Homesteading Chicken Coop Build, Chickens, Pond, Garden & Projects

Nice chicks

 

In most places; on first response on a page that would have a totally different meaning

 

142 meat birds arrived Wednesday afternoon. Will be with us until 5/16.

 

jrider how long will it take to process all of those?
What's an estimate in costs you'll have in when all said and done?

 

There will be 5-6 of us and it will take 3.5 hours to slaughter and clean up. We let them chill in a large industrial fridge overnight and then it will take us another 3.5 hours to cut them up as we each see fit and wrap them.
As for costs, last year we were just under $2 a pound. The previous year we were around $2.65 a pound. The big swing is dependent upon cost of feed and how many of them make it to slaughter day. Out of these 142, about 120 will make it...I hope. They will range in size from about 8.25 pounds to 5 pounds for a few with an average in the upper 6's once dressed out.

 

The little chooks should be arriving around May 13th, 80 Ranger pullets (meat birds) The hoop coop is right outside my bedroom window, no roos if I can help it. Then there's 65 Browns pullets (eggs), up from the 40 that I have now. People want chicks this year so I'll hatch around 40 barnyard mixes for them. In June the 18 broad breasted turk poults will arrive. Because the laying flock is increasing, they'll take over the 3rd bird room and a new brooding room needs to be built in the chicken barn. I also have to build a rough shelter for the turks in the old calving pen. The pile of materials for the build:



Somebody kick me please...

 

How do you like the Rangers? For my meat birds, I get jumbo cornish cross and all roos for quicker growth and bigger. At 8.5 weeks, only a few try to crow at all and they sound like sad teenagers.

 

Blame it on the granddaughter! She loves her chickens as much as she likes 'her' rabbits, both live and ready to eat.

I'm not a fan of the Cornish cross, used to raise them and tried them again 3-4 years ago but they aren't a good fit for my facilities. The Rangers go to freezer camp around 12-13 weeks, weight is about the same at that point as the Cornish. I like the firmer, more flavorful meat, especially in the breast and my customers feel the same. Whatever works is good. I envy it only taking you and your crew less than a day to be chickenless. Kudos!