Recent content by birdman1960

I got the feather plate and driver shaft off of e-bay, do a search, should take you to the parts Greg

I use a collar with set screws to hold the feather plate

I feed chick starter first week, then switch to broiler feed, most instructions I have seen for Cornish X broilers, you can even start them on broiler mix, will be starting my 4th season in about 5 weeks, I have had minimal issues, long as feed it taken away over night, beginning week two...

I go with a bigger tractor and move twice a day in week 7 and 8, helps keep them a bit cleaner, just wash them down a bit after the kill, then I scald them and put in whizz bang, nice and clean after 15 seconds in there...a wire floor would defeat purpose of the tractor, in my mind, let them...

If they are pretty well feathered out, sure, I just put my 3.5 week old CX outside, central wisconsin, lows in low to mid 40's, however, I have a tarp over half of their portable coop, uses 2 foot tall sides, In the evening when I cover, they stay at the front end that is still open, but in the...

I will be selling mine for $2.99/lb this spring, using plant based broiler feed, and just covering my costs, I pay myself $3.50 to process the birds and a couple dollars for labor, not doing is as a business, just a hobby that cash flows, and I enjoy watching the chicks grow up..

I bought the shaft, feather plate and fingers on e-bay, i used a double reduction chain and sprocket set up, no belts to get wet and slip, the feather plate turns at about 209 rpm, it is a plan I copied from a retired engineer, he did all of the figuring. It works great

I built a whizz bang, once the neighbors saw it, they just HAD to rent it... well worth the cost to build, saves tons of time plucking, would recommend to anyone...

I have about 30 egg layers, the egg sales cover their costs, My co-workers and neighbors really like the big brown eggs. A LOT better than store bought

I figure 18 # per bird for cornish X, depending how much green and bugs they get, maybe 16# per bird, that is for 8 weeks, I buy wood shavings for the young chicks, one bag of chick starter, then onto broiler feed for the remainder, add in cost for processing $3.50 per bird. my spring batch...

I made mine with the clean out hole in the bottom ot the barrel, put a little feather chute on it as well, I used a chain and sprocket set up, with double reduction, definately slow it down, it will rotate too fast. do not let them in too long, wing bones will poke through the skin.

I process my own, around here, central wis. $3.00 per bird to get them butchered and vacuum sealed, so I pay myself 2.50 for the work, and allow .50 for the shrink seal package, I can do about 4 an hour, working by myself, using a whizz bang type plucker I built, ( also rent it out to cover...

I had one yesterday, 5 1/2 weeks old, was kinda sluggish, the comb was really dark red, I was thinking about processing it, but decided against it, this morning, dead as a door nail.....not sure if that is a sign of heart failure or not, also lost one earlier in the week...same thing, really...

I get mine through local feed mill, www.marathonfeed.com they in turn order through sunnyside, under 100 birds, add $6.00 shipping, otherwise, free, same price as sunnyside web site, they get orders bi weekly spring/early summer, then monthly through fall, I order my layers and meat birds in...

Last Christmas I served a couple my meaties instead of turkey, the in-laws (who only know store bought bird) loved it, ( count 23 people) and my wife served a lot of her home grown veggies... was a big hit..my family, we do home grown ham from one of brothers, I served a couple of my meaties...