It will take about five pounds of feed to age 6 weeks and eight to nine pounds to age 8 weeks for commercial strains. Roasters and capons need more feed per pound of meat produced than fryers. Don’t plan to keep birds any longer than the time it takes to reach the desired weight.
How much feed do meat chickens need?
Meat chicken feed schedule
On average, each bird will consume around 10 pounds of feed during the first six weeks. They will eat between 3 to 4 pounds of feed a week after six weeks.
What is the best feed for meat chickens?
Meat chickens should be fed a 20% protein chick starter during their first 3 weeks of life. Then, they can be switched over to an 18% protein grower feed. After a week, feed your chickens 12 hours on (free-choice) and 12 hours off. And take the feed away during the off hours to prevent over-eating.
When should I switch to a meat bird?
Diet & Feeding Schedule
During the first three weeks of their life, your meat birds should be fed a 20% (approx.) protein chick starter. After the first three weeks of their life, you can then switch them over to an 18% protein grower feed as their main diet consumption.
Is it worth it to raise meat chickens?
You’re raising great tasting, better than you can ever get at the store meat. Worth it? You bet! You can lower the cost per pound by processing your own broilers, finding a less expensive source of feed, or getting a larger order of chicks (which will lower the price per chick).
How much feed does a meat chicken eat per day?
However, there is a simple figure to provide you with a solid starting point: 1/4 of a pound per fully grown chicken per day. This means each chicken will eat approximately 1.5 pounds of feed in a week.
How long do you keep meat chickens on starter feed?
2 to 3 weeks
This is termed “phase feeding.” For meat chickens raised in small flocks, there are typically two phases prior to marketing: starting and growing. Starter diets provide maximum growth during the first 2 to 3 weeks. Grower diets are fed from about 3 weeks to market age.
How long do you raise meat chickens?
Cornish cross broilers (most commonly raised) need only six to eight weeks to reach a market carcass weight of four to six pounds. Other breeds that grow slower may take 10 to 12 weeks. You can order cockerels (males), pullets (females) or a straight run (mixed batch).
How long do meat chickens live?
Live fast, die young
Chickens can live for six or more years under natural conditions. However those used in intensive farming will commonly be slaughtered before they reach six weeks old. Free-range broilers will usually be slaughtered at 8 weeks old and organic broilers at around 12 weeks old.
Can you make money raising meat chickens?
Raising chickens is profitable – if you can control your losses (we’ll show you how later) you can expect to net 40-50% of your sale price. In other words you can just about double your money in 10-12 weeks.
Do meat chickens need a coop?
You will need a coop for your chickens, just like for your laying hens. Coops for meat birds are often larger so that you can raise 50, 100, or more birds at a time. Many people raise meat birds just during the summer season. This way they can often be in more temporary shelters such as hoop houses or tarps.
Do meat chickens need grit?
Do Chickens Need Grit? Chickens need grit because they do not have teeth to grind down their food. When left to forage over a larger area, chickens naturally pick up grit in the form of tiny pebbles. They store grit in the gizzard and when the gizzard moves, the food is ground with any grit inside.
How much feed does it take to raise a Cornish Cross?
Cornish Cross will consume about 15 lbs/bird of feed to reach harvest weight, and slow-growing birds will consume ~16 lbs/bird. Cornish Cross will use about 3.6 gallons/bird of water, and slower-growing birds will use slightly more (4-4.5 gallons/bird).
Are Cornish hens hard to raise?
enclosed run: Because of their body shape, Cornish game hens are prone to leg problems and heart attacks, and they aren’t well-suited to pasturing. They do need some room to move around, but a large coop or enclosed outdoor run will provide ample space. Make sure the coop has openings for adequate ventilation.
How long do Cornish hens live?
If you raise your Cornish chickens in healthy conditions, they should live as long as any other breed. The average chicken lifespan is 5-8 years.
What is the best meat bird to raise?
Cornish Cross chickens are the most popular choice among commercial chicken meat producers, with good reason. Bred specifically for meat production, Cornish Cross chickens grow faster and produce a tastier product than dual-purpose breeds.
Is it cheaper to raise your own meat?
Price-While the cost of feed can be a lot up front, the cost of natural grass fed beef is much cheaper to raise than to buy in the store.
How do you raise a meat bird for profit?
Purchase or find a free source from a local mill.
- SCHEDULE YOUR PRODUCTION WISELY.
- RAISE YOUR MEAT BIRDS DURING THE BEST WEATHER.
- SELL YOUR CHICKENS PRESALE.
- HOST A PICK UP FARM SALE.
- DO SOME MORE RESEARCH.
- KEEP MEAT BIRD RECORDS.
- KEEP TRACK OF RECIEPTS.
How many times a day should you feed chickens?
How Often to Feed Chickens. Ideally, you should split your chicken’s feed into two servings daily. If you’re home during the day, you can even make this 3-4 small feedings. Chickens enjoy small, frequent meals as opposed to large meals once a day.
Why are my meat chickens dying?
The cause of sudden death syndrome in broiler chickens is unknown, but it is thought to be a metabolic disease related to carbohydrate metabolism, lactic acidosis, loss of cell membrane integrity, and intracellular electrolyte imbalance. Recent studies link this disease to cardiac arrhythmias.
How much do meat birds eat per day?
“On average, each bird will consume around 10 pounds of feed during the first 6 weeks. They will eat between 3 and 4 pounds of feed a week after 6 weeks.