Red broiler care

[Iguanahunter]

Third week update! One of the runts died, autopsy revealed dwarfism-like symptoms, the body was much more compact than the others, all others are almost the size of my coturnix quail, and about the same weight. At least 4 definite cockerels who peck me when I put my hand in their cage. All others are pretty tame and friendly.

 

[Iguanahunter]

Week Número 4 checking in! Everyone doing great, one of the little tennis balls is already growing hackles and crest, they are eating like pigs and growing like them too!

 

[RUNuts]

Good news and thanks for the update. My Cx arrive next week. Eating the last one from the last batch this weekend. Freezer space matters.

 

[Iguanahunter]

Good news and thanks for the update. My Cx arrive next week. Eating the last one from the last batch this weekend. Freezer space matters.

For my first time buying chicks from s hatchery it has been pretty good! I have two in sick bay, one with an eye infection and one that I think I'm going to have to put down because it can't stand up at all. No injuries, worried about it being a disease and I prefer losing one to losing my flock. Good luck RUNuts!

 

[RUNuts]

Thanks! The meat is superb.

I do find it strange how they grow up. We watch all, but as soon as one has an issue, you watch that one much more closely. Kids, dogs or chickens.

I had one that would hobble and started at 6 weeks. No time at 7 weeks to harvest, so they went to 8 weeks and the lame one died 2 days before harvest. Drinking, eating and felt fine. I'll blame genetics got that one.

This will be my second batch and I jumped to 25 chicks from what was supposed to be 10. Brood in one tractor then expand to 2 tractors in 2 weeks. They grow fast and need room. Moved often.

Good luck to you and half way to harvest!

 

[Iguanahunter]

Yeah, one worries about them, and the thing is they are out of my care for four days so whenever something happens I might not find out as soon as I hope to.

 

[Iguanahunter]

Bad news guys, gals and non-denominational... Three more have died and most are infected with bird pox. This proyect has gone from try to get what I wanted to save at least a few...

 

[Iguanahunter]

Week six log, I'm pretty dissapointed with these birds. Aside from being very fragile and half dying to diseases, plus 6 more really sick, they stopped growing a week or two ago. I'm thinking about cutting my losses and butchering them. They are the size of quail, same size as two weeks ago, meanwhile the muscovy ducks I raised alongside them are HUGE! The drake is about 3 1/2-4 pounds and the ducks about 2-2 1/2, and they are a week older than the 8-ounce chicks. Plus no issues with disease from the ducks. I'm picking up 5 more ducklings tomorrow because I have decided that I like their performance much better than the red broilers, and being honest, all other chicken breeds that I have. They are much calmer than chickens in every aspect, no problems with fights or quarrels, and they are self-sustaining in that they breed by themselves and raise large broods of fast growing, delicious tasting, and most importantly, disease resistant ducklings. Will start a new thread tomorrow once I pick the other ducks up, since all males from that group will be butchered.

 

[RUNuts]

Thanks for the update. Sorry for the losses. Is bird pox contagious to ducks? Does this stunt their growth? Any chance of bad genetics?

Quail size at 6 weeks. Not good. Since these are red broilers, any desire to let them go to 12-16 weeks? Did the hatchery say 4 pounds in 8 weeks?

CX are at 1 week. 2 losses. One dead and one just gone the first day. Weird. Guessing garage snake? The other 24 are growing and getting the wing feathers. Happy little chicks. I saw a snake by the chicken tractor (garden) and I'm hesitating on putting them out. They won't last in the brooder another week though. May put them out during the day, but bringing them in at night will be rough and more work. Should work.

Looking forward to a full freezer.

Duck is delicious. How loud are the muscovies? I am planning on quail next year. Maybe.

 

[RUNuts]

From the Ideal website: five pound broilers in ten weeks. May want to run a little longer unless you are just done?