What do I need?

[Lissa003]

My niece and her boyfriend bought 4 chicks but are now unable to keep them. 2 are meat birds and 2 are Turkens. I am trying to prepare for the chicks that will be arriving on Friday. I believe the meat birds are 3 weeks old and Cornish somethings. I have never raised meat birds. What do I need? What are the basics? I have been trying to do research but I am confused. Can I keep them with the other two chicks? How does feeding them differ? I am sorry if these questions have been asked before but I am scrambling to prepare for these birds.
TIA

 

[Granny Hatchet]

Are you going to butcher them? You can keep them together. One will out eat the other . Its really all they do is sit and eat .

 

[red horse ranch]

The chicks can be kept together but the Cornish X will need to be processed at around 2 months old. Otherwise they will get so big it's legs may break or they could have heart attacks from the extra weight. The Cornish meat birds rarely live past 4 or 5 months old. The Turkens should be good egg layers if female.

 

[Compost King]

If you want to keep the Cornish X as pets you have to ration their feed and restrict their access to feed most of the day. If you want to process them then leave them be with the other chickens until they are big enough to process. You can process them early and have Cornish Game Hens if you do not want to invest too heavily in feeding them.

 

[Lissa003]

Are you going to butcher them? You can keep them together. One will out eat the other . Its really all they do is sit and eat .

Yes they will be butchered. Thank you.

 

[Lissa003]

If you want to keep the Cornish X as pets you have to ration their feed and restrict their access to feed most of the day. If you want to process them then leave them be with the other chickens until they are big enough to process. You can process them early and have Cornish Game Hens if you do not want to invest too heavily in feeding them.

I am not planning to keep them as pets but that is good to know. Thanks

 

[Granny Hatchet]

I have had a few meaties and I didnt buy them. Someone didnt know . I tell you, they are the sweetest chickens I ever had. I had a hard time culling them and waited too long. The meat was bruised. Just a fair warning. LOL
and your welcome.

 

[Lissa003]

I have had a few meaties and I didnt buy them. Someone didnt know . I tell you, they are the sweetest chickens I ever had. I had a hard time culling them and waited too long. The meat was bruised. Just a fair warning. LOL
and your welcome.

I do get attached very easily to animals but I am hoping I can handle it when it is time.