start of my first meat bird experience

[3acres]

I like that you put the barred rock and the cx next to each other like that. If you raise just one type you think it grows fast but by putting the cx in there it really is striking how fast they grow. Regular chicks grow fast, at least I thought so till I got cx, what a difference.

Yeah, I thought it might be neat to document the difference. Last year was my first year raising regular chicks and I thought they grew fast also.....crazy how they bred these meaties to grow like they do!

 

[3acres]

Quote:

Really like the tractor thanks for the idea. I want to grow meat birds and was thinking how to fabricate something small. Will they roost inthere as well at night, or do you move them to a coop?

Thanks! I don't know if I would do or make anything I am doing yet, because I don't know what I'm doing....

. I may try making a lighter one next time and see how that goes??? .....and I may mess with this one along the way. That's whats fun about all this, you can do whatever you want and experiement!

They stay in there all night too. Just to mention....the Red Rangers might be alright roosting, but I don't give any of my meat birds actual roosts to perch on and sleep.

Good Luck to you on growing your meat birds when you do!

 

[pellepeterson]

Thanks for posting! I am about to place an order for my 30 meaties to share with the guys at work and was wondering about the specifics...How is your feed cost if you don't mind me asking and when did you start feeding them corn? Is is cracked or whole kernel?

So many questions, so little time...

Like the tractor as well! strong work!

 

[3acres]

Thanks for posting! I am about to place an order for my 30 meaties to share with the guys at work and was wondering about the specifics...How is your feed cost if you don't mind me asking and when did you start feeding them corn? Is is cracked or whole kernel?

So many questions, so little time...

Like the tractor as well! strong work!

Thanks! Sounds like a good thing! Good Luck to you!

I'm giving them cracked corn. I started that at about a week old I believe....just a little at first.

I'll be back on a more exact answer on feed costs, but it has been around $12 to $15 a week for 18 CX and 26 Red Rangers, I think...lol. Maybe less??? I have found a little cheaper feed and am trying to buy bulk, but haven't found a place that I can get less than 6 ton from...lol. I'll be back... I'll look to see if I have an exact date on when I started them on corn too.

 

[3acres]

I started these on a 18% medicated chick starter for just a few days, then went to a 22% meat bird crumble. I started giving them cracked corn by itself in its own container at about a week old. They were wasting a bunch of the dry crumbles....so I started making a watery mush out of the crumbles and top dressing it with dry cracked corn by day 9. That cut tons of waste down! I share the corn they get with lots of other critters, so it's hard to figure the corn in the expense. It's been around the 14 dollar range for feeding them all a week. I haven't been real consistent on what I have been doing with them. I regulate everything involved with them every couple hours and change things as needed according to how they are acting. My top goal this year is just to keep everything alive and learn about that. .....and I'm just doing this for myself and am going to do it no matter what the cost because I feel it is such an awesome thing! ...but do run on no money in life and do eventually want to nail the cost thing down to it's lowest point.....lol. I did find feed 4 dollars cheaper a 100 pounds that I will be getting into this week. I may branch into feeding chickens out for other people in the future, but not sure about that.

 

[3acres]

 

[3acres]

I like where the Red Ranger tractor is...and there will be tons of room for as many of these things I want to have....but ideally probably not the best to have the cows be able to rub on them. The tractor is holding up just fine to the bovine abuse though....lol. I still haven't stained it like I need to....the cows are sanding and kinda staining the edges for me....

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I sometimes let some of them jump out and help me get the feed ready...I enjoy the company and good conversation...ha...

 

[SunnysMama]

They all look great!! Have you weighed any of them yet?

 

[Mingming]

I'm enjoying this thread - thanks for sharing! I did red rangers first (ever) and now I'm doing cornish cross. I really like the temperment of the cornish cross so much better - they don't seem as .... high strung as the red rangers I had. And although they're only 3 weeks old, I don't feel like I'm taking my life in my hands come feeding time. Those red rangers were so demanding!! And these cornish cross seem to like free range time when I can give it to them (under my watchful eye!) and they've actually started eating grass - something my red rangers never did seem to get the hang of lol. Could be the different hatcheries, I guess. I'm also intersted in the taste difference (if there is any).

And as a side note - love the cows! I'm forever trying to talk my hubby into letting me get a cow. You're so fortunate!

 

[richbrad08]

I like where the Red Ranger tractor is...and there will be tons of room for as many of these things I want to have....but ideally probably not the best to have the cows be able to rub on them. The tractor is holding up just fine to the bovine abuse though....lol. I still haven't stained it like I need to....the cows are sanding and kinda staining the edges for me....

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This so remind me of the chick fil a commerciall eat chicken not beef.