having rare breed layers up until now....we've decided to do two runs of meat chickens(6-8 weeks) in move-able coops. any ideas of a weight gain grain ? like corn only or a scratch-grain mix?
what do you do?
what do you do?
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West Virginia
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Re: meat chickens
Thu, February 14, 2008 - 7:00 PMwe haven't done meat chickens yet, this summer we'll be giving it a shot. but we do give our ladies molasses cob in the winter to get em' fat and happy to make it through the cold nights.that might be nice for your meat hens. ..i bet the folks at your local feed store would be helpful in figuring this one out. -
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Re: meat chickens
Thu, March 13, 2008 - 10:17 AMDo you get molasses cob from a feed store? Is it organic?
I was talking to a friend about the white meat brids. She got about 15 and about 8 laying hens of different breeds. She said she was amazed at how fast the meat birds grew and fattened up. After hearing this I did a little bit of reading and it seems the meat birds are genetically altered (G.A.) to grow fast and meaty. No judgement to you, but I decided the less G.A. breeds are great, have meat, get fat may seem a little slower to get there but worth it to me. Since I am doing this to live in more harmoney and self sustainability.
I would be interested to hear how your chickens come along...get another story. Also how the meat differs and the taste.
Good success to you. -
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Re: meat chickens
Thu, March 13, 2008 - 4:15 PMyeah, they were bred for meat, poor things don't have a good life if you don't eat them. we are doing this for self-sustainability too.i am pretty sure it is still organic. i hear the meat is the tastiest.
peaceful valley farm supply has some good pasture seed mixes- full of the omega -3's. -
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Re: meat chickens
Fri, March 21, 2008 - 11:06 PMWe are also looking into some meat birds this summer, and have been struggling with the "G.E." concept, and i understand there are some breeds that are more "middle of the road"- meaning they are "broilers or layers". I'm just wondering what breed you have, and i am also curious how it goes for you. I'm also having a hard time finding a local supplier of chicks... besides wanting to support local folks, it just seems a bit scetchy to be ordering chicks from the east coast or whereever when i'm in idaho! although that seems to be the way most people do it for large quanitites- i'm lookinng at maybe 100 birds to supply our neighborhood. did you mailorder your chicks? -
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Re: meat chickens
Thu, March 27, 2008 - 1:22 PMJustin and I don't mail order, because we never need so many...just 10 or 12.
We get them from Pistals (Portland OR). I have looked on line and found you have to order the amount you are looking to get, but have not asked any farms locally. That might be a great idea if they have more than one type of breed. I like to have pretty and different yard decor walking around.
Tell us how it goes if you call around to local farms and get a yes on buying their chicks.
The birds that we have had that do well for cooking have been Black Australorp, Buff Orpingtons, Light Bramas and Silver Laced Wyandottes.
I have heard Cornish are good meat birds.
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Re: meat chickens
Thu, March 20, 2008 - 5:04 PMI want to try meat chickens some time this year as well. Your foodstuff supplier should be able to tell you what is available. I have been told with this breed that it is better to have them free range otherwise they eat so much they can lose the use of their legs. That is why many supermarket chickens have amonia burns on the hocks because they are literally sitting in chicken poo unable to move because they are so heavy. A little exercise is always good. -
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Re: meat chickens
Thu, March 27, 2008 - 4:40 AMwe are getting cornish x rocks, cross-bred, not genetically engineered-right? -
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Re: meat chickens
Thu, March 27, 2008 - 1:24 PMOh, as far as I know the birds are cross breed, genetically altered not genetically engineered.
Frankestien was genetically altered...that is how I think of it. Hee hee.
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