100 Broilers and Fermented Feed Project

[kuntrygirl]

Mine seem slower growing than other batches too :/

I put the broielrs out today and they were running and tyring to fly around. I have cleaned their brooder and added more shaving. I had to shovel the old shavings out. I couldn't stand it anymore. I didn't like the way everything looked in their. It looked really bad. So, the old shavings and poop have been shoveled out and new shavings have been put down.

They are over 3 lbs and seem to be growing slow to me. Now, I'm thinking if I need to keep them beyond 8 weeks to put more weight on them. Seems like this is a slow process.

I may have to contact the local farm that hatched them to inquire about the slow growth.

Did you ask your local office where you got them from where did they get them from? I wonder if it's the same farm. This is almost depressing because I know others have broilers that are huge when it's time to process. These will be far from huge.

How much do yours weigh at the 5 week mark? I think I will buy maybe 10 broilers at TSC whenever I see the broilers for Chick days.

5 week weights should be the following according to different charts.
5 weeks 3.19 (give or take a few ounces)

 

[kuntrygirl]

 
I'm wondering if a person could invest in one of those and then just rent it out for $30-$50 a day to make it pay for itself.  I know I'd pay $30 a day to rent a plucker if I had a good many meaties to do...that would be a bargain! 

I would totally rent one as well, but I'd be afraid if I was the one renting it out I'd not get it back.. Some deposit would be necessary. 

I thought about that last night and I thought about a deposit as well and they would also have to sign some of contract in the event they break or damage it.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Question....................

What would someone do with the feathers of a chicken after being plucked??????????? Why would someone want the feathers?

 

[Beekissed]

Question....................

What would someone do with the feathers of a chicken after being plucked??????????? Why would someone want the feathers?

You can put them into pillow cases and wash and dry them. They make lovely pet bed stuffing to keep pets warm and comfy. I'm using some rooster feathers on a project that requires some natural insulation for some chicks right now...these feathers are soft and pliable and are well suited for holding heat.

 

[aoxa]

Question....................

What would someone do with the feathers of a chicken after being plucked??????????? Why would someone want the feathers?

If you don't want to use them like Beekissed mentioned (it is a good idea), I compost them. They are very good in compost

 

[kuntrygirl]

The reason that I asked about the feathers is because I had a conversation with someone about plucking. I have been putting my feelers out and making sure I have a Plan B in the event my chicken plucker is not ready, I will have a couple other options. I talked to this guy and he said that he has been plucking chickens for 40+ years. At first, he said that he would charge me $2.00 per chicken for the 99 broilers. I got quiet when he said $2.00. He heard my hesitance and then he changed the price to $1.00 per bird. He said he would pluck and gut the chickens and all he wanted were the feathers, in addition to his $1.00 per bird. He has my attention.

What do you all think about that price?

 

[aoxa]

The reason that I asked about the feathers is because I had a conversation with someone about plucking. I have been putting my feelers out and making sure I have a Plan B in the event my chicken plucker is not ready, I will have a couple other options. I talked to this guy and he said that he has been plucking chickens for 40+ years. At first, he said that he would charge me $2.00 per chicken for the 99 broilers. I got quiet when he said $2.00. He heard my hesitance and then he changed the price to $1.00 per bird. He said he would pluck and gut the chickens and all he wanted were the feathers, in addition to his $1.00 per bird. He has my attention.

What do you all think about that price?

I think $2 a bird is cheap. $1 a bird is insanely cheap.

If you don't want to take on that many birds yourself, I think it is a helluva deal.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Question....................


What would someone do with the feathers of a chicken after being plucked??????????? Why would someone want the feathers?

You can put them into pillow cases and wash and dry them.  They make lovely pet bed stuffing to keep pets warm and comfy.  I'm using some rooster feathers on a project that requires some natural insulation for some chicks right now...these feathers are soft and pliable and are well suited for holding heat. 

That's a good idea. But then that would require me having to sew the material to keep the feathers in right?

 

[kuntrygirl]

Question....................


What would someone do with the feathers of a chicken after being plucked??????????? Why would someone want the feathers?

If you don't want to use them like Beekissed mentioned (it is a good idea), I compost them. They are very good in compost

Compost? I wish I had time to compost. :/

 

[kuntrygirl]

The reason that I asked about the feathers is because I had a conversation with someone about plucking. I have been putting my feelers out and making sure I have a Plan B in the event my chicken plucker is not ready, I will have a couple other options. I talked to this guy and he said that he has been plucking chickens for 40+ years. At first, he said that he would charge me $2.00 per chicken for the 99 broilers. I got quiet when he said $2.00. He heard my hesitance and then he changed the price to $1.00 per bird. He said he would pluck and gut the chickens and all he wanted were the feathers, in addition to his $1.00 per bird. He has my attention.


What do you all think about that price?

I think $2 a bird is cheap. $1 a bird is insanely cheap.

If you don't want to take on that many birds yourself, I think it is a helluva deal. 

And I really don't want to do that many birds. I kinda thought that was a good deal but I wanted to ask the experts on this thread. I think I will take that deal. For that cheap a price, I think I will write up a "agreement" indicating the price he quote and what he will do, so that he doesn't change his mind when he starts on Bird #50, with 49 more birds to go and decides to quit or increase the price. :/