What do you feed your meat chickens?

[heidiinak]

I have 10 meat chickens and since this is my first time raising meat chickens, I am looking for some advice on what I should feed them to fatten them up before sending them off to the freezer. I have heard several different ideas on this topic and am not sure what is best. Any suggestions? I plan on butchering them in about 35-45 days so I am looking to plump them up!

 

[In His Service]

I fed mine game bird/chick crumbles that was 20-22 % protein and was pleased with results. I gave them unlimited food for first 3 weeks, then when the were feathered and outside, fed them twice a day. Some people give them unlimited food for 12 hours, then remove the food for 12 hours. Make sure the water is far from the food so they will have to walk and get at least a minimal amount of exercise. They drink a lot of water!!

 

[itsy]

Southern States "Sporting Bird Flight Developer" also known as by my feed store to be "Poultry Game Starter Unmedicated" Crumbles. 50lb bag. 22% protein.

It was the highest protein, unmedicated food I could have purchased.

 

[heidiinak]

I am feeding them 22% grower food now. It has been suggested that I also mix in crimped oats and hay pellets. Any thoughts on that? Thanx for the idea about making them have to walk to the water dish. I cannot believe how much water those "meatheads" drink!

 

[uchytil]

12 weeks @ average 14 lbs live weight - 24% Chick crumble 24/7 for 6 weeks then Flock Raiser crumble 24/7 for 6 weeks (slightly less protein). Cold fresh water 24/7. They stayed in excellent health. I kept the food raised so they always had to stand to feed. I will always feed my CX's 24/7 - works for me!

 

[PotterWatch]

Ours (except special order batches), get 22% Organic starter/grower from Modesto Milling from start to finish. Cockerels are 5.5-6lbs and pullets are 4.5-5 at 7.5wks (dressed weights). We remove feed at night when they are in the brooder with a heat light on but once they are moved out to the tractors, they have food available 24/7.

 

[Mac in Wisco]

We're raising our first batch of CX right now. We have raised layer hens in the past and now have a large, organic hen house with a few thousand birds, but we have never tried meat birds. This year we decided to put up 30 whole broilers as well as processing 75-100 of our layer hens for canned meat.

We are feeding 22% organic grower from our local organic mill.

 

[AndrewDe]

We have been feeding our meat birds in trial on aquaponic grown produce as well as mixed grains and fish waste protiens from our organic research farm in Lewiston, South Australia. Through integrating the industry techniques we can obtain a 5 kg bird in 8 to 8.5 weeks in winter and we have very little scours or Coccidia issues. We have also trialled rabbits and the greens are superior in reducing scours issues. More information is available at www.1AQUAPONICS.com.au.

Andrew Dezsery M.Sc
International Specialised Skills Institute Fellow
AUSVEG2010 Finalist