We have done meatbirds in the winter for about 20 years . and we have lost a few birds this year we didn't a week later we lost power at are farm for all most two months due to ice storm we live in Oregon
Those lamps seem good. My sister inlaw had goats get intonthe chicks to eat the grain. Knocked the lamp down and burned the barn down. Can you believe that? A duck somehow survived but the rest of the animals didnt make it.
You are not the only one. I actually started in December. My reasons are different of course. I was worried about supply and I'm only doing small batch for me, myself and my freezer. Unfortunately this batch (11 Birds) is slow growing even feeding 24/7. I'll make due keeping them 9-10 weeks to see if I can at least get some of them to 6lbs live (just over 4lbs max @ 6 weeks. More than half are in the mid to high 2lb range). They are fatty round ball like birds but its as if they are all runts.
I’m jealous, I live in northern Minnesota and although it’s been a mild winter, the high on Sunday is going to be -8, I have to wait until July, then they are ready to butcher after it cools off and before snow (hopefully). It stinks trying to do everything in a short season 🙁 Blessings
When you're running high current levels in your extension cords, be sure they are not coiled up, but are spread around on the ground. I had a long ext. cord turn into a brick when it got hot running some portable lights. They weren't anywhere near capacity, but the cord, coiled up on itself, retained the heat and melted the insulation to soup.
I agree, make that money while demand is high. You never know if that demand will drop back down to normal and you lose money because you didn't have the product available yet. I hope it will be a great year.
Take visqueen (clear plastic I got mine at Lowe’s in the painter section) and pull it over the top of your chicken tractor and drape it down the sides. Then staple it to the top board of your wall. Then use a 4x4 to hold it down on the ground. Lift on hot days for ventilation. This is how I do mine for late batches or early batches
I wonder why you wouldn't start then all together for warmth. Then split to 50s, then later to the final configuration. Save on the electricity too. It's just so cold.
I try to be one of your subscribers who doesn't offer suggestions but in this case, I want to offer a suggestion. Why not on the smaller brooder put the 20 chicks together for the first two of three weeks so they can huddle together when they are most fragile? You can then separate them for the final two to three weeks when they are larger with a few more feathers.
So sorry, but I feel bad about making a suggestion after reading the other comments. You seemed to get dozens of people trying to tell you what to do when we do so little compared to you. This is your job, and you are good at it; it is only our entertainment. Once again, I am sorry for shooting off my mouth, please forgive me.
I don't think Chuck minds people's concerns or questions like some other RUclipsrs. It's a good suggestion. My thoughts on why he did this is that it may be just as easy to keep them separated so that when they grow, you won't have to disturb them moving them out. He may have to keep them in there for an extra week or 2, depending upon the weather.
I’ve thought about this Dwight and it’s a darn good idea. We are going to do this instead of breaking them up into 4 groups. I think I’ll use either one, but probably 2 , of the small brooders in the barn. They are easier to keep warm. I really appreciate the idea.
Thank you for always sharing such great insight. Been following your journey for about a year or so now and your stories have really been useful for starting our own pasture raised chickens! I raised pasture chickens from moyers last year for the first time and they did fantastic. Can I ask where you are currently getting your turkey starts from? Keep up the fantastic work!
QUESTION CHUCK, have used radiant heaters in your brooders? We have had a positive experience with ours. And the animals like them too. Tim in northern TN
This type of meat chicken is called a Cornish Cross and would damage their legs before it would ever lay eggs. These are hybrid chickens and are hatched from eggs belonging to two different species of chicken to make this very fast-growing meat chicken. There are some dual-purpose chickens breeds out there which do lay eggs but not these Cornish Cross.
I tried doing broilers in the summer in south Alabama. Lesson learned they are a cold weather bird for here. Doing them in summer was the worst experience I’ve ever done.
I think you have to determine what works in your environment and then them go with that. I’ve heard folks in the Deep South talk about not doing birds in the summer. Makes sense.
We have done meatbirds in the winter for about 20 years . and we have lost a few birds this year we didn't a week later we lost power at are farm for all most two months due to ice storm we live in Oregon
Keep em warm.
Those lamps seem good. My sister inlaw had goats get intonthe chicks to eat the grain. Knocked the lamp down and burned the barn down. Can you believe that? A duck somehow survived but the rest of the animals didnt make it.
Definitely protection uncle chuck we suppose to get back to back winter storms on the east coast from up North all weekend through next Tuesday
You are not the only one. I actually started in December. My reasons are different of course. I was worried about supply and I'm only doing small batch for me, myself and my freezer. Unfortunately this batch (11 Birds) is slow growing even feeding 24/7. I'll make due keeping them 9-10 weeks to see if I can at least get some of them to 6lbs live (just over 4lbs max @ 6 weeks. More than half are in the mid to high 2lb range). They are fatty round ball like birds but its as if they are all runts.
