10 Ways You Are Killing Your Meat Chickens Without Realizing It

[@McRod-1]

My rooster died. I probably killed him. He attacked me in the hen house, so I separated him from the hens, outside in 110° Arizona heat. He had shade, but no water. He had a heat stroke about two hours after I kicked him out. Spent 7 hours trying to cool him down in my shower. He didn't make it. To make things worse, I buried him the next morning about two feet under ground. Turns out that wasn't deep enough from keeping the coyotes from digging him up. Only a few feathers were left when I noticed the vultures flying over head. I feel pretty bad. :(

[@Homesteadyshow]

Mc Rod, I know your pain, I lost a pig one time because I didn’t realize the water wasn’t working. Learn from the mistakes and move on, remembering nature is crueler and harder than us on our worst day!

[@McRod-1]

@@Homesteadyshow Thank you.

[@82saw3]

Chop that up to a learning experience 🫣😬

[@dianaderoche9312]

We have been raising Cornish Xs for 4 years now and experienced all those issues in our first 2 years. The last 2 years we only lost 3 chicks. We struggled the most last year, the hatchery was not able to supply chicks at our desired date. Of course we got a heat wave where it got to 113F just 2 weeks before processing. Cool water misters got installed, blocks of ice in the waterers, and a mini pool with a block of ice in it, plus frozen treats and feed. Talk about a mud spa for the chickens, they absolutely loved it, all covered in mud water. It took some serious work but by the grace of God they all survived. Thanks for sharing, I'm sure your video will save some folks from a painful and frustrating lesson.

[@Homesteadyshow]

Wow! You guys went all out! We’ll done you saved em from the heat!

[@chasingmoonlightfarm]

Yep. Agree with all of this. This summer was our 3rd batch and we only got 28. At 6 weeks old we had temps over 100 and lost 9 in one day. We had permanent shade over them and they were out of all direct sun. Plenty of water..etc. Realized that we had been feeding them 24/7 and just created the perfect storm for death. 🤦‍♀️ I was so angry with myself! I knew better....I had just forgot. Also...I will NEVER keep cornish cross in the summer in SE Virginia again. 😐 Only fall. Spring is too unpredictable here as well....and wet. Another tip I learned is to be sure and give lukewarm water only to baby chicks, not cold. I also add Broiler Booster from McMurray Hatchery, and use that in the water for their whole lives. Helps with strong legs and heat, etc.

[@TheMindfulHomestead]

Are you even a homesteader if you don’t have pictures of yourself with dead chickens on your camera roll? Guilty as charged.

[@Peavine]

I deleted some old ones of the aftermath of a bear killing 70 birds in my very first batch of chickens. It wasn’t a pretty scene.

[@Homesteadyshow]

😩 accountant mike was right!

[@suzanneburns6130]

I have found that to be true too. As soon as you Bragg about something, something happens to make you more humble. 🤣😂 Happens to all of us.

[@apmach33]

Can you give more info on what in the feed?

[@LadysFarm]

😬 we lost 5 with our batch. We just got meat birds 4 days ago. Been watching your channel so the longest since you were on the other property 🥰 and before the stash ❤️ you’ve taught me so much. Thank you for all you do 🥰

[@Homesteadyshow]

Thanks for watching for soo long :)

[@LadysFarm]

@@Homesteadyshow that’s for giving us information for so long. Our first Turkey butcher was about 5 years ago I believe. Watching your video about butchering a Turkey. Such great info. No one I’ve seen went into detail like you do. Thank you for teaching us

[@reneebrown2968]

Here in the south we can easily raise chickens twice a year, early spring and mid fall. We rarely have temperatures below 30°, maybe 10 days a winter, and usually are way too hot during summer

[@noelhenderson8095]

Cornish cross maybe a good breed but they are a hybrid they have been genetically bred to grow fast and give a lot of meat but unfortunately it comes with problems they out grow their body there is a very good chance they will have a heart attack before they get to slaughtering age I am a little cautious with the breed as they are genetically modified so I have just stuck to breeding normal meat chickens yes I do get a few deaths as chicks but overall a lot survive but this is just my opinion each to their own

[@mosaicfarm2389]

Great advice... We have raised cornish cross chickens many different ways over the years. We feed a weighed amount of feed twice a day starting at 2 weeks old to avoid overeating.

[@pamsloan84]

We don't have enough flat land for a Suscovich tractor. We have rocky, hilly mostly wooded acreage. I have built some small tractors for maybe a dozen birds and placement is a challenge. Everyone seems to assume it's all ideal flat land out there. Also just from experience, I had 2 very large racoons tear apart hardware cloth, which I use on my coops, like it was a zipper. Best to keep them inside the fence and close to the dog. Do you know what the cost is per bird or per lb?

