non-cross or hybrid meat birds to breed?

[digbychris]

The only real difference is driven by the CX. When you raise CX birds, you want to slow their growth and to do that they are typically fed a broiler or grower mix of about 18% protein and 1% calcium throughout their life.

When feeding a DP bird, I typically start them on a 22% starter for 3-4 weeks, then move them to broiler/grower and keep them on that until they've grown out. Then depending on what I'm doing, time of year, etc I'll move them to a low calcium layer 16% protein 5% calcium or keep them on the grower. Any cockerels I've pulled out for culling will go onto a finisher designed to build up fat for the last 30 days.

I do use a custom blend for roosters (kept in the bachelor pad) and layers starting 30 days before breeding and continuing on the layer once breed sets are in the breeding quarters. These blends are designed to optimize hatch rates and make for healthier chicks.

good to know!

 

[rjohns39]

What if I don't use soy at all. Are there other supplements I could use?

for those who are soy free, it takes a bit of work—but you're far enough north to get the ingredients.

 

[digbychris]

Sorry for the formatting

Meat Bird Finisher
Ingredients: Amounts:
CORN 7.0% (GRD) 965
SOYBEANS ROASTED 650
BARLEY 9% (GRD) 300
POULTRY NB DL 60
LIMESTONE 37% Ca 25
Formula Totals: 2,000

Nutrient: Units:
CRUDE PROTEIN 17.2 %
CRUDE FAT 8.25 %
CRUDE FIBER 4.32 %
CALCIUM 0.99 %
PHOSPHORUS 0.68 %
SALT (ADDED) 0.32 %
SODIUM 0.14 %
M.E. (PLTY) 1405 KCAL/LB
VITAMIN A 4.66 KIU/LB
VITAMIN D 1.61 KIU/LB
VIT. E (ADDED) 50 IU/LB
LYSINE 0.92 %
METHIONINE 0.37 %
METH + CYSTINE 0.56 %
MANGANESE 92.1 PPM
ZINC 70.6 PPM
IRON 64.6 PPM
COPPER 5.6 PPM
IODINE 3.8 PPM
SELENIUM 0.32 PPM

Meat Bird Finisher should be fed to both the pullets and cockerels that were not selected for breeding replacement stock. This formula is designed for rapid weight gain and body fat depositing, which will allow for a more flavorful taste.

Is this feed commonly found in stores? I can't say I've looked for it, but I don't remember seeing much beside layer feed and broiler/meat feed. I'll look more closely next time I buy. I'm in Indiana so I have rural king, big r. The farm store in my town is fairly small.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Do you make the feed yourself? If I were to let surplus cockerels forage a few hours a day would that give them a gamey flavor?

 

[rjohns39]

best solution to finding this is to go to the SPN Network and find a farm near you that's willing to sell you a bag. I have the full recipe for my broiler, and use it as a base and add ingredients to get very close to the above.

 

[rjohns39]

Do you make the feed yourself? If I were to let surplus cockerels forage a few hours a day would that give them a gamey flavor?

I've never had a gamey cockerel. Mine free range or get fresh grass frequently.

 

[annageckos]

I have no chickens currently. But hope to move in a few years and raise some for meat and eggs, and because I like them. I've been all over looking at breeds for meat, trying to figure out what would work best. Two I keep coming back to are Buckeye and Dorking, I like the Cornish too but have heard them don't as well in the cold and I'll be moving up to Maine. I've though to get another breed for eggs, mostly because I'd really love a blue egg layer. I love Jersey Giants but have read they take a very long time to fill out, over a year. I still think I'd like a couple, just because. So while I have no experience myself look into those breeds. They sound good to me.

 

[lazy gardener]

If you want a nice meaty carcass that you can breed forward, you might try the Dixie Rainbow aka. Pioneer. They are a hybrid, but, IMO they breed forward with enough consistency that you should be fine with them. The roos are massive, so much so that I would not want to put a Pioneer roo over a standard DB bird. My preference is to simply produce a back yard mix that is appropriate to my climate and eat the cockerels.

 

[Amer]

Red rangers, or red Cornish cross make great alternatives, because they are slower growing. I like Buckeyes the best, but they have longer legs and are slower growing and you have to start them on game bird feed, so I don't know what you want.

 

[annageckos]

Red rangers, or red Cornish cross make great alternatives, because they are slower growing. I like Buckeyes the best, but they have longer legs and are slower growing and you have to start them on game bird feed, so I don't know what you want.

I never heard that about having to start Buckeyes on gamebird food, could you explain that please?