What am I doing wrong with meat birds

[jaku]

For my 21, I've just been filling a 3 ft. trough in the morning, then letting it run out. There's always some left when I check on them after work (about 11pm,) but it's gone by morning. They seem to pick at their food all day, but I haven't noticed that they eat nonstop- just when I fill an empty trough in the morning and they go crazy. This morning I got some pretty good scratches on my arm because they literally fly up and DIVE into the feeder before I can set it on the ground!

 

[silkiechicken]

You're probably not doing anything wrong. I don't restrict feed and if I do small numbers, like 4-6, I rarely have a loss. However... If I up and decide to get like a dozen. I end up with losses. They just die sometimes due to their genetics.

I don't restrict feed, however, when I put them out to the grower pen at a few weeks old, their food and water are outside of the hutch. So if they want to eat, they can, but they have to go outside into the cold to do so.

If they are only eating feed, they don't need grit. If they are getting treats and are on the ground where they can eat dirt, they also don't need grit. If they get treats and are not on the ground where there are rocks, grit would be a good idea.

 

[lilshadow]

Maybe I am giving the wrong feed. I am giving broiler feed is this okay? Tomorrow if it is nice out I am going to let them get some exercise for a little while.

 

[MammaHen]

Don't worry honey! I'm in exactly the same boat as you at the moment! I've just posted a message looking for help as my chickens are dropping like flies and they have the most unfortunate looking backsides! They all have ascites (waterbelly) as a result from heart failure. I have changed the litter to wood chips / sawdust, put in fans facing the ceiling to try and get the air moving for better ventilation and cooling (I live in South Africa). And now I'm trying to find a humane feed restriction regime. It was seriously easier raising my twins.....

 

[MaryT]

We have 26 at 2 weeks they are doing ok we don't restrict feed (starter with grit sprinkled in) water with protien added from MMH. although we do clean the droppings out once a day!

 

[adoptedbyachicken]

Meat birds do not tolerate heat well. Planning your 8 weeks for not really hot weather is important, especially the last 4 weeks. I know, hard to get that right, I lost a bunch in October once.

Heat with high humidity will kill them quick, panting just will not work for them.

If the weather gets hot your better off to restrict feed in the daytime than at night. Digestion creates a lot of heat in the bird, and they don't get rid of it well. In the day just give them cool water (best if you can leave a hose dripping to keep water in a pan cool for the older birds, but have a drainage plan as this can create a huge mess too.

I don't restrict feed till at least 4 weeks of age, if I ever do it. I don't think chicks should be without feed. Better plan is to make sure the feeders are up at height so they have to stretch up to feed in them and walk a fair distance to water. If they can lay down and eat themselves to death they will, make them work at it a bit. Free range on grass is a great idea, it helps for sure.

The other thing that can kill chicks at 2 - 3 weeks is piling. Are they getting too cold or drafty at night? If they are they are piling up to keep warm and the bottom ones are suffocating.

Meat birds are hard to raise, they die way easier than the heritage breeds so take heart, it's not just you.

 

[willheveland]

I agree it's probably not you just mother nature.This happens from time to time.Sounds like you are providing their needs like you should. good luck with the rest. Will

 

[UncleHoot]

There are a few details that we don't have from you, that might be important.

How many do you have? Where are you keeping them? In a coop? What type of bedding are you using? Are you providing them with a relatively clean environment? How warm/cold is it?

While my wife and I were watching, I had one chick just start screeching, run to the other side of the brooder-box, and die. It was only 2 weeks old, and looked fine (except that it was dead). So, as others have stated, some loss is to be expected.

You COULD try switching them to a different feed manufacturer. It's always possible that there is something in the feed that is killing them. I (and many others) use a 20% protien feed mix generally from start to finish. I buy mine locally, and it's largely corn and roasted soybeans, along with whatever is in the pre-mix.

My first batch last year, I lost 2 out of 11, but one died from a predator attack. My second batch, I lost 5 out of 22, and 3 of those died on one very hot afternoon, the other 2 just died for no apparent reason. I'm on my 3rd batch now, with 51, and at 4 weeks, I've only lost 1 (knock on wood).

If you continue to have unexplained losses, it sounds like a serious problem. Otherwise, you may just be a little unlucky.