TEWNC Farms

[TEWNCfarms]

I've been gardening/farming for about 6-7 years now and this year I decided to get some heritage chickens and what to use KNF techniques for raising them. Also raising them for meat instead of eggs, I would like them to Truly free range but the predators would devour them around my place especially since I'm not able to be there everyday. I want to keep my coop simple and have two separate runs, allowing one to grow vegetation while they eat the other side, eventually pulling out all the litter from them to use in the fields. I also want the chickens to breed naturally, having roosters and letting the hens brood naturally. Any suggestions would be appreciated?!

 

[BYCforlife]

I've been gardening/farming for about 6-7 years now and this year I decided to get some heritage chickens and what to use KNF techniques for raising them. Also raising them for meat instead of eggs, I would like them to Truly free range but the predators would devour them around my place especially since I'm not able to be there everyday. I want to keep my coop simple and have two separate runs, allowing one to grow vegetation while they eat the other side, eventually pulling out all the litter from them to use in the fields. I also want the chickens to breed naturally, having roosters and letting the hens brood naturally. Any suggestions would be appreciated?!

Welcome to BYC! Thanks for joining.

If you want to raise chickens for meat, you would want to butcher them before they start laying eggs, or else the meat quality goes down. I butcher my meat chickens at 12 weeks, but a bit later is fine.

At 13 or so weeks, the chicken's bones start to fill out, which means less feed goes into the meat.

What breeds did you get? Some breeds are not good for meat, and others are dual purpose.

If you do let the chickens grow to maturity, you will want 1 rooster per about 9 hens, any more and the hens might start looking ragged from being mounted.

Good luck!

 

[sylviethecochin]

Have you got a breed picked?

 

[drumstick diva]

Some breeds will not go broody no matter what. Others like Silkies, Buff Orps, Cochins may do it frequently . When they are sitting on eggs, they will stop laying more.

 

[Pork Pie]

Hello and welcome to BYC - thanks for joining us

 

[Kiki]

Hi there!
Welcome to BYC and thanks for joining our flock!
This video should help you find your way around, enjoy!

 

[TEWNCfarms]

Hi there!
Welcome to BYC and thanks for joining our flock!
This video should help you find your way around, enjoy!

I can't see the video... can you just send the link? And thanks so much! Glad to be here!

Welcome to BYC! Thanks for joining.

If you want to raise chickens for meat, you would want to butcher them before they start laying eggs, or else the meat quality goes down. I butcher my meat chickens at 12 weeks, but a bit later is fine.

At 13 or so weeks, the chicken's bones start to fill out, which means less feed goes into the meat.

What breeds did you get? Some breeds are not good for meat, and others are dual purpose.

If you do let the chickens grow to maturity, you will want 1 rooster per about 9 hens, any more and the hens might start looking ragged from being mounted.

Good luck!

ah see I didn't know that! So what should I do to breed the chickens for meat? Have just a few mother hens and one rooster and harvest the Youngins at the appropriate age? I don't know which breed exactly yet, I was thinking the salmon faverolles? I want some rare breeds but a lot of them are pretty hostile haha and I need something docile to begin with.

Have you got a breed picked?

Some breeds will not go broody no matter what. Others like Silkies, Buff Orps, Cochins may do it frequently . When they are sitting on eggs, they will stop laying more.

Stop laying More all together or just once they lay that batch?

 

[TEWNCfarms]

Hi there!
Welcome to BYC and thanks for joining our flock!
This video should help you find your way around, enjoy!

Actually when I quoted you it showed up thanks so much!

 

[BYCforlife]

Actually, Salmon Favorelles are not meat breeds. I would reccomend you buy Western Rustic chickens, or at least Rhode Island Reds or some type of dual purpose.

Western Rustics should be butchered before 18 weeks, I recommend 12-13 weeks.

 

[TEWNCfarms]

Actually, Salmon Favorelles are not meat breeds. I would reccomend you buy Western Rustic chickens, or at least Rhode Island Reds or some type of dual purpose.

Western Rustics should be butchered before 18 weeks, I recommend 12-13 weeks.

Awesome! Thanks so much! Are the western rustics heritage? Docile? What really is the difference with the meat and egg birds? Can't I just eat them all? I guess one produces more of meat or eggs... I'm not planning on cutting up the breasts and stuff, pretty much Just keeping them whole. Keeping it below 1k birds a year so I don't have to be inspected.