Search results for query: *

Quote: It's not bad for crowding, althought that is my max for a pen that size. As long as you move the pen several times a day, it works fine.

Easy- Get up in the morning and put food out for them. Either be available to refill it when it's empty, or use a big enough feeder/multiple feeders to last all day. Take the feed away in the evening. It doesn't have to be perfect. They don't need food at the crack of dawn, and if you forget...

Quote: They were about 9 weeks old.

Let me add also... I'm not suggesting that the problem is with the Dumor feed, or the protein percentage of it. A 2% difference in protein content wouldn't make much difference. I've fed Dumor feed before, and I've fed 20% before, all quite successfully. The main reason (for me) to get mill...

My buddy and I wanted to squeeze one more batch of Cornish X's out of this year, so we split a batch of 40. Yesterday was butchering day. Keep in mind that the birds in the following photo are the SAME birds, hatched on the same day, same hatchery, etc. I drove to the hatchery, picked them...

Just keep them in the fridge a couple of days. Don't worry about bagged or unbagged. Time accomplishes the tissue breakdown you're looking for.

I've wondered about this too. I've noticed absolutely no difference when I've switched protein levels (went from 20%-22%,) and I don't do enough to make a HUGE difference in cost, but just figured I was doing better by upping it to 22%. I was considering saving myself a little and taking it...

I always order from Townline- and I've only gotten the Hubbards (Cornish x.). I have also ordered Rangers from JM, and they are great birds as long as you aren't selling them to people expecting Cornish x's, as they will be a bit smaller (although still a nice size.). Very hardy, pretty birds...

If all your birds are that size at 3.5 months, I'd say you didn't get Cornish x's. I've had a few individual mix ups, and a Leghorn chick looks nearly identical to a Cornish x until the feathering is complete. I'd bet you got the wrong birds, rather than wrong feed.

If you're used to eating store birds or Cornish X's, other birds will be darker, especially at that age. They get much more use out of their muscles, for a lot longer, which makes the meat darker.

If it's acting like that, I agree with your plan of culling and burying. Personally, I've had a lot of birds die, and I've never seen one on it's back that wasn't either dead or JUST prior to death. Townline doesn't vaccinate their birds unless requested, so I would doubt yours have been, but...

Quote: I agree with Jeff. Wait it out and if they're sick, let them either get over it or die. Personally, I wouldn't care to weed through my young birds to pick out and eat the sick ones. You may lose some, you may not, but when you go to process them, you'll be eating healthy birds...

Even if they don't go inside, at those temps they will be fine. They can handle freezing temps at three weeks.

I agree. Kimball's site is the only place I could find one at an even halfway decent price. Ask around, and you'll have plenty of people tell you that they are easy to find, but they are expensive and take a lot of searching. Kimball has good stuff at decent prices.

Just read this section for a few weeks.

What age do the roosters get aggressive? I have one that is friendly (my three year old named him "Noodles,") and I'm hoping he stays that way, but I obviously don't expect him to!

Cornerstone Farm Ventures has heat shrink bags of all sizes, including HUGE ones.

I used a 1/8" aluminum plate as well, and screwed it down onto pressure treated plywood. The wood is on the bottom, so it has no contact with the birds.

I like using salt water, but it is by no means "necessary" in processing. It does help to draw out blood, it breaks down tissue, and keeps your water colder, but that stuff happens just fine without salt as well.

MY dog has killed my chickens before, and I don't blame her a bit. If I'm dumb enough to free range my birds around a beagle/lab mix, I shouldn't be surprised at the result, and I never am. However, if strays or other animals come looking for a meal, there is almost no coop that is 100%...