Raising our 1st set of CX meaties

[chefchick]

I had mine in a regular brooder until they were about 3 weeks old then they went outside. Their house was my old quail coop. we just made the doorway to the "run" (run is welded wire, and is off the ground-about waist high) so they could go in or out as they wanted. I put their feeders in a larger container with sides to cut out food waste. I really liked doing them that way, but it got crowded for them by the end. They still pooped like crazy in the inside part of the coop, so I had to clean it out and add fresh shavings often (like every 4-5 days), but having them not be eating off the ground, I didn't worry about parasites, and the house is predator proof. we processed all of them and a couple old hens- 23 in all in just a couple of hours from live to all cleaned. then he cleaned up the outside and took care of the yuckies while I re-rinsed them inside and got them ready for the freezer (another couple hours start to finish- some i cut up, some left whole). they are resting in my spare fridge in the garage for a couple of days, then will go in the freezer. The teenage daughter was supposed to help, but after the initial killing them part she got bored so hub and I did it ourselves. I finally got over my squeamishness and gutted my share, and it wasn't bad at all. If we had another set of hands, it would have been easier, but I think we did pretty good. Before the plucker it took us all day to do 10 and we were sick of chicken after that. this wasn't bad at all. Now I want him to build our own plucker so I don't have to borrow again

 

[Angelicisi]

The plucker was really easy to make. Soooooo worth the effort. (we had a learning curve lol)

 

[pipemum]

Yes, that's pretty much exactly what I was going to make! I guess there's not too much variation between drill pluckers! I do like how you double-threaded the top row straps.

 

[Angelicisi]

Yup, I like that info is available for things to help with some of the tedious things-like plucking!
He used a drill bit to drill out small holes to slid straps in. MUCH better fit for the bungees & easier than trying to jigsaw.

 

[pipemum]

Drill bit for the holes, thanks. I was wondering how I was going to do that.

 

[Angelicisi]

Frustration helps ideas here lol
And almost losing a finger getting a jigsaw stuck doh

 

[pipemum]

I'm horrible with a jigsaw, so I'm really glad to hear that using a drill will work!

The addition of the 6 birds (14 total) has really ramped up the feed usage! I mean, of course, I almost doubled the birds I had, so duh. 14 is a little too many for the pen I have, but it doesn't matter since I'll be processing 6-8 this weekend as Cornish game hens. Probably mostly the roos, they are the biggest. If the feed store has the same batch of broilers for sale, I'll pick up enough to keep my numbers at 10.

I'm trying to fatten the big ones up before Saturday, and I've added scratch to their fermented feed bucket. When I feed them, Iv'e been sprinkling the top of their ff with rolled oats and corn that have been soaked in molasses (big bag for sale at the feed store). They still don't recognize sunflower seeds as food!

It's starting to get a little cold at nights now, and I'm not sure I'll be following through with my plan to keep a small batches of broilers rotating through all through this winter. I still haven't built a brooder suitable for outside. If I can do that, then maybe. If not, I'll do at least two more batches in spring and start a little earlier next fall. I'm not even going to try to raise them during the heat of my summer (southern AZ).

 

[Angelicisi]

This is my 4 day forecast...usually pretty steady for a few weeks. Think the lil nuggets could be put out, cooped at night with no heat source?

I have been debating wrapping the hoop coops bottom 3rd in a plastic to keep heat in

 

[pipemum]

Our temps are somewhat similar, though we are warmer in the day and cooler at night. No humidity to keep the warmth in so the nights can get cold.

I think they'll be fine outside, but I'd put them out after your "cold" snap passes, on Saturday or Sunday.

The drill plucker--is your pvc end cap 4" or 6" diameter?

 

[Angelicisi]

We used 4 inch because we had them. Many people use 6inch. Not sure of the difference because this is our 1st.

Our temps are somewhat similar, though we are warmer in the day and cooler at night.  No humidity to keep the warmth in so the nights can get cold. 

I think they'll be fine outside, but I'd put them out after your "cold" snap passes, on Saturday or Sunday. 

The drill plucker--is your pvc end cap 4" or 6" diameter?