raising broilers in the winter

[LindaB220]

If I keep them In the garage how big does a pen need to be for 25 6 week old birds. The garage I will use has a dirt floor. What's going to be the best flooring for them and easy to clean

Keep loading deep litter (pine shavings) on it. Stirring a little at times. An inch or two a day. You need at least a 10' x 10' and that's pushing it. Maybe process at 6 weeks instead of 8. That would get you some good 4-5 lb birds.

 

[TyerFamilyFarm]

How cold resistant are they because my garage is not heated. I am excited to get my meat birds going. I got red Rangers as well as CX to just to try a different bird.

 

[newwestchick]

Get two 250 watt heat lamps, leave them on 24/7. Start them about 12" off the ground, and adjust them based on how the birds are reacting (look up in how to raise baby chicks). In my experince meat birds grow too quickly for their feathers to catch up to them, so they can still be fairly naked when it comes time to slaughter. You'll probably need the lights running the whole time you have them.

 

[TyerFamilyFarm]

Thanks I will just plan on that. I just got an email that my order was delayed till the week of March 2nd. I was reading that welp has great broilers which is why I ordered from them. I normally buy turkeys from ideal. Also I was reading and welp days that I want to give to birds a 20% until they are feathered than go to a 22%. I have been reading on here a lot of people feed much higher protein. What would you guys recommend.

 

[LindaB220]

Quote:
What a blessing!!!! This will mean the difference in enjoying your birds and putting up with them until processing. They are hot little birds and won't need too much heat. Watch and see if they move away from the heat. If so raise the bulb. The red bulb is best. In March one bulb will probably do it. Stay with the 20%. Higher will impact the legs later because they grow so fast. Or go higher and process in 6 weeks or so. Looking forward to your updates on how they do.

 

[TyerFamilyFarm]

I am wanting to process 5 at 6 weeks and 5 every week after to get an idea of growing them out and the impact. I have raised many meat animals and have gotten very good at figuring out the prime feed and slaughter. Meat chickens are very new to me. Will 20% put enough meat on them to do a few at 6 weeks. Thanks for all the help I am really excited for this new venture. Does welp usually have pretty good birds?

 

[newwestchick]

It's a good idea to stagger the slaughter dates, like any animal they don't all develop at exactly the same rate. I tend to give a really high protein (like 23%) for the first week then less after that. 20% across the board should give you what you want.
Delaying until March is great! I'm in Canada so have no experience with the hatchery you're asking about Hopefully someone else will!

 

[TyerFamilyFarm]

Is the lower protein to help keep them from having health issues. A local feed store was trying to tell me I need a 26% or higher. I used 28% on my turkeys and it was great. But this is a completely different bird and that seemed high I will keep it at 20%

 

[19disbre]

20 percent is highish for meat birds you can safely go down some, either feed them lower feed percent or less of it

 

[dfr1973]

With CR I've raised in the past couple years, I'd start them with 24% chick starter, then move to 20% chick grower. This last batch I received on Halloween morning, so they came out of the brooder shed around Thanksgiving. Since I had them on grass during winter (notice I am in Florida!) I continued to feed the 24% starter in the morning and evening, with a midday helping of 3-grain scratch. At first I only moved the tractor every other day, but as the "nuggets" grew I started moving it once a day, then twice a day at the very end. I am just glad the neighbor's teenagers weren't home to see us chasing the last pullet as she made her Logan's Run around the yard, waddling just fast enough to evade us. We might have been YouTube stars if the kids next door had their cameras ready ...

The big "secret" to good CX chicks is to make them be active.