[@Homesteadyshow]

Pam, I don’t assume. It makes an…. Well you know. This is a list of 10 ideas, use what you can and toss the rest

[@pamsloan84]

@@Homesteadyshow That's fair enough.

[@Homesteadyshow]

😁👍

[@LadysFarm]

Great tips in this video. I love it

[@MountainwithaView]

Next year I'm getting them 1st week of August....we're in Massachusetts....trying not to run them over with the tractor ....my husband gets impatient..

[@houssembenabdallah6599]

Always I prefer breeding "heavily" hybrid chickens, it's true they don't produce as much meat as those chickens, but they show so much resilience against weather and tolerance for the quality of food. Besides, having clones of the same breed is boring, those hybrids came in different shapes and colors.

[@noelhenderson8095]

I could not agree more apparently A hybrid is better than a pure they get some of the traits from their parents but their growth rate is a lot quicker I have pure breed chickens but this year I will try Crossing a few of them to make some hybrids that I can raise for the freezer hopefully it all turns out well

[@abbottappliance9304]

We are raising our first 52 and we lost 4. We live in Maryland so it still cold outside. We have them in a Hatching Time chicken brooder. We started to give them B12 vitamins, since some of them before they died were going lame. We started to feed them for 12 hours on and 12 hours off. They're 2 weeks old and eat Non-stop! I think I might need to cut down there eating time. 8 hours for feeding. It look like the chicken body goes pink and look like a "naked Mole rat". Do you have any pointers?

[@reneebrown2968]

I do a feed in the morning and fruits vegetables and bug/worms in the evenings. It seems to be working well for me.

[@breesechick]

Those chickens look good, great job!

[@coreycarlson9294]

When they do die (rarely for you 👍), how are they disposed? Is there cause for concern that an illness could be spread to the other animals if they are not separated quickly? I’m totally naive

[@celestejohnson9227]

I’ve been contemplating getting a few Cornish cross and this info is exactly what I needed.

[@morrissmicrostead4334]

Good video! I just built a suscovich, excited to get it going! Have u raised any other poultry for food

[@laurabunyard2432]

Nah. Even a White Leghorn rooster is six pounds. I am not buying birds every six weeks. Buy as hatched and eat the extra roosters. Raise the next batch and eat the roosters.

[@teachersikhumbuzomoyo5419]

Do you vaccinate your chicks/Chickens?

[@sethmoore3064]

Thank you for this, it will really help, I ordered some not realizing how the heat's so detremental in Texas atm .I hope they make it through the mail!!

[@janetwithers7427]

How do Your Cornish cross chickens have so many nice white feathers? Others I see are so ugly and look deformed. I know they are bred for fast growth and fewer feathers but yours look beautiful. ?? What your secret? And all your tips sound great. 💜

[@Homesteadyshow]

Janet, no real secret here... We have had our share of ugly Cornish! The tip about getting your chicks during the warmer months helps, this means the entire brooder will be warmer and they wont all crowd into one area and rub against each other and rub feathers off. Also slowly raising the heat lamps each day and week so they fully develop feathers instead of just turning off the lamps one day. Finally making sure you clean the brooder daily, and get them on pasture as soon as they are ready! These all help the Cornish be fully feathered!

[@Lonewolf_1776]

@Janet Withers I was wondering the same thing. I watched Jason @sowtheland and his chickens hardly have fathers. They look completely different.

[@bradleywolfe1188]

Just curious are you doing autopsies on these birds how do you know exactly what caused their death. When a bird dies it just dies pretty hard to determine exactly what was the cause.

[@roberto.peterson9917]

Order dual purpose chicken like rangers,

[@redwoodsgal]

What brand are those plastic cover heat lamps?

[@Peavine]

I lost 15 out of 300, I thought I did pretty good.

[@gmar4454]

Sorry. You're idea about nipple waters isn't correct. I've raised 100s of 1,000s of chickens. 100%on nipples

[@Homesteadyshow]

G mar… thanks for the input, I respectfully disagree. I’ve never been in a car accident. Doesn’t mean they don’t happen. Your management, location, weather, etc may cause a better result, but people lose birds in hot weather and I know many who feel switching to cups from nipples has greatly improved the survival rate. Curious, what is the average temperature and climate you are raising birds in? Are they Cornish crosses? How many die on average during hot weather and how would you for sure rule out nipples and dehydration as the cause of death ?

