Broiler Chicks at 4 Weeks

The Broiler Chicks are now four weeks old.  I dunno.  It just seems to me they should be bigger at this point.  I was going to put them on pasture this week, but decided to wait one more week. They still have ample room in their brooder box (there is lots of space behind the camera) so it seems it will be better as far as putting weight on them to stay there a bit longer.

Here's the latest video:

As you can see, they have definitely grown since last week, but I just cant wrap my brain around the idea they will be "eating size" in just four more weeks.  Hmmm.... perhaps six?  We shall see.

In any event they continue to be very healthy and have voracious appetites.   The only change to report at this point is today I removed the pine chip bedding floor and they are now on rat wire for better ventilation.  The heat lamp remains on at night or if it's an especially cold or rainy day.

Next week they will definitely go in the grow out pen to be on pasture and get more sunshine than the brooder box allows through its windows.

I have to admit I'm getting a bit fond of them, though I've purposefully kept my distance.  Still, I do see their little personalities coming through. Having said that, they are very flighty birds and don't seem like they would make good pets.  I also understand they are not good layers.

We are twenty eight days from butchering.

BunnyPalooza

New Bunnies at Buc~A~Buc Farm

So it turns out "Delilah" the Angora bunny that was given to Rebekah a couple of months ago was actually more of a SAMPSON.  This I discovered a few days after Rebekah put "her" in the same cage with her other bunny Daisy.  Daisy of course immediately became with child(ren) and, sure enough, delivered a month later.

It also turns out Delilah/Sampson - now renamed Snowball Muffin Baby (hey, I don't name them, I just feed them) - is in fact an American Fuzzy Lop, NOT an Angora.  Whatever.  Rebekah loves him.

So. These babies are Fuzzy Lop/Lionhead crosses.  They are for sale, $20 each.

Broiler Chicks at Three Weeks (minus one day)

The chicks are now one day short of three weeks old.  Everyone is still very healthy and growing.  The heat lamp is only on at night these days and next week I plan to get them outside on pasture.    

(video taken today)

Though I've purposely not made pets of them, these birds seem to be just plain flighty by nature.  Also, they attack their food as if they are continually starving, even though they are fed twice daily and typically have a bit left in their pan when I add more.  The good news is they are very mobile and not just little slugs laying around in their own filth as some broiler breeds are known to do.  These birds are active and healthy.  I am still keeping them on pine wood shavings but will stop that next week.  They will then be on pasture during the day and wire at night unless we get a serious cold and/or wet snap.  

We are 36 days from butchering.  Looking at them now I find that hard to believe.  We may have to grow them a few additional weeks.  We shall see.

Btw, it occurred to me that in my videos it looks like the chicks are all crowded together.  Nope.  They have ample space.  They are just all clumping together to eat as they are greedy little piggies.  Behind the camera is much more room (including their waterer and two roosts).  

Broiler Chicks at Two Weeks

The broilers were hatched two weeks ago today.  Here's the latest video, taken today.

You can see they are getting bigger and are more rangy looking compared to the little fluff balls they were at one day and even one week.  I hope to keep them in this brooder box another two weeks before I move them to the grow out pen and grass.  We'll see.  The brooder is six feet by three feet and right now there is plenty of room.  Not sure how much growth we will see in the next two weeks.  I'll move them earlier or later, depending.

Broiler Chicks - Day 11

Not much new to report other than I picked up another bag of feed.   At eleven days old they’ve gone through about 30 pounds.  I'm guessing it will take another two weeks or so for them to eat the rest of the 70# we have on hand.  Each day they consume a bit more than the day before.

Expenses so far (not counting electric and supplies such as bedding/heat lamps, waterers, etc.):

• $38.50 for the chicks 
• $59.38 for 2 fifty pound bags of "Organic Soy-Free Broiler Feed" 

No new losses since the single chick on day two.  Everyone is healthy, strong, and growing.  We are 45 days from butchering.