AL - Recording baby steps: Newest Addition

[FarmerDenise]

I take the feeders out in the evenings, because otherwise I end up feeding mostly rats. The feed lasts a lot longer since we started taking it out at night. I do give generous sprinkling of feed on the ground in the mornings or have several feeders available in order to accomadate the voracious horde. I pretty much get stampeded in the morning rush
SO avoids that by putting the feeders in the yard and then letting the ladies out.

 

[miss_thenorth]

Well that makes sense, I guess I have taken it for granted that we do not have a predator or any other varmint problem here.

 

[Farmfresh]

I withhold to encourage more movement and foraging.

My last batch I got just about perfect. I filled the feeder with 20 percent every other day and fed scratch grains scattered in the grass everyday. They moved more, seemed healthier and still gained at an incredible rate.

The feeder held 25 pounds of grain and they were wiping it out in a day at the end.

 

[miss_thenorth]

well, Mine free ranged within an electric netting area. they had a shelter from the wind/rain/sun, which is where they spend most of their time. I always put ther feeder and water the farthest distance from their shelter, -mine walked around alot, and foraged. When we butchered the few we did do, their crops had just as much grass as feed in them. Mine were healthy, fully feathered and active.

 

[TanksHill]

"The feeder held 25 pounds of grain and they were wiping it out in a day at the end."

Holy cow FF, How many birds ate this much? That's a lot of feed.

Al. maybe yo could have the BF help with the couple the are largest. Then your Dad can help when the others are ready.

g

 

[Farmfresh]

"The feeder held 25 pounds of grain and they were wiping it out in a day at the end."

Holy cow FF, How many birds ate this much? That's a lot of feed.

Al. maybe yo could have the BF help with the couple the are largest. Then your Dad can help when the others are ready.

g

That was 29 hungry little birdies!

They pretty much eat until they can hold no more take a little rest and then eat some more.

I have raised Cornish Rocks both ways full feed with no removal time (except they DO stop eating in the dark at night) and this method. I noticed little or no slow down on growth and went through about 100 pounds (at least) LESS feed. Cheaper to raise = better for me.

 

[Farmfresh]

Also here are my butcher figures for this year. I started with 31 chicks (ordered 28 and got 3 extra). Two chicks died within the first week - they were the littlest probably extras thrown in because of their size. The remaining 29 were butchered at between 4 1/2 and 6 pounds live weight. The first to be butchered were 45 days old. Here is a pic of one.

Seems to be plenty of meat to me!

When butchered the average weight was between 3.75 pounds and 4.50 pounds plus giblets. To me that is a good size for cooking.

On average the breast alone weighed 1 1/2 pounds!! I package my chickens the way I eat it. I ended up with 52 packages of chicken with a total weight of 113.75 pounds from 29 birds. I really would not like them much bigger, but I have let a few grow to full size and ended with a 10 pound dressed bird for a roaster.

 

[AL]

Thanks all!
I take up the feed because I don't want to encourage rats to get established and then have to deal with them going in my layer pen. Of course, my dogs make short work of rats - but still.
I did move the feeder into the shelter with the light on, so they ate later. I still gave them their 5 minute buffet. This morning they had warm mash of their crumbles with whole oats and apple bits. They weren't interested last I saw

I had planted oat grass in the pen with my meaties and they loved it. Loved it so much it is all gone. For now I am pulling up grass from the yard and garden (no pesticides, fertilizers etc). I was discussing my dad about possibly running my left over hardware cloth a little ways out in the yard so they can get some grass on their own. I really want to find a way to make it happen because them being able to get fresh greens was kind of the point.

Yeah, we will probably end up with my dad having to help with the last batch. Or maybe, after the first ones, I'll find my spine and do my own.

Or not .

I only want maybe 1 or 2 roasters (don't know if my friend wants more).

 

[Farmfresh]

When you select the roaster birds look for birds with the best legs and the most brightly colored healthy beautiful birds in the bunch. These birds have puny genetics. By choosing carefully, the best will be the birds to grow to full weight without dying from a bad heart or having a leg that literally breaks under their own weight.

 

[AL]

So far none of them have even the slightest leg problems that I can tell. But they are just small. This pic was taken this past Monday.

My meat flower