[@thefanslerfarmstead]

We didn't mix it ourselves but we did try a new feed this year and it has been our worst mortality yet. First we thought it was the heat because we started so late but we switched back to the feed we used last year and haven't lost any from that control batch.

[@Homesteadyshow]

Oh man soo sorry you guys lost a bunch! What was the protein level?

[@jdollar5852]

We live in Georgia and get our chicks in mid September. It's still pretty hot during the day but gets cool-ish at night. Chicks go in the tractor at around 3-4 weeks. We normally lose a couple by rhe time we get them. Thanks USPS. Maybe 1 will die in the first day or so. We rarely lose a bird once they get into the tractor. Maybe 1 every 2-3 years. I've never had birds die from broken legs, growing too fast, or heart attacks. We feed high protein feed from a local feed store. We feed them every morning, but not too early, and remove the food a couple of hours before dark. We have a Boxer. She patrols the perimeter of our property, 13 acres, every morning and every evening. On this property we have never lost a chicken, meat or egg, to a predator. Hawks have given it a try but haven't succeeded.

[@karenpage9383]

Mind if I ask what part of GA? I'm in Cherokee County, NW of ATL and I could *not* find meat bird feed anywhere near me. Best I could find was "show flock" feed at 22% protein. We had 100% survival rate, but I think it was more beginners luck than anything else. I'd love to know where you found high protein feed to see if its worth the drive, providing its better than the show flock stuff we used. Thanks in advance neighbor!

[@jdollar5852]

@@karenpage9383 we live outside Columbus and buy from a store in Box Springs. I have chicks ordered to come in the 2nd week of September. I will check with them today, have to go get pig feed, and make sure of availability and also see if he can tell me what feed mill he is using. He uses someone out of Alabama for pig and layer feed.

[@karenpage9383]

@@jdollar5852 Thank you!!! I just checked and Box Springs is a little over 2 hours for me, so a little further than I'd like to drive... but depending on where in AL, the mill might be closer to me or I may be able to order direct and have it shipped. Or maybe get my local farm supplier to order from them. I can't tell you how many hours I've spent trying to find feed or how many calls I have made! I was working with Resaca feed... they had a broiler feed so I assumed it would be good. Just before paying I had the thought to confirm the protein content. Yeah, 18%. I can find that at TSC. I'd be truly grateful for a lead on feed with higher protein!!!

[@jdollar5852]

@@karenpage9383 my wife and sister in law graduated from Etowah High School. Way back in the early 80s. I will let you know what I find.

[@Homesteadyshow]

W0w way to go guys!

[@bradleywolfe1188]

Hey Mario 🥸lose the stash

[@CynBrown]

Awesome video Aust. Informative as always

[@jgairguns4332]

Any idea on why that one died?

[@jenniferguenthner6334]

We got Red Rangers last year. Put them in the Suskovitch chicken tractor at age 3 weeks. No electric fence and no dog. Every single one was killed that very first night by something that dug under the tractor. Didn’t even eat them. Just killed. Probably something canine but idk. Never again without electric fencing. The coop shouldn’t be the first line of defense. It should be the last. Lesson so very learned.

[@lynnbetts4332]

My biggest predator isn't a mammal or bird. It's snakes. I lost three 1 month old pullets to 2 snakes in one day. 6' rat snake ate one and killed a second. Then, same day, a 4' rat snake killed a 3rd, and escaped through the chicken wire before I could get him. Even killed a grown maran hen sitting on her nest in the barn. Got all the eggs under her and then came back and killed her. Found her with slimed head and neck. My last 6 pullets ended up in my spare bathroom, in a dog play pen, until they were nearly 2 months old. I was determined not to lose any more to snakes. But somehow, a 3' one got into the house and was headed straight for them when they were small and still in the Rubbermaid tub. Normally, I let rat snakes alone to go after rats, but if they start after the chickens, they're gone. It's not like there aren't enough rats for them.

[@ashleeobrien1104]

Hi there!!! Really appreciate your video!!! We have been doing meat birds for about three years now… but I’m finding in the chick phase… they are “stomping” each other out! We loose at least 10-20 every year, but only in the chick phase. Any tips?

[@Homesteadyshow]

Hi Ashlee, do you have enough lights, feeders, waterers and space? You don’t want them crowding each other for resources, that can certainly cause deaths in chick stage. Be sure there is plenty of space, heat lamps, waterer and feed spots so they don’t pile up.

