But many here prefer the layer types, saying the flavor is better and the Cornish meat now seems mushy to them. Older layer types are usually slow cooked, as in a crock pot or stew pot, or roasted for 2-3 hours or so at a low oven temp. Isa Browns were bred for laying. If you decide to try an "old fashioned" breed for meat, you will probably want to try one of the dual purpose or heavy breeds. Though I am sure an Isa Brown would make great chicken and dumplings later this year.

Good luck!

 

[Judy]

Oh, and BTW...

You will love having chickens, and find huge amounts of information here.

 

[achickenhead]

ddawn,
thanks for your reply.

so far, it has been great. we can't stay away from them. we are constantly in the coop checking them out!

we do have a heater and were keeping them about 20C and just recently we lowered the heat to about 13C and they seem to be doing fine.

they actually have been quite warm during the day... the heater is more for the nights b/c we still go below freezing. we haven't seen any huddling.

we will try to be more patient and wait for them to feel comfortable to go outside the coop! can't wait to see them eat bugs, etc.

another question for the experts, is it okay to handle the chickens. any golden rules about keeping chickens we should be aware of?

 

[achickenhead]

forgot...

do you suggest giving the electrolyte additive to their water all the time?

 

[b.hromada]

and

from S. Florida.

 

[chwoey]

Hey, I am also from Northern Ontario..

 

[achickenhead]

Hey chwoey
I was actually just reading one of your posts and saw Ontario. We are outside of Thunder Bay!