size of pen for cornish x or freedom rangers

[chickmix]

I am not able to free range but would like to raise meat birds. I know for layers, 8+10 sq ft per bird is recommended. What is a recommended size for a meatie pen?

 

[SteveH]

Are you thinking of a tractor [ portable pen that can be moved as needed ] or stationary ?

 

[chickmix]

stationary

 

[Jared77]

Could you post your opinion on a tractor as well as stationary please?

 

[TyrannosaurusChix]

right out of my storey's guide to raising chickens book:


Minimum confinement for meat birds(cornish X)



AGE Min floor space per chick

0-2wks .5 sqft
2-8wks 1 sqft
8+wks 2-3sqft

 

[Jared77]

Thank you I kept hearing different opinions

 

[SteveH]

A square foot per chick is pretty spacious at first , but by 8 weeks not so much . CX fed for maximum growth don't move around much , but crap plenty ; Rangers are bred to eat natural foods and supposedly reduce the amount of commercial feed , plus acquire a different flavor and texture by moving around and browsing . In a stationary pen providing only a square foot per bird there will be a problem with manure and certainly nothing growing there long before 8 weeks . My tractor provided just over a sq ft , and they ate every bit of grass growing in it , leaving a bare spot when I moved it every day . I can't remember their age when I completed my permanent pen and moved them , but I sure felt better about giving them more space . As far as actual room the tractor did not look crowded , but I kept imagining that each chicken only had a space slightly larger than 12" x 12" to live in and I certainly wouldn't build a pen that size if I was only raising one chicken .

Just my own personal opinion , I like to see my chickens living in as big of a pen as I can afford to build . Had I butchered at 7 or 8 weeks [ mine are hopefully going to breed ] a square foot per bird would have been enough if moved daily ; I'd hate to see how much waste had accumalated in a stationary pen .

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
Steve,

I havea stationary pen right now-they have been in it a week. they are 4 1/2 weeks old. Just last night is when I noticed teh poops-bleah. its dirt floored-no grass. but when they are in bed I hose it down-so it helps alot by morning...My brain has been going loop-de loops over what I will do next year!

 

[willheveland]

Quote:

I havea stationary pen right now-they have been in it a week. they are 4 1/2 weeks old. Just last night is when I noticed teh poops-bleah. its dirt floored-no grass. but when they are in bed I hose it down-so it helps alot by morning...My brain has been going loop-de loops over what I will do next year!

sonew123, do you have room for a moveable pen? will

 

[sonew123]

Quote:

I havea stationary pen right now-they have been in it a week. they are 4 1/2 weeks old. Just last night is when I noticed teh poops-bleah. its dirt floored-no grass. but when they are in bed I hose it down-so it helps alot by morning...My brain has been going loop-de loops over what I will do next year!

sonew123, do you have room for a moveable pen? will

yes-Im just truly worried about predators:-( I havent seen really any movable tractors that would allow me to sleep easy-