pics of meat bird setups, please

[lorihadams]

We want to get some meat chickens soon and I was wondering if you all could show me how you set up your meat chickens. Do you start them outside or keep them inside in a brooder for a couple of weeks. Never done meaties before so I would love to see some pics of your meat bird setups. Thanks!

 

[ChikeeMomma]

I just bought some Dixie Rainbow meaties in August. They are in my coop, but separate from my laying flock. I gave them an area with a brooder light. I put pine shavings down. They are almost all feathered out. Right now we are finishing up their run. So hopefully they will be able to go outside in just a few days. My
Grandpa always got his meaties (Cornish Xs) in April and had a light on them until they were older. He always had them in the coop from day one. Hope this helps!

 

[jaku]

 

[OSUman]

Hey jaku how predator proof is that pen do you think it would stand up against coons or coyotes?

 

[willheveland]

We go from this....

next to this...

Then to this....

Til the last day to this....

Hope this helps and you enjoyed your tour..... Will

 

[lorihadams]

Thank you for the pics! Jaku, do you separate them into 4 sections? Am I seeing that right?

 

[Le Canard de Barbarie]

Quote:
Was that a serious question?

 

[OSUman]

kind of more of the coons then the coyotes
if you made it of wood would it stand better?

 

[jaku]

It's not predator proof AT ALL! My first tractor I built like a tank. 2x2's, hardware cloth, latches, even 2x10's all around it to keep animals from digging in. I live in the middle of several hundred wooded acres in Michigan, so I figured I'd have horrible predator problems. Then- nothing. No tracks around it, no digging attempts, not a single sign of a predator. But, the darn thing was so heavy that I could barely move it. I'd run over and nearly crush birds because I couldn't feel them under it if they were too lazy to move when I was moving it. Any non-level surface and the 2x2's wouldn't flex, and I was left with a gap between the bottom of the coop and the ground. I HATED it. So, I put it on Craigslist and built this one. I'll never go back- it works great.

The four sections are just the framework of the SCH 40 PVC. It's one big opening inside. The bottom frame just holds it together better.

 

[lorihadams]

Anyone use hoop houses for meaties? I am just looking for something that will hold 25 birds at the most and be easy enough for me to move by myself. We have never done this before so I only want to build this once!

Anyone else have pics for me???