Question about a dual-pupose flock

[dchickenman]

Actually, a few questions-

I want to get about a dozen dual-purpose chicks, keep 4 or 5 pullets for eggs, and raise the rest as meat birds. Should the meaties be fed differently from the ones I want to keep as layers?

If so, when do I start?

Is there any way (probably not, but I'll ask anyhow) to predict which pullets will be the best layers BEFORE they start laying?

My daughter wants a couple bantams. Are they ok to keep with my standard hens (they'll all grow up together)?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Ridgerunner]

I want to get about a dozen dual-purpose chicks, keep 4 or 5 pullets for eggs, and raise the rest as meat birds. Should the meaties be fed differently from the ones I want to keep as layers?

I fed mine the same

Is there any way (probably not, but I'll ask anyhow) to predict which pullets will be the best layers BEFORE they start laying?

I'm sure not aware of any. When mine started laying, I marked the ones that I knew were laying. I did not harvest all of them at one time but harvested one or two a week until I was down to the number I wanted to keep. I got all but one rooster first, then started on the ones that were not marked. I did harvest some layers, but not a lot.

My daughter wants a couple bantams. Are they ok to keep with my standard hens (they'll all grow up together)?

Should be no problem. Don't be too surprised if the bantams are higher up in the pecking order than most of your full sized hens. Pecking order is decided more by spirit than by size. So is flock dominance between roosters.

 

[pringle]

The problam with only raising 7-8 birds for meat is you get attached to them if you really want some for meat get broilers if you get dual purpose your stuck with them for 5-6 months trying to get a decent carcass outa them.If you want really good layers get black austrolorps or leghorns.I have some golden phoinexes at the momentand they lay 6 small eggs a week not that bad.Bantams will be ok with standards.

 

[dchickenman]

Thanks for the replies. Ridgerunner, that's a great idea! How do you mark them, ziptie, band, or what?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Since it was for a realtively short period of time, in a totally unapproved, unsupported, unauthorized, horrible way. I put a bit of spray paint on their feathers,well away from their face. Blue was keep. Yellow was next on the list to go, say for the one that would not stop laying her eggs while on the roost (poopy eggs) or the one that was laying thin shelled eggs while all the others were laying eggs with good shells. I figured the thin shells were a genetic problem with her and I did not want that in my breeding flock. Zip ties or bands are probably a great way to go, but the spray paint worked for me.

 

[dchickenman]

LOL, ok, thanks!

 

[cmom]

I raise dual-purpose flocks. I will be processing some this in a couple if months. The are 2 and 3 yr old hens who aren't laying well any more.

 

[Lil_Miss_Farmer_Chick]

I too am going to raise dual purpose birds. I ordered 12 male buff orpingtons and will get them about April 6-8th. I wondered what age would be the best time to process them.

 

[95yj]

Quote:
just stick with the idea that the birds are their for food. i raised ten cx's, talked to them, and could just about tell them apart but when it was butchering time i really had no problems taking the knife to them. You just got to keep in mind that the birds are their for food from day 1, and if theres a few cockerels, too bad for them.

 

[pringle]

Quote:
If you want to get rid of em as soon as possible then aim for 4 months but if you want them to fill out nicely 5-6 months.