What do I need to know to raise meat birds?

[PurpleChicken]

Start with a small batch of Colored Range Broilers. You raise them
just like any standard chicken.


You need a broiler feed available at any feed store.

You can feed a medicated chick starter if Cocci is a concern for
the first 4 weeks.

1 square foot per bird is fine. (No one jump down my throat)
I gave mine more but the piled up anyways.

The Rangers can free range to reduce feed and make them happy.
Plus it's fun to watch them.

You can raise them in a tractor.

Any questions? jmhatchery.com

 

[jackiedon]

Place the feeder and the waterer at shoulder height so they have to stand. Mine fight over the feeder and they jump, flying and anything else they can to get up front. They always have plenty of food.

I went over to my neighbor's house while he was processing his cornish x which were ordered with mine. He had a flat feeding trough and his bird's legs were no where the size of mine.

jackie

 

[joebryant]

scooter147, willheveland, Buff Hooligans, ChanceRider, PurpleChicken, jackiedon
Thanks to all of you for your interest in and/or contributions to this thread.

 

[MrGreenJeans]

Let me second the thank you. We culled a rooster from our laying flock this fall, and the process went well enough and knowing the history of our meat was comforting enough that we are considering raising some broilers this spring.

Alot of it may seem common sense to you veterans, but it's quite reassuring for those of us who are new to it, to hear that it too isn't rocket science

 

[kenman]

Quote:
This is an excellent point that I had to learn by experience. For the first couple of weeks I used the chick creep feeders. After three of four days of having them I noticed them sitting while eating. Then sitting while drinking, pooping, and basically not even standing to walk. They would crawl to where they wanted to be. So I put the creep feeders on 2x4 boards which raised the feeders. I also raised the waters. When I switched feeders to the bigger feeder I kept it at Shoulder height. I raised two batches of twenty five this fall, the second batch were out alot more healthier than the first. I also mix rolled corn in the feed as they get closer to butcher. Remember, half the fun of poultry is what you learn as you go.

 

[joebryant]

Quote:
This is an excellent point that I had to learn by experience. For the first couple of weeks I used the chick creep feeders. After three of four days of having them I noticed them sitting while eating. Then sitting while drinking, pooping, and basically not even standing to walk. They would crawl to where they wanted to be. So I put the creep feeders on 2x4 boards which raised the feeders. I also raised the waters. When I switched feeders to the bigger feeder I kept it at Shoulder height. I raised two batches of twenty five this fall, the second batch were out alot more healthier than the first. I also mix rolled corn in the feed as they get closer to butcher. Remember, half the fun of poultry is what you learn as you go.

Jackie, thanks , those are the kinds of suggestions and experiences that I'm hoping others will share here.
BTW, what's "rolled corn"?

 

[Southerngirl]

The most important thing is they taste good!! We raised 25 in a portable chicken tractor. We started out with 28 and lost 2 to the ducks and 1 to mother nature. They were ordered in March and processed in the first week of June before the Southern summer got too hot here.They were raised on starter/grower/finisher feed for 7 weeks, we then switched to chopped corn the last 2 weeks. The last 2 weeks we took their food away at night and in the tractor they were moved daily to eat green grass.They were always able to have water. To keep your feed bill down always use a feeder and not a flat pan or trough they will spill it everywhere. Ours dressed out at between 7 and 9 pounds each. The hens averaged around 7 and the cocks between 8 and 9. At the age of 3 weeks they really start to look like a Godzilla chicken. Their poo is also different than a standard chicken. Some spread lime on the area after they move the chicken tractor to help with the smell and breakdown. We are going to try and build a PVC chicken tractor this spring with a tarp to cover them. I believe Strombergs has a picture of one in their magazine. Good luck on your adventure into homesteading. They are well worth the time and effort you put into them.!