Suburban Meat Birds

[HenriettaPizzaNolan]

Also, picking up more feed this weekend. Another bag of 22%? or 20% or 18% protein? Brand is Country Companion if it matters.

In my first batch I went with 22% for the first 3 weeks and then 18% from then on out, as recommended by Meyer Hatchery. They claim a lot of the leg and heart issues people see are from feeding too high of protein for too long. I had really good results with that method. Birds dressed out ranging from 6.5 to 8.5 lbs. No leg or heart issues. So I'd go with the 18%.

This is the guide from Meyer I used. It's pretty comprehensive and you can even see if your chickens are on track with their weights, and an estimate of how much they eat from week to week. Hope this helps.

 

[Tervuren]

Average of 3lbs 7oz tonight at 4 weeks. And a high weight of 4lbs from one!!! He’s a big chonker! In the process of switching them to 18% feed, just finishing up the 22% bag. Tractor is working really well and hasn’t been too hot. I don’t think my hens recognize the Cornish as chickens lol. They act like they aren’t even there. Here’s two pictures of Mr Chonker and one of the others climbing the outside of the tractor when they were out for weighing.

 

[HenriettaPizzaNolan]

Average of 3lbs 7oz tonight at 4 weeks. And a high weight of 4lbs from one!!! He’s a big chonker! In the process of switching them to 18% feed, just finishing up the 22% bag. Tractor is working really well and hasn’t been too hot. I don’t think my hens recognize the Cornish as chickens lol. They act like they aren’t even there. Here’s two pictures of Mr Chonker and one of the others climbing the outside of the tractor when they were out for weighing.View attachment 3525087View attachment 3525090View attachment 3525091

Looking healthy! Good job!

 

[davidmpenning]

If you like keeping track of everything, get yourself The Poultry Keeper's Almanac (PKA). It will do everything from helping keep track of incubating eggs to recording what lives where, calculating/ tracking feed costs to printing your own egg box labels. It's inexpensive, easy to use and comes as an instant download. I find it very useful because everything is in one place. If you can't find it, message me.

I’d love to get a copy of the PKA. Can I download it or buy it somewhere? Thanks!

 

[MalSabreur]

I’d love to get a copy of the PKA. Can I download it or buy it somewhere? Thanks!

I downloaded it. I've been looking for it online but can't find it anymore. I find it very useful as it allows me to keep everything in one place.

 

[Tervuren]

I have to say that I think I’ll try Freedom Rangers next year. The CX enjoy eating, drinking, and lazing about, just like everyone says. If there’s a dandelion leaf right in front of them they miiiiiight eat some of it. I’m sure they’ll taste great! But they are definitely a bit disturbing in their lack of chicken-ness lol. I think the rangers would work the yard more, which is what I want.

 

[Tervuren]

Off to the processor in a few minutes! Heaviest birds are a bit over 7lbs! Here’s some pics from a few days ago.

 

[FunClucks]

Off to the processor in a few minutes! Heaviest birds are a bit over 7lbs! Here’s some pics from a few days ago.View attachment 3542424View attachment 3542425View attachment 3542426

Yum! Great pictures! They look healthy and happy!

 

[cluckmecoop7]

They look great!
Mine are HUGE!

 

[JeffPr]

They look great!
Mine are HUGE!
View attachment 3544943

How old are your birds?