What do you feed your meat birds????

[ChickLuver]

I am new to meat birds and am trying to figure out what percentage protien, fiber etc.... Thanks!

 

[Big Red]

From 1 to 21 days you can feed them 2oz per bird Protein 20%, Fat 6.5% and Fiber 4.0%.
For 21 to finish the protein should be 19% and everything else the same. This is if you have Conish rocks and also based on what you are feed ur feeding them. These feeds i'v'e found varied.....
For dual-purpose birds i suppose you can use the same formula

Hope that gives you some sort of idea to start of with.

 

[jaku]

You'll be fine with anything over 20%

 

[Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay]

We feed Homestead Fast Grow All-Natural from Hubbard Feeds. Works great!!

Jim

 

[ChickLuver]

Thank you everyone!!!! I really appreciate it!!

 

[Salt and Light]

I feed all my birds the same thing: Purina Start and Grow, non-medicated.

 

[MissPrissy]

The first 2 weeks they get Purina Start and Grow. All they can eat around the clock.

The next 6 - 8 weeks they get a grower ration. No food at night. Only water.

The last 2 weeks I begin mixing cracked corn into their feed for a week.

The final week they are finishing out on corn only.

I am not feeding them to keep them healthy and growing forever.

I feed them to better serve my purpose which is to fill my table.

2 weeks, with how much they eat, it is enough time to put on a layer fat. A nice thick pad of fat at the cavity opening is what I like to see.

I do not waste the fat. I harvest the fat and render the oils from the tissue and use it for savory pie crusts, dumplings, etc.

I also harvest the internal organs - heart (for my dog feeds), gizzard (because I like them), liver (because fried chcken livers are awesome!).

Waste not want not.

 

[spook]

Personally I read to make sure I used no animal protein- broiler feed has feathers and ground up birds etc. Yuck.
I began our birds on medicated starter, changed to unmedicated crumbles, then to layer feed (it was cheap $5 for the 50 lb bag) then I went to a fat and finish- mind you we only had 6 birds.
They did not stay up at night, placed them in a shady area in the yard for coolness, the only time they had a heat lamp was for the first week, after that it was warm enough to let them go without the light.
At 8 weeks they were still able to get up and move, even tho they sat each time they moved! All weight approx 6 ish pounds each.
Good luck to you! This year I am planning on building a wire ground level pen to move each day, that way the can enjoy grass.
Good luck with your choices!

 

[ssledoux]

This thread interests me as well because I'm getting my meat birds in a few weeks.

Couple of issues I have which I'd like to see addressed by someone who feels the same:

1 - I don't want medicated feed in my birds at all. If I wanted medication in my animals, I'd buy them from the store. How many options do I have in non-medicated, and what are they?

2 - I have issues with the use of corn. Do you have to finish with corn?

3 - I want no rendered dead animals in my feed. Who offers good, clean, natural feed, and how easy is it to find?

Thanks!

 

[dadof4]

I use the Dumore from TSC. It is non-medicated. 24% protein. I use it from day one to day "I'm gonna dispatch chickens." I buy straight run chicks so I don't do them all at one time. It makes it easier for me.