Totally new to meat birds....Help?

[Reurra]

So Im completely new to meat birds, and my 1.5 week old birds are so fat already! They pant too.

Am I giving too much access to food? Should I be limiting it?

How often are they required to eat?

they sure poop a lot, what are some ideas about poop management? I read that adding on top of old is better.

They are already outgrowing their brooder, I only have a place in the coop for birds that are 4 weeks old and feathered out. these guys still have fluff...its been down to 49-50F at night, with a heat lamp would they be OK out there? They days have been in the 70s.

The brooder is only 2ft wide by 4 foot long, there are 17 chicks in the brooder.

 

[LarryP2]

I have 50 CX that were placed in a covered run at 2 weeks old when they outgrew their brooder. It is getting down into the 50's here at night and they huddle together for warmth and are really growing feathers fast and slowing down their growth. This is a good thing in my mind.

 

[Reurra]

Mine barely have feathers and are as fat as a potato. Im going to pick up a board to lay on the floor so they dont get cold.

 

[redsoxs]

I'd keep them on "full feed" for another week or two then gradually limit their food to 12 hours on, 12 hours off. They'll hate it but in the long run it's better for them. Also keep their water some distance from their food so they have to exercise to get it. If we are talking Cornish X here they'd be happy to not move at all and plop down in front of their food and water....but this causes even more leg problems. They still need the heat lamp at 1.5 weeks - if they pant they can move out of the warm spots. They are going to quickly outgrow that brooder - meat want to upsize. And the poop...what goes in must come out....this is so true of Cornish. When mine are chicks I change out their litter about every other day or it just becomes a stinky mess that gets on them. I am happy because tomorrow I am sending the final five of the original 25 I got in April to freezer camp!!!

 

[Tabasco Jack]

Have you read the Meaties 101 sticky thread? https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/436974/meaties-101

This will explain a lot about space requirements and feed.

Also read the thread on Fermented Feed for meaties. I give both dry feed and FF and it helps with the poop odor.

 

[Reurra]

Wow! I wish i could have found that thread earlier!! I Guess I need to make a chicken tractor. How big should i make it for 10 birds? 20? I might get 20 next year if everything turns out well this year.

Yes they drink a LOT!! I have to buy a new waterer, which i will do on Tuesday or Wednesday. I will likely have to get a much bigger one than average. I will also have to feed them twice a day too, the feeder I have is small right now, just a chick one and they empty it easily in 6 hours. I feed them in the morning and when i get home from work. Each time the feeder is completely empty.

The enclosure I have right now has no outside access. But I closed the window it has because i dont want them chilled. I guess I should open that every morning to allow air flow. Its a big window.

I have a big wire dog crate i can drag around and let them outside for a little while, when they are perhaps twice the size they are now. Guessing weight, I would say they are already at 1/2 lbs.

 

[Tabasco Jack]

See my tractor here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/tabasco-jacks-chicken-tractor
I have modified the wheels since I wrote this though.

Mine is 8' x 8' and I typically run 25 birds at a time. This spring I did 35 and it was a mite crowded. So for 25 birds, that gives 2.5 sf each.

I have to move the tractor every morning and evening or else they tear up the grass and deposit too much poop in one place. It's easy to see the spots where I wasn't able to move them due to the heavy rains we had.

First time raising these is challenging, but the reward is great. Good luck with it.

 

[Reurra]

Wow, Im going to use that plan! I can build so thats a big help! Now Im excited! Maybe i can see about working on it this next week!