[@ashleeobrien1104]

@@Homesteadyshow thank you for responding so quickly! We generally brew them in a big plastic pond that we got a while ago. It’s a Rubbermaid 300 gallon commercial tub. We have a larger water that holds about 2 gallons of water… And then two feeders… We know that they’re prevalent to getting sick… When the fog hits or any sort of moisture, so we clean out the wood chips once a week… We even changed hatcheries because we thought maybe the quality of the birds was not so great. We keep them in this pond tub for about 3 to 4 weeks and then we change them out to a chicken tractor… but it’s just so weird how in the chick stage, we lose so many in the first one to three weeks

[@Homesteadyshow]

Ashlee, it sounds to me like overcrowding. I’m only guessing because I’m not sure how many you get, but I’d get less or let them have more space, and more access to feeders and waterers. You do use heat lamps correct? Big problems for chicks when they have to fight for a drink or food. Especially first thing when they all wake up and run to go eat or drink.

[@smittys19daytona]

doing Salains Pasture course right now and even he said 5 -10% loss is normal I was surprised there just a fragile breed but is still the most marketable and fastest growing bird

[@ceepark114]

One year I decided to feed organic feed that was made of seeds and they chicks never got very big. The feed store said that all the added nutrients soft to the bottom of the bag and you have to mix it all up before feeding them so they get the seeds and the nutrients. Never did that again. This year we had the most loss of chicks, the spring was very cold and the avian flu was rampant and the hatchery had been hit with the flu just after we got chicks from them.

[@adrianrodriguez540]

😮

[@joanneganon7157]

Great Video about the many things Folks do wrong 🙌. JO JO IN VT 😆💕

[@Myperfecthomesteadlife]

I’ve been looking to get into these chickens. Been asking questions with my friend Lady’s Farm. She just sent me this video. Thank you you made this clear and straight to the point. New sub here from Lady’s Farm

[@teachersikhumbuzomoyo5419]

You're articulate. I vow to follow you from now onwards

[@joycemaurer3588]

Looks like you give them more room than some people give. Good job! Massive hair cut or what?

[@kristinreynolds577]

We got our very first batch ever this year! Today is our butcher day, and we’re nervous to say the least. However eve learned so much thanks to you guys!! We only got 15 birds this year and we lost 3. 2 we have no idea what happened and 1 was definitely due to heat. For our first year, I’m not going to beat myself up to bad. Thanks for all that y’all do!! Much love from Oklahoma 💗💗💗

[@kimberli2391]

Good topic. We feed turkey grower I add kelp and green grasses. Unlimited feed the first 4-6 weeks, then as they get closer to harvest date we let them run out over night. We deep bedding raise in big airy cages, we have hilly, tree covered land. We pick up our first of birds at a local feed store in February(zone 9a). We try to finish our last ‘chickening’ by the first week of June because of heat and fly issues when processing. Most years we lose few birds. We play it by ear changing as we need to give the best care. Then sigh a collective sigh when the harvest is done 😁👍☺️

[@Homesteadyshow]

YES! A collective sigh is soo true! It’s a big investment and always a little scary until it’s done

[@sheribristol2826]

Thanks Austin! Ours are coming in Aug so this is PERFECT timing😊

[@jacksonpreuss6261]

So I went out this morning and found a new calf. Do you have any tips

[@springhollerfarm8668]

So, what got the one?

[@Homesteadyshow]

Best guess heart attack or heat

[@teachersikhumbuzomoyo5419]

What's the capacity of chicks at a time?

[@yvettestanton]

Predators: Do you not have snakes? I see so many chicken tractors with their chicken wire and think "How on earth does that keep the snakes out?" In addition, foxes would easily get under that gap you showed us, if they wanted to. I like the design of the chicken tractor, but it doesn't seem to deal well with Australian predators.

[@Homesteadyshow]

Yvette, we do have snakes but never been much of a problem here. Maybe our snakes are not as bad? 😅 foxes also not a problem as long as you make sure there are no big gaps where you leave it.

[@yvettestanton]

@@Homesteadyshow Yeah, well many people think Australia is a land where all the animals are trying to kill you!

[@DaybirdAviaries]

80⁰? I have like 3 days in April to receive chicks.

[@Homesteadyshow]

😂

[@ThreeLittleGoats]

We were a week out from butchering here in Arkansas and our temps hit over 100* (our heat index was 114*) and it killed 14 of ours.

[@Homesteadyshow]

Dang that’s the worst. Soo sorry. Especially soo close to butchering. Can I ask what kind of waterers you had? For science… 🤔

[@ThreeLittleGoats]

@@Homesteadyshow we use 5 gal buckets with chicken waterer cups.

[@springhollerfarm8668]

@@ThreeLittleGoats I am not using tractors so I can do something else which you might do temporarily when it's SO hot... A feeder pan of water they can drink from and get in to cool off as well.

