[Scrumptious]

Afternoon!

We've got to grips with 4 lovely ladies that are giving us good eggs now regularly and are happy in their home.  We have got a large run now for them with a fenced off area and i was thinking about getting another couple of chickens.... but this time for meat!

Im not sure if i will be able to do it, but my dad used to be a butcher and i'm really keen to try and keep 2 additional birds for meat purposes.... but where do i start!

I have read that i really need to seperate to feed them.... or get another feeder? do i feed they layers pellets still? where do i buy in hampshire and what breed do i get! i've read 8 weeks is best to keep them, is this from point of lay?

Help!


Sarah

[joyfull]

you are best keeping them separate as meat chickens like to just sit, eat and pooh, often staying close to their food. The eight weeks is their age, not from point of lay. If you wish to keep both together why not go for a dual purpose bird something like a light sussex and cull at around 26 weeks  .
It is best to withdraw feed for a day or so before culling so that their crops are empty and the feed has gone through their system.
I have never raised meat birds - I just cull and eat any cockerels that are surplus to my requirements that I may hatch (that is if I can catch the little blighters - I have 1 that I need to catch and cull but he roosts in the trees so this is proving a bit awkward