White broilers a product of their enviorment

[jdw]

Last fall was our first go around with broilers. I've heard forever about how lazy the white broilers are. We followed the instructions from brooder to 8weeks verbatim. Our first go around our birds were lazy coop potatoes. We currently have 30 white broilers that we took out of the brooder at 2 .5weeks old and put into the tractor almost fully feathered? They are headed to freezer camp this coming Saturday at 8 weeks. For the last five weeks they have foraged just like my laying hens do they have a one acre pasture to forage on an devoure grasses clover and bugs and are a blast to watch. We ended up with a polish chick a a free chick when we go our broiler chicks in the mail and she has been raised with them maybe this is why they forage so well.our birds last fall were total opposite .were doing another 60 in the fall.will be raising them the same.cant understand why they get a bad rap.they have been a blast to raise.

 

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Well seems like your doing good

 

[SIMZ]

I really like raising them as well! We'll be processing ours tomorrow (7 & 8 weeks). It's always a little sad watching them run around their last night. They have a pretty good waddle going, but they still try to get those bugs! Mornings and late afternoons/evenings find them foraging - they tend to lay around during the warm part of the day now.

Ours were outside as well at just about 3 weeks in a large shelter made from cattle panels. What a wonderful thing to not have to mess with those shavings this time! It's always nice to fill the freezer, but I look forward to doing the next batch.

 

[Bossroo]

Last fall was our first go around with broilers. I've heard forever about how lazy the white broilers are. We followed the instructions from brooder to 8weeks verbatim. Our first go around our birds were lazy coop potatoes. We currently have 30 white broilers that we took out of the brooder at 2 .5weeks old and put into the tractor almost fully feathered? They are headed to freezer camp this coming Saturday at 8 weeks. For the last five weeks they have foraged just like my laying hens do they have a one acre pasture to forage on an devoure grasses clover and bugs and are a blast to watch. We ended up with a polish chick a a free chick when we go our broiler chicks in the mail and she has been raised with them maybe this is why they forage so well.our birds last fall were total opposite .were doing another 60 in the fall.will be raising them the same.cant understand why they get a bad rap.they have been a blast to raise.

Those that give the CornishX a bad rap are simply too lazy or unwilling to make necessary changes to accomodate the needs of these birds. Remember the old Scottish proverb... " the eye of the master fattens the cattle." Also, many have an agenda against large corporations and use every opportunity to make their propogandas known. You are on the right track !

 

[wolfpak]

Raised meat birds a couple years back... ended up keeping a few roos & hens. The hens started laying (well & regularly), & we hatched some of the offspring. They ended up looking like..... normal size white chickens!

These big "peace lovin' fatties," as my husband called them, eventually became unwell, but waddled contentedly around with our other free range birds most of the time. After about a year or so the big roo simply lounged under the heatlamp most of the time, but would still waddle about as the spirit moved him. In my experience, they are nice, sweet, good egg layers... just end up getting too big for their hearts & lungs to support.

The roos are just about impossible to eat when they are too old... the hens - at the time, we simply didn't bother with trying to cook them. Old meatie roos are tough as shoe leather, despite cooking & crockpotting for 24 + hrs straight! Amazing broth, & the dogs couldn't care less if their chicken is tender or not..... ended up with some for them & a tasty 'rooster salad pate,' courtesy of the food processor!

We let ours run around outside in an old enclosed trampoline in the daytime from the time they were feathered out, penning them at night, till most were processed. Had NO trouble with leg or sudden death collapse issues, undoubtedly being raised with fresh air, sunshine, exercise & plenty of grass clearly agreed with them! All in all, an very positive experience!

We are raising another 25 right now -- they're about 3 wks old so far, & doing exceedingly well! Purchase from Cackle Hatchery in MO. VERY nice healthy birds, along with 5 Delaware hen chicks, that are also doing great so far, too.

 

[JulieNKC]

Mine were allowed to free range. They did, somewhat, but stayed within 100 feet or so of their tractor when out. Then, when it started getting really hot they started to seem to be suffering a bit and staying much closer.

 

[jdw]

I too notice in the heat 90 plus for three days in a row they kept within 25 feet of the tractor. Mostly for shade I think. They didnt seem to do well in the heat. Seemed over heated a lot.back to 70 degrees today and everyone is very energetic . Probably not as active as other breeds but if you think about it people are like that too.some people sit around,watch tv and put on the feed bag. Some people run 10 miles before work in the morning.

 

[erinchelsea]

I agree that free ranging makes a difference. Last year we raised ours in tractors that we moved around the yard and they would devour their food as fast as we put it out and lay around in their poop. Of course, they didn't have anywhere else to go! They turned out fine but I didn't want to do that again so this year we have a big coop with a large, grassy, shaded run for them and they are much more active, cleaner, they free range and dust bathe just like the others. they do get hot very easily though, and are definitely lazier than the Red Rangers we have in there with them. Still, I enjoy them and giving them open space to run is the way to go!