Pics of "Before/After" Dual Purpose meat birds?

[ghulst]

Quote:
Feeding will not make them heavyer. They are bred for eggs. They will taste good.

 

[NonnasBabies]

Quote:
Feeding will not make them heavyer. They are bred for eggs. They will taste good.

You don't think feeding them a higher protein other than layer feed would help any??

 

[Bossroo]

Quote:
Feeding will not make them heavyer. They are bred for eggs. They will taste good.

You don't think feeding them a higher protein other than layer feed would help any??

These are bred to be egg layers. Switching to a different feed will only produce extra body cavity fat and lower egg production. Save your money... buy only egg layer pullets for eggs, and meat chickens for meat and raise them seperately as they require diffent protein content feed . Win... win !!!

 

[ChickyLaura]

I finally have pictures to add to this thread! Here is a one year old Buff Orpinton.

Before:

After:

As you can see, I tried to weigh him but the scale wouldn't cooperate.

 

[stuckinthecity]

Very nice! I was just about to ask how much he weighed.

 

[ChickyLaura]

Look at those legs!

We did 4 Buff Orpington's, but the one shown was definitely the largest. I never had any other chicken than store bought, so this will be a new experience eating these.

 

[NonnasBabies]

Quote:
You don't think feeding them a higher protein other than layer feed would help any??

These are bred to be egg layers. Switching to a different feed will only produce extra body cavity fat and lower egg production. Save your money... buy only egg layer pullets for eggs, and meat chickens for meat and raise them seperately as they require diffent protein content feed . Win... win !!!

Well since I didn't buy any of these I don't have that expensive!! They would never lay an egg since they were all roos!! They only thing they were fed were layer pellets!! So in all reality I saved money completly other than what they were fed since they were hatched from my own eggs!!

 

[NonnasBabies]

Quote:
Nice pics. What were you feeding them and what were you thinking about switching to? They look VERY meaty to me.

The only thing I was going to try was either feeding them a flock layer or a game bird feed. I just fed them layer feed like all my others eat. Didn't do anything special with them. I could have prob let them go a month or so longer but I was worried about them being tough. I'm not sure if it would have enough meat on them to feed a family of 4 a chicken dinner!! Made some killer stock & chicken salad from one and a gumbo from another!!

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
I think you have a good idea there. The reason that I say that is because I had a turkey to "accidentally" hatch a chicken in 2010. I didn't notice that a chicken had snuck in the turkeys' nest and layed an egg. Anyway, when the turkey hatched the chicken egg, I had no idea how I was going to feed this baby chicken knowing that the baby poults (baby turkeys) needed the higher protein game bird feed. Well, I researched and found that the game bird feed would not harm the baby chick. It would only put weight on the chicken. Well, lo and behold that baby chicken grew up to be 1 1/2 the size of my chickens. I will try to take a pic of my chicken and post it for you. EVERYONE that comes over is amazed how big and pretty he is and wants to buy him. But I can't sell my big boy. Someone offered me as much as $30.00 for him but I politely declined.

So if you want to use the game bird feed, then you will definitely have some meat on those birds. The game bird feed is a little more expensive but you will have more meat to feed your family.

 

[NonnasBabies]

Quote:
I think you have a good idea there. The reason that I say that is because I had a turkey to "accidentally" hatch a chicken in 2010. I didn't notice that a chicken had snuck in the turkeys' nest and layed an egg. Anyway, when the turkey hatched the chicken egg, I had no idea how I was going to feed this baby chicken knowing that the baby poults (baby turkeys) needed the higher protein game bird feed. Well, I researched and found that the game bird feed would not harm the baby chick. It would only put weight on the chicken. Well, lo and behold that baby chicken grew up to be 1 1/2 the size of my chickens. I will try to take a pic of my chicken and post it for you. EVERYONE that comes over is amazed how big and pretty he is and wants to buy him. But I can't sell my big boy. Someone offered me as much as $30.00 for him but I politely declined.

So if you want to use the game bird feed, then you will definitely have some meat on those birds. The game bird feed is a little more expensive but you will have more meat to feed your family.

Well, I have 20 eggs under 2 broodies right now so I will prob keep some of those roosters that hatch for meat. I am going to see what happens with it. It's a difference of about $6 a bag but it would only be for them. I also think I'm going to get a couple of cornish crosses from Tractor Supply after the expo. Can't expect my hubby to take care of a bunch of babies when I'm gone that weekend!!