Processing Day Support Group ~ HELP us through the Emotions PLEASE!

[Toast n Jelly]

Quote: They look wonderful! Well done, what a professional job.

 

[gryeyes]

, I actually felt sorta weird or odd for even thinking that I couldn't do it after I did do it. If that made sense! LOL

It made sense to me, even though I haven't yet processed any of mine. I likened your statement to learning how to drive - I remember being terrified beforehand, and during driving classes in high school (some 43 years ago) but now I don't even think about it.

Maybe a lame comparison....

I have told my friends I will at least observe, if not participate, when they process the meaties in mid-June.

 

[mattsinger]

yes, they were the cornish rock X.  they got real big real quick  ...First time raising them, even though there were only 4...I learned a lot.  I'd like to try them again,....just dont have room for many...would like to do  another 4 - 6 in the fall.

One was 7.9 lbs and the other two came in at 8.75 lbs

 

[kacklinkelly]

don't forget to join us in the diary incubation thread as your building it! A lot of help on that thread! Oz has become a um Master Incubator maker! LOL

Thanks for that - will be checking it out soon enough.

 

[kacklinkelly]

A few MEATIES questions

At what weeks age do you really have to watch for leg issues and such?

Also, Will fermented feed make them grow at a faster rate? I swear it makes my brahama grow faster! but that's like watching snails with brahma no matter!

I noticed the leg issue around 3-4 weeks with one of the hens. She was always the runt. She managed ok until about week 6-7 when she could no longer fight her way to the
feeder with the others. They also stepped on her a lot. It was time.

I used both regular dry feed and fermented feed. One in the morning
and the other at night. They really didn't run for the fermented feed like they did the dry, (although they eventually ate it all) so I stopped giving them the fermented. For the
first two weeks, I left food round the clock for them. After that, they were fed about 5:30am and then about 12 hours later. I used the
same feed that I fed my chicks and hens. I wanted to see if it made any big difference instead of buying another bag of feed just for
meat birds. Mine didn't come out as large as some of the others posted here, so maybe there is a difference. Also, I processed mine at
7 and 8 weeks. Would have let them go a little longer but I was concerned with triple digit temps and the dogs that I will be watching for 10 days
coming soon. Next time I think I will try the Red Rangers and will also attempt to pluck.

I forgot to mention that I also gave them plain yogurt, as one poster suggested, to assist when the leg issue first appeared. I mixed it in with the dry feed and they gobbled it up faster than the fermented feed.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: yogurt to all of them? once a day? wonder what that does, I am also wondering if there is a special vitamin mix to keep legs healthy and strong, like if given the first few weeks and such.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Lights:
Constant light is recommended. Provide one 25-40 watt bulb per 100 sq. feet.

Anyone do this???? It doesn't really explain : (​

Feed: Feed a completely balanced ration. For fryers and broilers, feed a starter mash or crumble pellets
containing 20-23% protein until slaughtered. For roasters, feed a 20% protein starter for the first 6 weeks
then switch to a 18% protein grower feed. Many people just "dilute" the starter by feeding 90% starter
mash with 10% corn from 6 to 10 weeks and feeding 80% starter mash and 20% corn after 10 weeks of
age.

Feeders: Three (3) inches of feeder space per bird. The lip of the feeder should be level with the birds
back height to prevent feed wastage. Only fill trough feeder 1/3 or 1/2 full to prevent wastage. Keep feed​

in front of birds at all times.??????


http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/2902/2902-1083/2902-1083_pdf.pdf
Phillip J. Clauer, Poultry Extension Specialist , Animal and Poultry Sciences VA Tech

 

[Sally Sunshine]

The ready-to-cook weight will be 70-75 percent of the live bird weight.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

A 22-24 percent protein starter mash is usually fed to poultry meat birds for the first 4 weeks. Many feeding programs then switch to a 20 percent protein finisher feed until broiler market time. Meat birds grown on chick starter and developer feeds with lower protein and energy content will not gain as rapidly as those on a broiler feeding program. A small amount of grit can be fed once or twice a week.

Roasters and capons fed on high energy broiler feeding programs are more prone to leg problems and breast blister development. Birds to be raised to heavier weights can be fed a developer feed with lower protein and energy content following the broiler starter until 2 to 3 weeks before processing. This developer minimizes early fat deposition and provides more adequate skeletal and muscle development during the growing period. A high energy finisher feed is then fed for the final 2 to 3 weeks.http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/livestocksystems/DI1188.html



Thought I would share as I am searching for leg health : ) and keep running into stuff.

 

[fisherlady]

Lights:
Constant light is recommended. Provide one 25-40 watt bulb per 100 sq. feet.

Anyone do this???? It doesn't really explain : (

We did not, though ours did have light for the first two weeks since they were brooded inside for that time.
Maybe it accelertates their 'growth clock' so to speak... I'm sure it affects their Circadian rhythm. ​

Feed: Feed a completely balanced ration. For fryers and broilers, feed a starter mash or crumble pellets
containing 20-23% protein until slaughtered. For roasters, feed a 20% protein starter for the first 6 weeks
then switch to a 18% protein grower feed. Many people just "dilute" the starter by feeding 90% starter
mash with 10% corn from 6 to 10 weeks and feeding 80% starter mash and 20% corn after 10 weeks of
age.
We did this... our starter was 24% for first 6 wks (all day for first 2.5 -3 wks, then 12 hrs on/12 hrs off after that)
After 6 wks we have switched to a 22% turkey feed and give them a home made scratch mix in their yard to keep
them moving (they got the scratch from 2 days on, we just increased the amount and frequency we give it.)

Feeders: Three (3) inches of feeder space per bird. The lip of the feeder should be level with the birds
back height to prevent feed wastage. Only fill trough feeder 1/3 or 1/2 full to prevent wastage. Keep feed​

in front of birds at all times.??????

We fed round the clock till about 2.5- 3 wks, then 12 hrs on/ 12 hrs off. I didn't use the FF this time, will experiment
with that on a new batch in the fall or next spring so I have clear results from it's use.

http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/2902/2902-1083/2902-1083_pdf.pdf
Phillip J. Clauer, Poultry Extension Specialist , Animal and Poultry Sciences VA Tech

A 22-24 percent protein starter mash is usually fed to poultry meat birds for the first 4 weeks. Many feeding programs then switch to a 20 percent protein finisher feed until broiler market time. Meat birds grown on chick starter and developer feeds with lower protein and energy content will not gain as rapidly as those on a broiler feeding program. A small amount of grit can be fed once or twice a week.

We gave ours sand and ash mix in their brooder as babies and had them use that tub to scratch for goodies... and we keep them on a sand based mix in the coop, so we haven't fed them seperate grit. We give them a pile of straw in one corner for their 'bed' . Every other day or so I can use a rake to clean up the sand and a pitchfork to remove the soiled straw. The straw I usually flip and fluff on one cleaning, replace on the next.

Roasters and capons fed on high energy broiler feeding programs are more prone to leg problems and breast blister development. Birds to be raised to heavier weights can be fed a developer feed with lower protein and energy content following the broiler starter until 2 to 3 weeks before processing. This developer minimizes early fat deposition and provides more adequate skeletal and muscle development during the growing period. A high energy finisher feed is then fed for the final 2 to 3 weeks.http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/livestocksystems/DI1188.html

Great info/reference!


Thought I would share as I am searching for leg health : ) and keep running into stuff.