AL - Recording baby steps: Newest Addition

[Denim Deb]

Happy Thanksgiving, AL. Trade you our weather for yours!

 

[AL]

Happy Thanksgiving, AL. Trade you our weather for yours!

hehe
Well, tonight the low is 67* and the high tomorrow is 70. Supposed to rain through tomorrow afternoon. Our weather is so crazy - it is forecast low of 37 tomorrow night, then it will go back to the 50s, even 60s, then Wednesday forecast 33.
At some point in this mess I have to start working on 21 meaties! (Good timing, Lori.... )

 

[BarredBuff]

Happy Thanksgiving, AL. Trade you our weather for yours!

hehe
Well, tonight the low is 67* and the high tomorrow is 70. Supposed to rain through tomorrow afternoon. Our weather is so crazy - it is forecast low of 37 tomorrow night, then it will go back to the 50s, even 60s, then Wednesday forecast 33.
At some point in this mess I have to start working on 21 meaties! (Good timing, Lori.... )

Its 70s now and 30s in a few hours....the weather is so indecisive.

 

[AL]

I very rarely get sick, but if it happens it is usually in this kind of weather!


This craigslist ad almost made me cry
http://pensacola.craigslist.org/for/2079136208.html

I WANT THEM!!! I don't even care what kind they are... they can make some kind of bacon! (insert temper tantrum here)

 

[TanksHill]

Happy Thanksgiving Al!!

I wonder about that CL add. Did you call? I would have to just to see what was up.

So meaties are on the "to do list" huh?? I hope all goes well with that.

Take some pics and notes for me.

g

 

[AL]

Nah, I didn't call. I am just torturing myself clicking on the "pig" ads. It will be many years before a pig lives here. or a goat.
I might could get away with a cow, but I don't need that much milk and I am a sissy about butchering.... well, mammals anyway.

The meats get another week. Next weekend I should have 7 ready, right now I only have maybe 2. We had planned to work on 7 at a time for 3 weeks, but that was starting tomorrow. Friend's BF is going home to Mo hunting and won't be here past the 11th.

Another friend's mom lives north of us in the more agricultural part of the county. She has deer wandering her property so we are hoping she will let my nephews (15 and 12) go hunting. My dad and brother will go too, in case the "mighty hunters" miss! (the boys have only been hunting a couple of times in their lives - J15 got his first and only deer when he was 10, T12 has only been squirrel hunting and bagged nothing).

It is drizzling rain and 38*. If it doesn't rain tomorrow my dad is going to help me clean out my garden so I can till it all under.

I also want to go buy some more pumpkins. I love pumpkin.

 

[AL]

So I finally got around to weighing a couple of the meaties. I rounded up 2 of the bigger ones and they were right at 4lbs. They are 5 weeks old as of this past Wednesday. There are some a little smaller and some only about 2lbs. Is that about right? Or should I feed them more or higher protein? Ideally I want some to dress out at about 4lbs, so we have a ways to go!!

I leave feed with them when I go to work at 4pm, and usually I leave a light on in the shelter. I have no idea when they run out of feed. I give them a 2-3 minute buffet at 130am, then they do without until I turn them into the pen (usually about 9). Once they are in the pen, they have 2 feeders of 20% Dumor and some scattered oats. I usually give them something like sliced grapes or bits of apple sometime during the day, as well as a handful of scratch.

We have to start processing next Saturday, ready or not, because my friends BF is leaving town (Mn not Mo) and he is the one who will do the "off with their heads." I guess my dad can / will help, he may have to with the 2nd batch.

 

[Bubblingbrooks]

So I finally got around to weighing a couple of the meaties. I rounded up 2 of the bigger ones and they were right at 4lbs. They are 5 weeks old as of this past Wednesday. There are some a little smaller and some only about 2lbs. Is that about right? Or should I feed them more or higher protein? Ideally I want some to dress out at about 4lbs, so we have a ways to go!!

I leave feed with them when I go to work at 4pm, and usually I leave a light on in the shelter. I have no idea when they run out of feed. I give them a 2-3 minute buffet at 130am, then they do without until I turn them into the pen (usually about 9). Once they are in the pen, they have 2 feeders of 20% Dumor and some scattered oats. I usually give them something like sliced grapes or bits of apple sometime during the day, as well as a handful of scratch.

We have to start processing next Saturday, ready or not, because my friends BF is leaving town (Mn not Mo) and he is the one who will do the "off with their heads." I guess my dad can / will help, he may have to with the 2nd batch.

Meat birds do not pack on the muscle weight until weeks 7-9. If you process before that, you will be very disapointed.
We make sure to give them feed 12 on and 12 off, as well as as much apsture as they can gobble up.

If you want them to dress out at 4 pounds, then they need to weight at least 6 pounds live.

 

[Farmfresh]

I respectfully disagree.

When I butcher my meaties I start at 4 to 4 1/2 pounds live weight. With the Cornish cross they are quite meaty and make great fryers - plenty large enough.

They also gain VERY rapidly from this point on. Even on limited feed and lots of grass mine gain close to 2 pounds in a week!!!

Here is a handy weigh gain chart that is pretty accurate.

http://www.welphatchery.com/cornish_rock.asp

If you were not raising Cornish rocks, it DOES take much longer for the muscle growth. Regular chickens spend their feed energy on such silly things as sturdy bones, feathers to protect their bodies and internal organs that will actually allow you to live a long life.

Our meaties have no use for such silly things! Eat hearty for tomorrow you die! ... Even if left to natures plan.

 

[miss_thenorth]

I can never understand why people withhold feed at night. When my meaties run out of food, and I fill up the feeder, birds get hurt in the feeding frenzy. I have observed my birds, and they don't really eat much at night, but if it is withheld, they go crazy when it is brought back in. I have never lost a bird older than one week. I have only ever lost, out of the three years I have been doing this, three birds the first year, all before the first week was up. I process between 8 and 10 weeks, and get a bird around 5-7 lbs.