[@Homesteadyshow]

Wow that stinks thanks for sharing, I’ll remember if it ever gets that hot here cups are not enough, water pan it is

[@springhollerfarm8668]

@@Homesteadyshow So far, so good... It has been in the 100's for a couple weeks, 108 yesterday and we didn't lose any. the ones I lost were a few weeks ago and my theory is too many grass pieces...

[@TallCFarms]

That's pretty awesome. I've had my worst year with chicks/ducklings ever. And I don't think you have this predator issue - snakes. Out of 30 peepers, I have 16 left. And the ducklings had even gotten well beyond eating size, but as they slept on the ground and had small heads, the snake still tried to eat them. I don't usually get my chicks in April, as it gets just too warm, but wanted to try ducks for the first time and that's when they were available. I won't do that again. I'll be going over my nursery coop again and see if I can't find anymore holes that I've missed, but chicks will have to come in the cold month, so that by the time it's warm enough for the snakes to be out, they're too big to mess with. And now I'm wondering if I could even do cornish cross birds here. (SE Texas)

[@Homesteadyshow]

WE don’t have a bad snake problem, have had a few run ins but nothing like that! Sorry your fighting those!

[@PoorMansHomesteadCanadaBC1961]

I am only doing 7 cornish but I have bin finding that the meat is tuff and don't taste that good I like Walmart chicken thys better don't know why people like them

[@springhollerfarm8668]

It's tougher because the WM chickens, which are also cornish cross, sit where they can't move their whole life... Home grown ones can run around. Cook it longer.

[@elijahsfarmsteadjourney]

Im not so sure about the feed mixture being said. I buy organic non gmo 12% cracked corn wheat and oats from Mennonites then add soy the last 4 weeks ..i dont like feeding soy and corn but with the price of store feed and the fact i cant get organic non gmo finisher from the store, i just feed the Mennonite mix

[@Homesteadyshow]

Elijah, what are you not sure of? Is the proof not in the pudding?

[@abandonedpastures]

Yea about the food I feed an all mash feed and never had a problem with losing any Cornish cross chickens , it’s not the food , if you feed them dry food , then they eat it quick and choke on it that’s what kills them , I feed wet so it’s easier for them to eat and they don’t make that choking noise when they eat .

[@Homesteadyshow]

Dude. That’s where you’ve been all these years? Raising chickens? Honestly you should start a channel Clippy, millennials miss you! Clippys Chickens! 😜 (couldn’t help myself… but thanks for the mash tip!)

[@nitapachulski9758]

That's not bad 1out of 100

[@82saw3]

Thanks for the info 😎

[@brich2929]

Aust, do you have a link for the transfer pump?

[@Homesteadyshow]

I got it at harbor freight, DC pump

[@sarahleehazel24]

Have you considered a heritage meat breed like Breese or Barred Rock or Malines? Something I have been looking into, wondering if you have as well.

[@jdollar5852]

Getting Breese is an issue. I want to try that route but can't find any chicks. I've tried Barred Rock but the meat isn't as good and it takes too long to get a 4.5 pound bird. 16-20 weeks compared to 7-8 for the cornish.

[@Homesteadyshow]

We have, we prefer the Cornish Cross to fill the freezer and keep some dual purpose layers in the coop for sustainability

[@teresawebster3498]

good job👍

[@dreamingtreefarmstead]

Timely video... I am having major predator issues right now. This batch all sleeps along the edge of the tractor, and something (coon, I'm sure) was reaching under the cracks and pulling legs off. Besides the deaths, I had to cull at least half a dozen that were missing legs. So I put the tractor inside some Premier 1 netting. NOPE. Lost a turkey poult last night and just tried to (unsuccessfully) repair a wing on another. I am devastated. I don't know what else to do. Mostly upset about the poults for sure. This is my future breeding stock. I swear these birds have zero survival instinct. They are more than happy to sit there and be eaten alive.

[@Homesteadyshow]

Oh man that’s awful. We have had that problem in the past for sure. Did the netting have a good shock? Not grounded out?

[@springhollerfarm8668]

Did you try a 12 gauge?

[@davidgribble263]

Trap them coon and start early before you get your chicks !!!!

[@chefevilee9377]

It’s the turkey of the chicken breed😂

[@Homesteadyshow]

😂 true!

[@jacksonpreuss6261]

You guys cheer me up I lost one of my baby cows today

[@Homesteadyshow]

Oh no. Im so sorry! That is awful :( It's been a challenging year for Homesteaders, hopefully things get better going forward!

[@jacksonpreuss6261]

Thank y'all so much this means the world to me

[@analarson2920]

Good dog food