Recent content by The Renaissance Woman

My meat birds are at three weeks. I want them to fatten up more. I'm giving them grower but they're not that big really. They are Rhode Island Red / columbian rock cross. Should I be given them corn or sunflower seeds to help fatten them up?

I'm so sorry that happened to you and your birds. That is the fright of someone else, whom you are entrusting your valuables to, coming in to take care of things as you hoped and expected. Unless a person has farming background of some kind they just don't get it. I had someone who promised to...

Good suggestion! I guess it is a trial and error process until I figure out what I'm happy with.

Smart idea. My only thing is to avoid store bought chicken which I find gives me inflammation over naturally raised chicken meat. I would never have believed it unless I saw it and experienced it for myself. Last fall I had to butcher my two cockerels and you're right, there's not much meat on...

This is helpful, thank you! I have thought about the older they get is it worth it for the amount of meat you get. For all that time, effort, feed, and expense, I have wondered if it would be worth it. I was thinking of butchering around the 12-week mark. Then I don't have to deal with them all...

I have RIRs, not Cornish X. I was just thinking I could grow them to the size of a cornish and butcher young. I've not butchered chickens young so I'm not as familiar. I've not had cornish X so I don't know how they grow and I've never butchered RIR's as meat birds before either. I suppose my...

That's a good idea I would consider. Except, I have mostly all hens and wanted them for meat. If I had a bigger hatch with cockerels then I would do that for sure. Maybe next time.

I was thinking of no longer than 12 weeks. Did you mean you have fed your meat bird's chick starter all the way through? I am wondering if I can do that. I have so much chick starter I was just thinking that way it's not wasted and if it's still ok for the bird then why not? Did you feed them 12...

I have Rhode Island Red chicks that are 4 weeks now. I hatched them myself. My homemade incubator worked! I hatched them for meat birds. I have considered having cornish hens. When can I switch from chick starter to grower food? Could I just give them the rest of the chick starter all the way...

Oh, this is helpful! I never knew this existed. Are there some in Amazon? What would I search for?

That is great success! Thanks for sharing your photos. It’s helpful and encouraging, I notice now when my water pan runs fry the temp goes up to 102 and will go higher if I’m not watchful. But when I out some warm water in the pan the temp drops down to 99 on one end and 97 on the other end. I...

I’m sure it wasn’t.

I was mot aware of this thermostat. Does it require an electrician or can you just plug it in? How is it set up? I’m interested to understand how to do this. Having control of the temperature would be great!

I do have a thermostate with a humidity guage. It's digital. I have two in there. That's how I know the temp went up to 104. It's homemade so being high-techy isn't happening.

Homemade incubator. 60 watts - fan - 26 chicken eggs