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Having the plucker will really speed up matters, I can't wait till I get one, just me and the wife work on butchering usually my mom or the mother in law comes to help pack but turns into more of a goal session than a get work done session. It's good to know your scalder was able to keep up I do...

I hope you have a little help, 125 is a lot to tackle in a day even a weekend, at least for me. Hopefully your scalder will keep the temperature up and prevent having to take breaks in between batches of chickens to let it heat. A plucker is next on my list of chicken stuff to buy

I do my own, it takes a little time but the processor is 40 miles away and I'm just not gonna pay someone to butcher a bunch of chickens. I do sell some of mine and should raise my price to account for the butchering time and shrink bags. They're getting a deal at 3 bucks a lb already butchered

Our nearest processor, the only one that I'm aware of who does poultry, charged 3 bucks a bird that's for basic freezer paper wrapping and while bird processing, it's extra for cutting into pieces and shrink wrapping, it could easily approach 5 dollars a bird if you went with cut up and shrink...

I'd trade 20 chickens for a butcher weight hog any day of the week

Either 20 or 21% depending where I get it, the 20 from the mill is what I just discovered and will be using that since it's only 9 bucks for 50lbs, the 21 crumble from the feed store is 14 bucks, big price difference. I haven't raised cx chicks since I was a kid and we would do 25 at a time...

You could feed an 18%feed the whole time if you like but I don't recommend the medicated, I wouldn't want any sort of medicated feed going into my meat birds especially within a few weeks of butcher. I feed a broiler ration the entire time but if you wanted a little slower growth I would feed a...

I talked to my feed mill guy when I went in to get pig feed today, his broiler ration he grinds is 20% protein and it's only 9 bucks and some change for 50lbs, when I order broilers this year it will cost me far less than the feed store brand I was buying last year at 14

meat birds will act like that they're programmed to eat alot, unless the have feed access 24/7 they will act like they're starving because they will associate you with bringing food even if they just finished eating a while feeder with 25lbs of feed in it 2 hours before, they most always want more

I had much the same experience with the rangers and pioneers last summer they would pile up in the corner of the hoop coop every night not just when it stormed and I lost a couple to that they would also do that when it was raining and get soaked being right by the edge of the shelter rather...

I don't buy the expensive stuff they sell nutrena brand at fleet farm to but it's only 40lb bags so cost is higher and I'm not sure on the protein levels. We have another "feed store" in town that deals in Purina brands they are substantially higher priced. I'm glad we still have a couple local...

I'd think the 4 week old chicks are likely comparable to a Cornish game hen in the store if not slightly larger already? The fleet farm here sells 16%layer, 18% flock raiser and chick starter, and 21% meat maker feed all are crumble except flock raiser that is pellet. I have generally feed...

It should take a little longer with lower protein but I wouldn't think more than a week or 2 depending on what size your looking to get them of course.

You may have a few more loses my advice is if they get to that condition just cull them and put them out of their misery, separating them and trying to keep them going is pointless they will likely still die and even if they live they will be miserable animals and won't produce a decent carcass

I had rangers and rainbows it was mainly the rainbows with feet issues, their Cornish are probably ok then. I'm gonna do more this year haven't decided how many or what kind

Just plug in to gfci outlet and you won't have to worry about getting electrocuted. How were your chicks otherwise, I did have a few that had crooked curled toes, I guess I didn't care because they were meat birds going to the freezer anyways and they could still walk fine, it didn't seem to...

On the scalder build I suggest wrapping the barrel with insulation even if only the foil faced bubble wrap a couple layers thick then cut a floating lid of good quality foam like the 2 inch pink board used in construction. That would really cut down on heat loss and greatly help recovery time. I...

I've thought about doing a scalder as well, haven't yet because I want to get a plucker first keep us updated how your recovery time works out, that is the only thing I question with an electric unit