Great that in the past years you were able to create the demand for a quality “product “. Keep it going!
I’m jealous, I live in northern Minnesota and although it’s been a mild winter, the high on Sunday is going to be -8, I have to wait until July, then they are ready to butcher after it cools off and before snow (hopefully). It stinks trying to do everything in a short season 🙁
Blessings
When you're running high current levels in your extension cords, be sure they are not coiled up, but are spread around on the ground. I had a long ext. cord turn into a brick when it got hot running some portable lights. They weren't anywhere near capacity, but the cord, coiled up on itself, retained the heat and melted the insulation to soup.
Good tip! Thanks
Sounds like you got a bad breaker tbh
When do you have grass to put them on pasture? I live in an area that gets very cold and has a lot of snow. We will not see the ground until mid May.
Your work bench looks great.
I agree, make that money while demand is high. You never know if that demand will drop back down to normal and you lose money because you didn't have the product available yet. I hope it will be a great year.
Thanks.
We are just trying to be prepared.
Take visqueen (clear plastic I got mine at Lowe’s in the painter section) and pull it over the top of your chicken tractor and drape it down the sides. Then staple it to the top board of your wall. Then use a 4x4 to hold it down on the ground. Lift on hot days for ventilation. This is how I do mine for late batches or early batches
Whe. Are y'all goi g todo another live chat
How old do you let your chickens get before harvesting?
I wonder why you wouldn't start then all together for warmth. Then split to 50s, then later to the final configuration. Save on the electricity too. It's just so cold.
I try to be one of your subscribers who doesn't offer suggestions but in this case, I want to offer a suggestion. Why not on the smaller brooder put the 20 chicks together for the first two of three weeks so they can huddle together when they are most fragile? You can then separate them for the final two to three weeks when they are larger with a few more feathers.
So sorry, but I feel bad about making a suggestion after reading the other comments. You seemed to get dozens of people trying to tell you what to do when we do so little compared to you. This is your job, and you are good at it; it is only our entertainment. Once again, I am sorry for shooting off my mouth, please forgive me.
I don't think Chuck minds people's concerns or questions like some other RUclipsrs. It's a good suggestion. My thoughts on why he did this is that it may be just as easy to keep them separated so that when they grow, you won't have to disturb them moving them out. He may have to keep them in there for an extra week or 2, depending upon the weather.
I’ve thought about this Dwight and it’s a darn good idea. We are going to do this instead of breaking them up into 4 groups. I think I’ll use either one, but probably 2 , of the small brooders in the barn. They are easier to keep warm. I really appreciate the idea.
I appreciate the idea. I’m going with it.
Why not make fronts so they can flip down to make cleaning easier? Would that work?
Chuck, where are you getting your shavings at? I'm local to you, and I'm always looking to save some money and support local.
Randy Miller Lumber on Hwy 16 in Wilkesboro.
@@SheratonParkFarms thank you very much! That's literally right down the road from me.
I started hatching layer eggs first week of December, 18 at a time in the incubator
Get
Thank you for always sharing such great insight. Been following your journey for about a year or so now and your stories have really been useful for starting our own pasture raised chickens! I raised pasture chickens from moyers last year for the first time and they did fantastic. Can I ask where you are currently getting your turkey starts from? Keep up the fantastic work!
Thanks for watching.
We get our turkeys from Hoover as well
QUESTION CHUCK, have used radiant heaters in your brooders? We have had a positive experience with ours. And the animals like them too. Tim in northern TN
Put me on that waiting list!
Send us an email and we’ll get you down.
Listen to her, she knows
She just thinks she does. 🤣
Please don’t tell her I said that. 🥺
Ye ha , good luck , so when is your next batch coming?
2 days
thx
Nooice! 😎 STOC
Get it! 😂
😆
LOL! Sure wish you were shipping! 😉
Stupid question: Do broilers lay eggs, or are they processed before they get old enough? 🤔
They will if they are female and you keep them until they get old enought.
This type of meat chicken is called a Cornish Cross and would damage their legs before it would ever lay eggs. These are hybrid chickens and are hatched from eggs belonging to two different species of chicken to make this very fast-growing meat chicken. There are some dual-purpose chickens breeds out there which do lay eggs but not these Cornish Cross.
👍
I tried doing broilers in the summer in south Alabama. Lesson learned they are a cold weather bird for here. Doing them in summer was the worst experience I’ve ever done.
I think you have to determine what works in your environment and then them go with that. I’ve heard folks in the Deep South talk about not doing birds in the summer. Makes sense.