Trying to get my meaties to go outside

[MeatKing]

So this is my second time doing meaties. The first time they wouldn't go out either, I just figured it was cause it was the fall and getting a little cool for them.
The have a coop, with an outdoor run attached. I open the door on the warm days, and since yesterday was plus 25 I put their waterer out there and their feeder. They are alomst 4 weeks and do not want to be outside. I took some grass and made a lttle trail for them, thinking they would go... But no luck!

Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly apperciated!
Have a great day!

 

[al6517]

Unfortunately the hatchery cornish X is extremely lazy and will camp out right by the feeders and waterers, and really don't like to walk much. I believe if you can find a way for these birds to get some excercise by free ranging or anything else it will greatly improve thier mortality rates and quality of the meat. I think the only thing you can do is to place food and water a good distance apart and force them to walk back and forth, while most folks may not be able to do this it is all I can think of to do. They won't respond to Richard Simmons sweating to the chickens so I am at a loss LOL.

AL

 

[MacPoultry]

I use a hoop coop with a lightweight portable 4 foot dog kennel that I use for an outdoor run. Cardboard works well - a square in each hand - to push them out of the coop into the out side area. I keep the feed and water out there as well during the day, and now bring just the water in at night. It does not take them long to figure it all out. My Cornish X are now 4 weeks old and pile by the door in the mornings waiting for me to open it for them. Now I have a hard time getting them all (30) in at night. Last year was my 1st year with these birds and I did this the same way, even opening up the out door run into the pasture - under supervision as the layers can be bullies. Teaching them where you want them to go the first day or 2 might try your patience, but they learn soon enough and makes life - or at least mine - easier.

Good luck!

 

[jBlaze]

Do they have an easy ramp?
I have a few, and they will go out if the coop floor is darn near ground level, and even then, my daughter made them a little ramp. (this coop is about 2 inches off the ground!) Wouldn't want those lazy butts to stub a toe, lol.
Last year we had them in a coop that was about 8 inches off the ground, and our block of wood was not enough of a ramp for them, lol.

 

[Dogfish]

Move them outside permanently.

 

[scubaforlife]

Atleast you can market them as free-range, you have matched exactly the USDA definition.

 

[schmije]

We had ours in a pasture pen, so they were forced to be outside all the time. The last few weeks they just laid around and ate. Only a couple of them had any interest in eating grass or bugs. The only time they walked was to get between the food and water (which were at opposite ends of the pen) and when we moved the pen each day.

Good luck with getting them to do what you want, but the bigger they get, the less they'll move around.

 

[MeatKing]

Thanks everone for your replies. Were just going through a cold snap here now. When it warms up again I will try again to make them go out.

 

[chicken nanny]

We have 37 meaties, they r laying out in sun or dusting... We have to pick them up and put them out.... we put feeder and water out for them.... They find out sunnying is very warm.. They love it.... They pick at the dirt and grass some... They keep busy .... But at evening we have to push them up the ramp some... They r getting the hang of the ramp now... They r 4 weeks old... They love the out side thing... GLwith yours

 

[jBlaze]

I put the feed and water outside and mine sure do follow the food. I just put a bit of plywood over the feed part of the run.