New to meat birds

[Nugget_123]

I am intrested in raising birds for meet. I would want them seperate from my hens, and want to build them a different run all together. I don’t have room for a tractor. I don’t want true meat birds but duel purpose birds instead. They would be raised during the summer and culled in the fall. Do they need a coop? If so, any good cool designs? And I need a covered top run, any ideas? How much space would around 20 need? Most importantly, I would like to know what reconendations anyone has for duel purpose birds used for meat and not eggs. Thanks.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I am intrested in raising birds for meet. I would want them seperate from my hens, and want to build them a different run all together. I don’t have room for a tractor. I don’t want true meat birds but duel purpose birds instead. They would be raised during the summer and culled in the fall.

I assume you are talking cockerels only? That could make a difference. The age you butcher them will have a lot to do with how you can cook them without them being too tough and will affect the flavor. Their average age for best food to weight conversion is butchering them between 16 and 23 weeks but you can wait on that. If you are providing all that they eat this is more of a consideration that if they forage for a lot of their food.

Do they need a coop?

They need protection from predators and weather. Where are you, what is the expected weather in summer and fall? Often in the warmer months they don't need much weather protection.

How much space would around 20 need?

Are they all of the same sex? If you have male and female mixed they probably need a lot more room than if they are all the same sex. Do you plan on them foraging for much of their food. To do that you'd need more a of a fence enclosed pasture than a covered run. Details matter in this.

The tighter you pack them the more behavioral problems you are likely to have, the harder you have to work, and the less flexibility you have to deal with issues that come up. There is not a firm fixed answer that fits every flock in existence.

If you have a flock of 20 dual purpose cockerels (no females), plan to provide every bite they eat, and are willing to manage a heavy poop load, I'd consider 10 sq ft per bird the absolute minimum. But if I were doing that, I'd double it.

Most importantly, I would like to know what reconendations anyone has for duel purpose birds used for meat and not eggs.

Different people have different favorites. There are so many variables the same answer does not fit all. Does it matter to you if you get more dark meat than white? Do you pluck or skin? If you pluck you might want to avoid dark feathered birds as they leave noticeable pin feathers. If you skin, that doesn't matter.

Importantly not all cockerels of the same breed are identical, even from the same flock. You can get a tremendous difference depending in which flock they come from. Hatcheries tend to breed for eggs, not meat, with their dual purpose birds. If you can find a breeder that knows what they are doing that is breeding for the type of meat bird you want you can find some great breeding stock. Those can be often be very expensive compared to hatcheries. I don't know what country you are in so I don't even know what breeds may be available.

I'm happy with a wide range of dual purpose birds. Others want only one thing. I don't know hat will work best for you. My general recommendation is to get a few different ones and try them. Decide which work best for you.

Good luck!

 

[Nugget_123]

I would be doing cockerels only, its not cold but is rainy and very windy. They will have plenty of space, any recommendations on hatcheries?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Nope. Each hatchery has its own people deciding which chickens get to breed so there can be differences by hatchery, but I've only ordered from three different ones and did not see any significant differences. My direct comparison experience is very limited.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I would be doing cockerels only, its not cold but is rainy and very windy. They will have plenty of space, any recommendations on hatcheries?

If it's rainy and windy they will definitely need a coop. If you have predators both the run and coop need to be secure.