As some of you may know I am now the proud owner of 19 Tyson broiler chicks. Until we can come up with a plan B they are sharing a large brooder on our screened porch with my 13 layer chicks - NNs, EEs, silkies, speckled sussex and faverolles. My layer chicks are a few days older and the broiler chicks are a tad bit bigger. I am getting some negative feedback on keeping them together. Been told that the broiler chicks will starve out the layer chicks. Also been told that the broilers won't do anything but sit around and get fat. So far everyone seems fine. They get along great together. The broiler chicks do fill up on food when I first re-fill the feeders, but so do the layer chicks. There are plenty of times when no one is at the feeders or waterers, so it's not like the layer chicks don't have a chance at the feed if they want it. At night everyones crops are full. I'm trying to take all the advice with a grain of salt. The broiler chicks that supposedly will only sit around and get fat are flying/jumping up to the top of the 18" high brooder sides and escaping the brooder like everyone else. I've taken a few of them at a time out to the yard for a field trip. They run, they chase bugs, they have play fights. I guess I'm just looking for reassurance. I want my layer chicks to be fine, but I also want the broiler chicks to be okay. I've been nagging my DH for ideas on a new set-up, but he's not feeling well and hasn't been much help.
Unfortunately, meat birds are raised for one reason: meat. Their breeds are used to eating like pigs and be butchered at 4 months or so . I think your "friend" who dropped them off has put you in a nasty position. Not to mention very emotional. If it were me, I would be looking for them to be elsewhere (the meat birds that is). Best to do it before any attachment occurs......... Sorry........
They will adapt fine Cornish rock as i have found in the last few weeks will adapt my CxR run with my Jersey Giants, Austrlopes,Sex links, Ducks, Geese, RiR's and Dark Cornish which all share the same yard free ranging I have over 300 chickens so far and minus a small loss in flock (CxR) due to high heat and possibly cocci there all just thriving happly as one big family. Heck I got 20 roosters on the yard and they barely even fight Sure that will change soon To add if you dont think a cornish can thrive and become active check out this video link Good Luck hope this helps some. https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=364532 they are some of the fastest birds i have on my yard. Downfall is there dumber then a box of rocks
I believe your broiler chicks are the Cornish crosses, not Cornish. There is a difference. And if you got the Tyson Cornish cross, you should have some fast growing chicks with great blood lines. I don't do the Cornish crosses so take anything I say with a couple of dashes of salt and a splash of tabasco. Chickens are flock animals and like to do a lot of things together, such as eat. As long as you have enough room for them to all eat at the same time, I would not worry at all. Just follow your instincts. Good luck!
Wow 19 and 14! Sounds like a full house to me! lol! How did you quarantine them away from your 14 layer chicks for the 30 days? Did you have just two massive brooders? I don't have any experience with broilers but was curious about what you did to quarantine them for a month?
As long as hey have enough space, access to clean water, and you have plenty of feeder space they will be fine. Go with your instincts. You will see things turn out ok.
Quote: Grit, don't over think this. Do you have a small scale? Why not weigh a couple of your layers and keep an eye on their weight so you're sure they're gaining too. I'd keep them together unless something changes. Right now, it seems they are all having fun and doing what they do best - being chickens (thanks to YOU)!
I don't have any advice to add, but I read your post explaining how they got dropped off on you. I think it's wonderful that you're doing this. Those chickens are going to have a wonderful life (albeit short) because of you! Kudos! I wish all people were this generous and kind.
I was on my to work one morning years ago and got behind an 18 wheeler hauling chicks to be slaughtered. Well you know my luck, one came flying off the truck and skidded down the interstate. Me being the sucker that I am for any animal, I turned the truck around and went to see about it. He was HUGE, had asphalt rash down to the bone on one side, was dehydrated, but sitting there staring up at me. I grabbed him up and went ahead on to work. I found him a box, and gave him some water. Since I was working at a doctor's office I had plenty of stuff to fix him up with. I doused him with Iodine and set him in his box on a clean towel. That chicken sat there until 5 o'clock, just clucking and being content. I took him home and he lived forever in the backyard with all the others, I mean like a year. He just did his own thing and tried to hang with the others and did a pretty good job. Don't stress. Just make sure the big chicks don't sit on the others LOL!!!
