BarredBuff
El Presidente de Pollo
I cant to get some roos! I want fresh chicken FRIED!
TanksHill...Roll on!!
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I cant to get some roos! I want fresh chicken FRIED!
AL
Almost Self-Reliant
Honestly I was probably a bad creepy meat raiser - they all lived except 1 drowned and couple just flopped over dead.
I kept them inside maybe a week... then I put them out in a kiddie pool in a shelter that had a tin roof, 2 sides were privacy fence and 2 were tarp. I did keep a light on them for most of the time, because our temps started dipping kind of cool (upper 30s or so). If it was particularly cool I would put 2 lamps on them and cover the pool so the heat stayed in but they could still get to a cooler edge. When I took them out of the pool I rigged up a corner of the shelter with really deep litter and hung the light from the rafter... the rest of the shelter was just deep litter.
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TanksHill
Super Self-Sufficient
Hi Bee, thanks for stopping in. I hope all is well for you. 
My problem is I have never had chicks before.
Yes I know, Duhh!!! I have only bought 4 weeks and up. They have all gone straight into a coop. When I had chicks they were raised by the Momma hen. So this is kinda new to me.
I wonder what would happen if I stuck 25 meat birds under a broody hen?
Do you think she could tend them? Well, update on the turkey hen. She was back in her favorite spot in the chicken coop. I put the numbered eggs back under her. I am going to leave her be and see what happens.
g
Beekissed
Mountain Sage
Gina, hon, go look in the meaty section of BYC at my thread from last year. I documented the whole ride from beginning to end....of 20 meaties raised by a WR broody, free ranged til the end, finished at good weights, healthy as horses and every one made it right to the end.
I bought my meaties at the local TSC as day olds!
ETA: http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=325493
PS: Easiest thing in the world to free range with the flock, let the broody do the hard stuff and just feed them right along side my layer gals. I put well over 100# of free range, all-natural chicken in my freezer.
I bought my meaties at the local TSC as day olds!
ETA: http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=325493
PS: Easiest thing in the world to free range with the flock, let the broody do the hard stuff and just feed them right along side my layer gals. I put well over 100# of free range, all-natural chicken in my freezer.
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TanksHill
Super Self-Sufficient
Bee, I will look for the thread. I think I remember those birds. BYC scares me now a days. 
g
g
Beekissed
Mountain Sage
G, added the link....you will find some great pics on there, even of the processing and finished product.
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TanksHill
Super Self-Sufficient
Wow Bee great thread. I am on page 22 and can't stop reading.
Some things that come to mind for me.
Time of year, birds coming the first week of April. Should be cool weather.
Free range space, plenty, lots of grass. I could even separate them from the rest of the flock.
Broody pen... You had your hen and the chicks separate, and integrated them by sight then let them mingle. Not sure how and if I can do this.
Not sure if I will ave a broody when they get here. I guess I can wait and see.
Humm lots to think about, even before we get to the processing point. Which I have never done.
What was I thinking???
Some things that come to mind for me.
Time of year, birds coming the first week of April. Should be cool weather.
Free range space, plenty, lots of grass. I could even separate them from the rest of the flock.
Broody pen... You had your hen and the chicks separate, and integrated them by sight then let them mingle. Not sure how and if I can do this.
Not sure if I will ave a broody when they get here. I guess I can wait and see.
Humm lots to think about, even before we get to the processing point. Which I have never done.
What was I thinking???
AL
Almost Self-Reliant
You'll be fine... if you have a broody that would be awesome. If not, just a draft free place, a lamp and some litter. You have to keep the litter stirred / replaced though because the little nasties just pack it down after they are about 4 days old! lol
I just went back to my journal - I got my meaties on 10/21 and had them staying outside 4-5 days later. Now, it was warm then but it turned cooler by the time they were 1-1 1/2 weeks old. My adventure starts on page 11 of my journal. Not a lot of stuff to learn from, but it is the perspective of a definite newbie!!
I just went back to my journal - I got my meaties on 10/21 and had them staying outside 4-5 days later. Now, it was warm then but it turned cooler by the time they were 1-1 1/2 weeks old. My adventure starts on page 11 of my journal. Not a lot of stuff to learn from, but it is the perspective of a definite newbie!!
ohiofarmgirl
Sipping Bacon Martinis
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you are gonna do GREAT, Tanks! really! everyone has to start somewhere... the best resource i found about processing is themodernhomstead.org - he gives an easy to read account with a little humor. but remember that any description of home butchering sounds horrible just b/c of the words used.
but once you get in there you'll be having a great time - and using the old "is he faking it?" joke... you just wait and see!
i think of our original 27 last year 4 or 5 flopped over, including one on the first or second day. while we didnt have the great success that Bee did.. we also kind of 'got over' the losses and chalked it up to the way of things.
ours kind of liked to be outside and we made them walk around to get water and stuff.
you'll do GREAT!
but once you get in there you'll be having a great time - and using the old "is he faking it?" joke... you just wait and see!
i think of our original 27 last year 4 or 5 flopped over, including one on the first or second day. while we didnt have the great success that Bee did.. we also kind of 'got over' the losses and chalked it up to the way of things.
ours kind of liked to be outside and we made them walk around to get water and stuff.
you'll do GREAT!
Farmfresh
City Biddy
With all of us around ... how can you go wrong!
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