Post by Starburst on Sept 26, 2009 17:41:14 GMT -5
I used a rake to turn mine. If you have a large enough enclosure that you can walk into and cage sides that are solid part way up you can put on tall boots and wade through the shavings to turn them
Sage - Female American Kestrel 2008 -------------------------------------------- Zephyr - Female Red Tail 2008-2010 -------------------------------------------- Saffron - Female American Kestrel 2009-2010
Post by Starburst on Sept 26, 2009 21:54:12 GMT -5
You CANT put perches in for the birds. This breed of chicken is one that was bred for rapid growth and a short lifespan therefore their bodies are really too large for their legs and heart to support. If you put perches in the coop and a bird decides to try and jump to it, it will probably miss because they are extremely clumsy and will fall and possibly break a leg.
These chickens must stay on the ground covered in shavings. The judges will judge the condition of the bird's feet. If they have crooked toes or dirty feet they will get marked down. This is prevented by keeping them on deep shavings only.
The first week and a half or so the chicks lived out of a cardboard box. My coop (remember i only had 10birds not 25) was a 8ft long x 4ft wide x 2 1/2ft tall woodframed wire enclosure with a solid wooden bottom. It sat a couple inches off the ground. The sides were solid about 10inches up to keep the shavings in. It was easy to clean out and feed and water because the coop's entire top was a hinged lid and I just lifted it up. It made it so I didnt need to be able to walk into it.
For 25 chickens you might want to consider an 8ft x 8ft. I might look in the paper for someone selling a large dog run for cheap and try to buy it. You could easily line the bottom of the sides with plywood to keep the shavings in.
Sage - Female American Kestrel 2008 -------------------------------------------- Zephyr - Female Red Tail 2008-2010 -------------------------------------------- Saffron - Female American Kestrel 2009-2010
Great idea, I'll see what the Plano West teacher says to that. Mrs. Murdock said we were going to either make our own or borrow one, but she said something about coop plans. >< Why does October first have to be so far awayyyy.
Yaaaay the meeting is today, AND I receive my new FFA jacket! Can't wait to try it on Also I saw the coops. They were about the dimensions you said, and about 8' high with all chicken wire (no edges for sheddings), heat lamps, AND air conditioning. Not to mention this plastic stuff wrapping the wire except small windows fairly high up to check on them. At the back they had a small boxed in area, the wood reaching about 6" high that had heating lamps, guessing it's for the chicks, and they had about 5-8 coops. And of all the places it's with the heffers. You should see the cows there, absolutely stunning. Saw a big black steer and he came right up to me to pet him. Absolutely gorgeous fur, gleaming even. Not a bit of dirt on him.
Lol so you'll be raising sacks of meat, eh? I like my birds to come with longevity, personally. That being said, there's thirty or fifty up the hill across the creek right now; the first batch since we got here that I haven't been put in charge of.
What was the topic supposed to be here? Oh yeah. . . (had to look) The screw-ups are apparent. The idea is to kill them, so 'perfect stock' or whatever it is breeders care about isn't an issue. You shouldn't have to worry about culling. Sometimes they don't have fatal issues and you can just plain raise 'em. Whatever you don't show you eat. My thoughts.
I somewhat disagree with you here Icantmove. The specific breed of chicken needed for this type of competition often have fatal medical issues.
They often have heart attacks. I actually had one that ate so much it suffocated and died. When I found it, it had a full crop, full neck and food pouring out of its mouth with a blue head.
They wont be judged as far as breeding ability but their conformation will be judged in a sense of optimal meat product and the judges will be looking for the most perfect in that sense.
Last Edit: Oct 1, 2009 19:43:05 GMT -5 by Starburst
Sage - Female American Kestrel 2008 -------------------------------------------- Zephyr - Female Red Tail 2008-2010 -------------------------------------------- Saffron - Female American Kestrel 2009-2010
LOL They are some of the saddest living creatures, aren't they? P.E.T.A. phreaks would protest their continued existence. . .
Because I've never so much as thought about show I mainly speak of the ones not intended for it. I see no reason to exterminate them. If they'll live, let 'em.
WHEEE! Even though it took longer to get there do to pouring rain it was very good info!!! Got the plans for the coop, and me and dad are compromising having at home or at project center. He works about 5 min away so he says he can feed in the morning, of course that close I'm trying to get him to stir the shavings at lunch too. The coop plans are 6x10, and about 6-7 ft tall I think. Just a simple wood structure with wood triangles on corners to prevent them from falling over etc, and then just cover with mesh thing and add plastic covering. They'll get red heat lamps for warmth and so they won't cannibalize, and we'll get pine shavings as large as they come for decreased shaving intake. Also get rooster booster, B12. The plastic should keep shavings in and about halfway through project (it's 6 weeks total) we cut holes in plastic at top of the sides for keeping them cooler. Also getting box fan to get circulation. Chicken breed is leghorn I beleive
Hmmm....now i'm confused...Leghorns are an egg-layer breed like Icantmove said. In meat pen you only use CornishXRock. Were you able to ask your teacher what competition you're doing?
Sage - Female American Kestrel 2008 -------------------------------------------- Zephyr - Female Red Tail 2008-2010 -------------------------------------------- Saffron - Female American Kestrel 2009-2010
We're definatly doing meat pen. From what I remember he said American Leghorn. We only get them to 6 weeks old so they won't get to laying eggs. I think it's because it's a chapter competition or something, because she doesn't know about the state fair meat pen except that it's 4h.
Also, we've confirmed we aren't doing it in backyard. So I guess I ought to hurry up and get that license and that car.
So this is just like a "practice" meat pen within your FFA chapter? You aren't taking them to fair or anything?
It is still bizzare that your teacher wants you guys to get leghorns because there is no way that they will mature to a good meat weight by 6 weeks. the CornishXRocks that I had were 8lbs at 9weeks. They are the fastest maturing of any of the chicken breeds. Well...I suppose you'll have little cornish game hens?
Sage - Female American Kestrel 2008 -------------------------------------------- Zephyr - Female Red Tail 2008-2010 -------------------------------------------- Saffron - Female American Kestrel 2009-2010
Personally, I have no clue with quite a bit of this, they're very misguiding. First they say people in Plano have had them at home, then they say it's illegal. Very confusing, but they said these guys should go to about 8-9 lbs by 6 weeks. Idk, but I guess I'll just keep on investigating. Not sure if it's just within chapter, but that's my guess since we win so many. She said we go to Fort Worth I think, then next year is 50 chickens to Houston. What's awesome is there's a month between showing them and getting next batch which includes the THA Annual meet!!!! Yaaay. Only my spring break will be with chickens at Houston.
It sounds like your teacher isnt very informative.
I honestly feel bad if you wind up with leghorns and are taking them to an actual fair. I'm not trying to be mean its just that there is no way they will mature the right way. Leghorns are strictly egg layers and one of the best egg producers out there.
I have a feeling you will have fun none the less but I hope for your sake that you are getting the CornishXRocks
Sage - Female American Kestrel 2008 -------------------------------------------- Zephyr - Female Red Tail 2008-2010 -------------------------------------------- Saffron - Female American Kestrel 2009-2010