Broiler Chicks

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Trev62
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Broiler Chicks

Post by Trev62 »

We brought three "broiler" chicks today from the local bird market, the first time we had seen them there, scruffy white birds with lovely blue eyes. They have spent their afternoon outside in the sun eating to their hearts content and are now happily sleeping in a box on top of our rabbits home in the living room. New experience again so any tips or advice welcomed. I cannot deny that they are destined for the freezer but we were told that you can also raise these chicks for eggs as well, not sure if that is right?

If all goes well we will obtain some more next month, pressure is now on to complete the new chicken area and all their winter shelters!!!
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wendy
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Re: Broiler Chicks

Post by wendy »

Don't know about the egg bit.
The only ones I have known of, had fallen from lorries taking them to be slaughtered.
None lived a particularly long life, as they got too large for the legs to hold the weight, as far as I remember. Have you tried googling it ?
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Trev62
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Re: Broiler Chicks

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There seems to be a conflict in the information on the internet :? :

One view is no they just get too big and unhealthy but reading in to it this does seem to be because of the way they are kept and fed.

Another view is providing they are exercised from young and their diet regulated they can happily grow healthily and become egg layers.

Ours have had a free but supervised run in the garden today and having culled three cockerels so far we were toying with the idea of getting a couple more "broilers" to try and keep as egg layers.

We are mulling ideas and thoughts over for next year so trying to pick peoples brains for their experiences.
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wendy
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Re: Broiler Chicks

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)t'
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Mo
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Re: Broiler Chicks

Post by Mo »

It may depend on the local breed too.
Are they kept as intensively where you are? What do you neighbours get as layers?
Here we have a choice of pure breeds, which live longer but lay less regularly, and hybrids which are bred to be egg machines and commercially are culled after 18 months.
The hybrids have little on their carcass if you did cull them when their productive time was over - before you start getting into the egg-shell problems that occur when they are older. But the breast and back meat make good stew & stock. The legs are impossible to make tender but that is probably true for any older free-range bird.
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Trev62
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Re: Broiler Chicks

Post by Trev62 »

Mo wrote:It may depend on the local breed too.
Are they kept as intensively where you are? What do you neighbours get as layers?


Our neighbours breed their own what I would call "hybrid backyard" chickens that they then raise and cull the cockerels and any surplus hens for meat. None have "broilers" and this was the first time we had seen them here. This is why we were wondering if it would be possible to raise some to supply eggs and if successful try and hatch some chicks.

At present ours are still segregated from our egg layers but they get let out of their run for an hour in the morning and again in the afternoon for a supervised wander in the garden.

Just exploring possibilities whilst planning for next year.
"Not all those who wander are lost"

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