Ag Teacher to Ag Mom: Meat Chickens

My husband and I have raised chickens for a few years. We have learned a lot along the way, so listed below is what we know.

1. Unmedicated or medicated chick starter? We use unmedicated because the chicks don't need the medicine. The medication is used as a preventative measure against coccidiosis, which is an intestinal parasite. If the birds are in a clean, dry environment at all times you shouldn't need it. Also, some chicks are vaccinated for this disease.

2. Electrolytes in the water? Just like sports drinks when you are sick, electrolytes in the chicks water can give them an added boost. However, just like sports drinks it can have a lot of additives that aren't needed. We don't add electrolytes in the water unless they need it. They need it when they are stressed: too hot, too cold, overcrowded. I would also make it myself: 1 c. water, 2 tsp molasses or sugar, 1/8 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp baking soda.

3. Natural remedies: honey, garlic, and apple cider vinegar can be added to the water as a natural way to keep pests, parasites, and bacteria away. With our chickens on grass, it's important to watch for worms or parasites. I put a ¼ cup of honey, ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar, and 4 cloves of garlic into 1 gallon of water.

4. Temperature: The chicks are kept around 95 degrees, then the temperature drops 5 degrees each week of age. So your six week old bird would need to be at approximately 70 degrees. Your heat lamp can be raised each week as needed.

5. Grit: Added grit can help the birds process their feed more efficiently. Grit (small rocks) in their gizzards will crush their food for them as they don't have teeth. The more surface area food can be ground into the better absorption of nutrients. That is also true for humans, which is why your mother told you to chew at least twenty times before swallowing.

6. Sight: Chickens have better vision than humans and are NOT color blind. They will peck at color, so give them something to peck at. When they are bored they will peck at each other. I used to throw Fruit Loops around the feeder to get them all up and moving. We have also fed them Japanese Beetles that my father-in-law caught in a trap.

7. Where to get them: We get them from a local breeder because we don't want the chicks shipped. They are shipped all over the country regularly through the post office priority. After they hatch, they can go 72 hours without food or water. The chick absorbs all the nutrients from the egg just before it hatches to allow for this. However, in shipping, they can get jostled, which can cause chick mortality rates to be high.

8. Ready: Meat chickens are usually ready to butcher at around 6-8 weeks of age. That is the time for the Cornish Cross monsters. Other breeds will take significantly longer. The Cornish Cross were specifically bred to grow quickly and have huge breasts. Most of their chickenness was bred out of them.

All of this sounds like a lot, but really we just watch them to see what they need. They are fairly easy to raise.