Meaties is the collective pet name I've given my 19 rescue broilers.
All the babies are still doing fine in the brooder with the layer chicks. One has started jumping up on the edge of the brooder whenever I go out there because she (goodness I hope she is a SHE) likes to be picked up and cuddled. With the exception of two, none of the meaties are growing at the extraordinary rate I expected. They look like normal chicks, growing up. They don't eat non-stop. They like to run around the porch alot and since they are on a natural light schedule, they aren't eating 24/7.
I thought I was going to have to ask DH to cull one of the meaties yesterday. He (now about 90% certain he's a HE) is three times as big as the other meaties. He has these huge legs, but he doesn't use them. He just sits in front of the feeder all day. Yesterday was extremely humid and he was obviously having a hard time of it. Panting, body spread out, just looked miserable.
When I pointed him out to DH he said he felt that it wasn't time. We installed a fan for the brooder instead. I then took this not-so-little guy out to the chicken yard for awhile. It's shady out there. I put wild strawberries just out of his reach and made him realize that he has legs for a reason. He spent a good hour walking around, exploring the world.
Looks like he gets at least a few more good days. Wish it could be longer.
All the babies are still doing fine in the brooder with the layer chicks. One has started jumping up on the edge of the brooder whenever I go out there because she (goodness I hope she is a SHE) likes to be picked up and cuddled. With the exception of two, none of the meaties are growing at the extraordinary rate I expected. They look like normal chicks, growing up. They don't eat non-stop. They like to run around the porch alot and since they are on a natural light schedule, they aren't eating 24/7.
I thought I was going to have to ask DH to cull one of the meaties yesterday. He (now about 90% certain he's a HE) is three times as big as the other meaties. He has these huge legs, but he doesn't use them. He just sits in front of the feeder all day. Yesterday was extremely humid and he was obviously having a hard time of it. Panting, body spread out, just looked miserable.
When I pointed him out to DH he said he felt that it wasn't time. We installed a fan for the brooder instead. I then took this not-so-little guy out to the chicken yard for awhile. It's shady out there. I put wild strawberries just out of his reach and made him realize that he has legs for a reason. He spent a good hour walking around, exploring the world.
Looks like he gets at least a few more good days. Wish it could be longer.
