Creepy meat bird questions for a meat bird newbie please...

[big brown horse]

I'm ordering cornish crosses today from Murray McMurray and wanted to know if you suggest any of the vaccines or gels etc that they are suggesting I buy. I don't vaccinate or use medicated chick starter normally or give any of that other stuff to my egg laying chicks.

Also, do cornish crosses roost or are they too fat?

(I may have other questions too, I just can't think of them yet.)

 

[pinkfox]

iwas personally told when i started looking at meaties that no roost (they get too big too fast) and that unless your raising them in extreemly large numbers (over 200 at a time) or in a big "chicken area" then vac's arnt realy nessicary.

 

[big brown horse]

Ok, thanks!!

Now how about the vitamins and gels:

QCC Quik Chik 4 oz - Get your chicks off to a good start with this combination of vitamins A, D, E, B-12 and electrolytes.
$4.35
GEL Gro-Gel Plus - Immediate nutrition and hydration for all baby poultry in a very concentrated and digestible form. $3.55

And do any of you know if that price is per bird??

 

[FarmerJamie]

Agree with the no roost, just lots of dry bedding.

Haven't done any of the vaccines/vitamins in the 3 years we've been raising them.

The med packs I have looked at provide for a LOT of birds. I was worried about trying to keep the unused portion viable. One pack I saw when I was first looking would make 100 gallons of water mix.

From McMurray's website
One 4 oz. package takes care of about 200 chicks for 2 weeks.


YMMV

 

[big brown horse]

Thank FJ!

 

[Bubblingbrooks]

We do a square movable pen, that is covered in one side. Side and top. A large rubber maid tub on its side with a regular lamp bulb in a reflector hanging in front.
At 3 or so weeks, we lay a 2x4 on a couple of bricks in the covered area, and they use it to sleep on.
No vaccines for us, but vitamin and mineral boosters are welcome.
Also, I finely chop grass and weeds for them to eat starting at just a few days old. The pieces get bigger as they age. And I also only feed round the clock for just a couple of weeks, if the chicks are not under a hen.
Then they get fed 3 times a day. with full access to pasture at all times.