Live bird Handling Instructions


Proper care and nutrition throughout the life of the bird is essential for quality poultry products. Remember we are only able to return clean quality products if the live birds are clean and healthy when they arrive at the plant. 

Raising
Nutrition
Lack of nutrition is a major reason for unsatisfactory results in your poultry products. 
    Maker sure to feed a well balanced diet of fresh quality poultry feed. For the Cornish 
            rock cross chickens it is recommended to feed an 18-21% poultry grower to finish in
            eight weeks or less.

Quality Litter
Litter management is essential in producing quality poultry products. Wet litter will cause
many problems for you flock, you will not be able to manage air quality, keep the birds
clean, or maintain flock health. Wet litter will also cause ammonia burns to the breast skin
and the hocks. These burns will be trimmed at slaughter creating unattractive products. 
It is recommended to use wood shavings, ground corn cobs not straw for litter. 
Make sure to keep litter dry throughout the life of the flock.
Air Quality
Poor air quality causes high mortality, low feed conversion, disease, and may cause some
            of the flock to be condemned at the plant. Make it possible to be able to move fresh air 
            throughout your coop either mechanically or naturally as the flock gets older. This will really help your litter quality also.

Transportation
More birds are condemned from lack of care during transportion than any other reason. 

        We recommend using actual chicken crates available here to borrow or buy. If chicken crates are not available wire cages, dog carriers, or loose in a trailer works but is not recommended and will need to be transferred to our crates upon arrival at the plant. Make sure the birds can still move around and get plenty of air during transportion. Make sure to use care when handling the birds excessive wing flapping can cause bone breakage and/or tissue bruising. These kinds of things will be trimmed at slaughter which will lower product yields and quality.