Meat Chickens

[absrio]

I am thinking about trying some meat chickens. I would like to go with a fixed coop. Do you need one that you can move around to different grass areas. I am not getting them to make money just more for the enjoyment of eating my own chickens.

I figure I would get 25. From what I can figure I need about a 50 sqft coop and a 100 sqft pen. Does that sound about right. I would get the feed from the local Rural King. Any thoughts on this?? Thanks

 

[dave1949]

I am thinking about trying some meat chickens. I would like to go with a fixed coop. Do you need one that you can move around to different grass areas. I am not getting them to make money just more for the enjoyment of eating my own chickens.

I figure I would get 25. From what I can figure I need about a 50 sqft coop and a 100 sqft pen. Does that sound about right. I would get the feed from the local Rural King. Any thoughts on this?? Thanks

Have you googled 'chicken tractor' ?
If you crowd them too much they will start pecking each other's butts - it ain't pretty. Natural pine tar painted on the pecked areas will stop that, or tip their beaks.
Dave.

 

[MikeD74T]

I had a 50 sqft portable pen that I had to move every third day with 20 birds. Started off moving weekly, as birds grew they ate more & pooped more, so had to move more often. The more natural stuff they can eat the less grain you have to buy. Moving often keeps the odor down & is great for grass left behind. Either way, put them in at night or use very small mesh. Racoons will grab them by the head & pull them right thru the wire. MikeD74T

 

[randy41]

are you getting hybrid broilers? the ones that are ready for slaughter at 6-8 weeks?

 

[absrio]

I am thinking of getting the Cornish X. I like the idea of the Tractor in that it is the cheapest to make. I think a stationary coop would provide more protection from predators (my dog.)

 

[dooleysm]

My wife's uncle raises the Cornish X every year and they are delicious. I've helped butcher them in the past. I don't think it's worth the effort though. I butcher some of our layers occassinally, but I always skin them vs. plucking. My layers take a good 6-8 months to get to the same size as the Cornish X, and they still aren't as full bodied.

 

[randy41]

be prepared to do a lot of cleaning of the coop if its not portable. the hybrids eat like there's no tomorrow and they crap to match it. I've raised as many as 100 at a time in a portable pen. When they get to be 5-6 weeks old you feel like they need to be moved twice a day. if you raised 20 of course it wouldn't be nearly as bad.

 

[sal64]

u mite consider chuck partrige smaller then chickens about 7 oz of meat and much tastier,we raise about 50 each year then freeze for winter we also raise chickens i have about 25 we slater at about 12 weeks and only take the breast we find the legs to be tough.