Reasonable idea. I’d be worried about the chicken wire creating drag when we move them daily by hand. Also, when we are loading to the trailer the floor is unsupported for a period of time, so we’d have the weight of 35-50 full grown birds supported by chicken wire. Not sure how that would work out. Thanks for reading and commenting!
John: I don't think you should deviate away from a twice daily feeding. Those birds will not stop eating if they have access to a lot of food. This may cause health problems if they eat too much and get too big too fast. Just MHO on raising 30+ meat birds every year...
Thanks for that feedback Sarge. What breed(s) are you raising? This year I noticed, sometimes, there would be food left in the feed troughs. I was running White Plymouth Rock and New Hampshires. Let's just say they didn't "overeat." They were at least a half pound lighter than I would have liked. Next spring I plan on running Cornish Cross on pasture to get some more size in less time and a better supplemental feed-to-saleable weight ratio.
John - White Rock Cornish Cross. They dressed out to 7 lbs average after 9 weeks, I don't have access to my feeding diary as I am working away from home. I'll be home in a few weeks and hopefully I'll remember to look at my feeding chart.
Awesome Sarge. Cornish X is exactly what we were thinking for next year. Seven lbs in 9 weeks, all I can say is Wow! I would definitely be interested in your feeding records summary.
Great stuff John. Love the way you analyze to enhance. A great follow-on to the decision on next years syrup operation. You are doing well.
Thanks so much David! I miss you both. Busier than the proverbial one-armed paper hanger here!
JB, Your adventure is motivating, and I find myself living vicariously through Geri & you!
Just a thought, could you cover the bottom of the tractors with the smaller chicken wire and then you would
1) be able to move them with the Kubota?
2) also possibly deter rats from burrowing under, which I have seen the results of (utter devastation in a single night).
3) could load on the trailer the same way
Might not allow them to scratch the soil as much but they can still peck the ground.
I have never done chickens on the scale that you are undertaking so, all this ‘free advice’ might be worth chicken shit😉
Reasonable idea. I’d be worried about the chicken wire creating drag when we move them daily by hand. Also, when we are loading to the trailer the floor is unsupported for a period of time, so we’d have the weight of 35-50 full grown birds supported by chicken wire. Not sure how that would work out. Thanks for reading and commenting!
John: I don't think you should deviate away from a twice daily feeding. Those birds will not stop eating if they have access to a lot of food. This may cause health problems if they eat too much and get too big too fast. Just MHO on raising 30+ meat birds every year...
Thanks for that feedback Sarge. What breed(s) are you raising? This year I noticed, sometimes, there would be food left in the feed troughs. I was running White Plymouth Rock and New Hampshires. Let's just say they didn't "overeat." They were at least a half pound lighter than I would have liked. Next spring I plan on running Cornish Cross on pasture to get some more size in less time and a better supplemental feed-to-saleable weight ratio.
John - White Rock Cornish Cross. They dressed out to 7 lbs average after 9 weeks, I don't have access to my feeding diary as I am working away from home. I'll be home in a few weeks and hopefully I'll remember to look at my feeding chart.
Awesome Sarge. Cornish X is exactly what we were thinking for next year. Seven lbs in 9 weeks, all I can say is Wow! I would definitely be interested in your feeding records summary.