What are the differences in housing for egg birds vs meat birds?

[AmyRey]

Just for my (possibly) future reference.

 

[FluffyColor]

I don't think there's any difference.

 

[NancyP]

Hi, meat birds are short term. They eat and poo a lot so most prefer movable shelters (tractors) so clean up is easier. Meat birds don't need roosts or nesting boxes either.
Hope this was helpful.
Nancy

 

[cassie]

We usually raise ours in a box stall in the barn bedded with shavings. We add shavings as necessary and don't have trouble with odors or dirty birds with our set up.

 

[jaku]

Yeah, tractors work great for meaties.

 

[hildymarie]

Yea what they said. Meaties are a 'temporary' set up. You raise them 8-9 weeks or less in the best part of the year for your area and you are done when they move into the freezer. With eggers you have to consider the weather and conditions for all year. The hottest parts of the summer to the coldest part of the winter. YOu have to consider what they do to the ground, possible parasites, protecting them. Unless you are doing the cage thing which to me totally negates any reason to do them yourself, you are going to have to consider what sort of run you will be giving them, how big etc. You are feeding them for the long term so you have to put more thought into what you will be feeding them. With meaties, you can tractor them when they get big enough to weather the elements, move them daily and keep them fed watered and protected for the couple of months you have them. You can fill your freezer for the year on one batch if you choose to do that many at one time. With eggers you only get so many eggs a day and only so many per chicken and all spread out. On the other hand eggers are far more entertaining and therapeutic. No stress knowing that in a few short weeks you have to kill them for sure.

 

[AmyRey]

Okay, so they basically just have to have somewhere to be dry and secure. Thanks!