Winter Broiler Projects-share your progress :)

[Pearce Pastures]

We're doing a late meatie project too. Ours are about 5 weeks old now, but we won't be butchering them until 11/28. I have noticed that they are a little slower to gain weight since the weather has cooled off. (Waaayyy off, we have a little snow here in Michigan today, thanks Hurricane Sandy!)

I'm also giving them a little more protein in their broiler ration. For us that's fish meal since I couldn't find any organic soy or peas to add.

I'm really having a tough time this year with loosing a higher percentage of birds than I have in the past. I'm using the same feed, same water, same enclosure, same pasture and same process as last year, but of the 175 I've grown this year, I've probably lost 30 birds. They seem lively and well, and the next time I go out to feed, I find 1-2 dead ones. That will go on for 2-3 days, then it stops and they're fine. I just can't put my finger on what's wrong.

Any ideas?

Last year I lost maybe 5 out of 175 birds.

Not really sure. I am new to this too. We only lost two last time-one that somehow broke its leg when it was still small (no clue how still) and the other had a run in with my DHs foot when he was working in the barn

. I have heard that sometimes, these meat birds just die because of heart problems due to their rapid growth but I also think that happens closer to processing time when they get so heavy. The only two things that seem like they would be different with you current batch is the season or, as you mentioned, the extra protein in their feed--not sure if either of those have anything to do with that though?

Edited because I just reread and see that it isn't happening just this time but you said all year so guess that wouldn't be a factor.

 

[Orp]

I am so glad I found this thread as I REALLY need some advice. Just bought 40 Cornish Rock from Ideal Poultry to be shipped Nov 7th and now I'm having second thoughts. I'm not sure my premises here are adequate and I'm also worried about high mortality rates for Cornish that I have been reading about online.

What started this is I will be "harvesting" a plethora of roosters this weekend and combining the remainder of my two flocks (Marans, Americanas, Orpingtons) in the barn for the winter. That opens up a brooder that I keep outside. I had the idea I could use the brooder for the 40 Cornish and harvest them in 6 - 7 weeks. It's 40 degrees here today -- WHAT WAS I THINKING!

I would either have to run a heat lamp out there, or keep the chicks in my kitchen for a couple weeks. Not sure either choice is practical at this time of year.

Any thoughts?

HELP!

 

[SIMZ]

I'm not sure how big your kitchen is, but there's no way I would even attempt to keep any meaties in my kitchen - let alone 40.

So, I'd take that out of your list of options.

If the picture above is the brooder you're talking about it's probably not going to work. (Unless it's a lot bigger than it looks.) Let's put it this way.....would you be able to fit 20 of your full-grown chickens in there now? That's about the room they'll take up in just a few weeks. After 5-6 weeks they'll be the size of your full-grown chickens, so imagine 40 chickens in there. Plus, they probably won't be able to climb the ramp to get in there. They're about as agile as cement blocks.

If you've never done these before you will not believe how quickly they grow and how much waste they produce. It's hard to understand until you experience it. lol

Is there any room in your barn that you could pen off a 10 X 10 or 12 X 12 area? Otherwise, you really might want to re-think things.

 

[Orp]

Thanks so much for your sensible reply. I raised 11 chicks in that brooder this year, which dwindled to 8 after raccoon losses (I let them roam during the day). They could barely fit inside at night, but they did. The Marans are just enormous birds and I ended up with 2 gorgeous but gregarious roosters, one of which is headed for the freezer.

I have a generous box stall in the barn where I keep the remainder of the flock -- about 12 by 12 with nesting boxes on one wall. It is enclosed with chicken wire and metal flashing along the base of the walls and door -- not perfect but as secure as I can get it right now. After processing 4 roosters I will end up with 14 birds to overwinter in there. I will end up with 4 roosters, 4 hens, 1 duck and 5 guineas. The guineas -- hatched in July -- are in a dog crate inside the stall in order to acclimatize them to their new "friends". There is electric in there and water. I have had a heat lamp in there in the past, but 95 degrees in November? Not sure about that!

Would it be practical to put the Cornish Rocks in the dog crate with the heat lamp over it for awhile? When they outgrow the crate I can just open the door and let them mingle as they want. How long will I need the heat lamp in there? For chickens I only used it for a week or two and that was in May!

 

[SIMZ]

By the way, that brooder/coop is adorable!

Depending on size, the dog crate with heat lamp would probably work, but I still think that in about a week they'll be popping out of even the biggest crate. My laying flock tend to peck at my meaties if they get in with them - and would probably seriously hurt them as little chicks. Will all of these chickens be free-ranging outside as well or just in this 12 X 12 area?

People do raise them with their layer flocks, although that seems to be in more free-range situations. Hopefully, someone with more experience can chime in.

 

[Orp]

I usually let them free range during the day when I am home, but because I am combining flocks I can no longer do that. I'm afraid they won't come back home! I'm thinking I should cancel this order and plan for something next spring that is more practical. I would be interested in any comments about layers with meaties.

Thanks so much!!!

 

[neindiana]

I wouldn't start them this late. I thought I might be a little tardy and that was 3 weeks ago. I'ts kind of a pain in the rear to worry about the weather this much, even though it's not that bad yet. I have 2 heat lamps lowered down for these chickens and they are STILL cold at night. I think I'm gonna be ok, but I would dread the weather had I waited much longer. I live in NE indiana and it got down into the mid 30s last night.

 

[kizanne]

I guess when and if to start depends on where you live. I live in Florida and last year we did an late winter/early spring batch started in Jan or Feb. That was perfect because the heat kills so many around here if it get too hot when they are almost done. I didn't see locations for you but I'd definately avoid snow for processing. I like it to be cool but not cold....

 

[Pearce Pastures]

Our chickies are getting big and stinky. We had a sad day during the week when we had a heat lamp problem and lost a few

I know we are going to eat them and some farm people think it is silly to get upset over something like that but I feel just awful. I moved them into the lower part of our big barn where the temp is always a lot warmer than the poultry barn and got a new blub. I can't decide if yet if I will do winter birds.

I do have to have to say that the cold weather is making me worry more about them than our last ones, even before we lost some. During the steamy hot weather we had this summer though, even my petite layers were roasting and while fans help, there was not much else that could make them comfortable. I am not sure how well meaties would fair then because I keep hearing that they are more susceptible to heat issues than other birds. Oh so much to learn yet.

One of the chicks is still kind of runty looking and I am wondering if she is just small or if something else is going on there. I'll be getting some weights on them soon to keep track.

 

[TamTurkey]

I have 2 winter projects I got 12 BBW Turkeys on Halloween and Have 50 Cornish Rock X coming in December. I have my Turkey Poults set up in the garage because the Texas Weather is Crazy 85 in the day 50s at night right now so Temperature is my main concern. We can beat the cold! Lets do this Mighty Meatie Raisers!