125 Freedom Rangers start to finish March 2012

[wsmoak]

I took the first batch to the processor Tuesday night.

So... they were a day short of 9 weeks (62 days)? (I looked back at your original post and couldn't quite tell when they arrived.)

I processed mine starting at 66 days and [finally!] finished at 79 days. I was initially worried that they were getting "too old" but they were fine. I think the ones just after the 10 week mark were the best in terms of having a good amount of meat, and not too much fat. The last ones I processed at 11+ weeks were definitely carrying more fat than I like.

Thanks for posting your results, I hope you'll do another thread for the next batch.

-Wendy

 

[loanwizard]

Wendy, should I do a new thread or just continue it here?


Thanks,
Shawn

I have 102 2 week olds and just ordered 150 due June 6th. My two week olds are due to process July 6th at 10 weeks.

 

[Maev]

Thank you for sharing your experience! I really enjoyed reading through all the posts. I would like to keep hearing about how things go with your next batches too. I'm really interested in whether or not you can make enough profit to make it worth while.
I think you could keep going in this thread. Maybe edit the title of your thread to 'Freedom Rangers Start to Finish-now on batch 2' or something along those lines.
Thanks again! Good Luck!

 

[unkadan]

I have been a lurker here since day one, plan to raise my 1st meaties this summer and have found your experiences very helpful

agree with Maev, just hope it still saves in my subscriptions

 

[shadowmane]

I would continue the thread here, since you're already here and all. Just keep it going.

 

[loanwizard]

Well thank you all! I didn't know I was helping anyone other than keeping myself straight and having a record to refer to.

I am kind of excited this morning as I have advertised on Craigslist and on facebook the items on my farm. I have a mentor that is a marketing guru of sorts. Being a car dealer and a landlord, I thought I was pretty good, but this guy has given his all to the small farmer.

Anyway, last night I got a call from a lady that wants golden comets at point of lay. If I can find some eggs, I will raise them for her, but not until fall for spring layers.

I also got a call from a local couple interested in all my meat products, that being Chicken, pork and beef.

Yesterday, my maintenance man brought me something a friend of his had brought him to scrap but makes a perfect feeder. I have no idea what it was.... it is metal, and is about 4 feet long with end and is half moon shaped..... it's a feeder! I fed my two week olds in it yesterday and they loved it. I also found some wisdom in the people's words that have been helping me. More feed to more birds is more weight. At 2 weeks, they are eating more. With this feeder I am pretty sure that even with my schedule, and with going 10 weeks, that I can get my birds to weight faster this time. I need them to average 4.5 lbs this time which will net me $1100.00 or about... $150.00 for 100 birds shipped, $300.00 processed, $460.00 for a ton of feed = $910.00 or a profit of $200.00

Now, if I can find cheaper feed like $.16lb. That would be nice.

 

[chicks4fun]

great post & very helpful to those of us who are learning along with you! thanks

 

[4CrazyEggs]

Great job and great info! Thanks!

 

[unkadan]

You might consider direct marketing, that CL idea works well here taking advance orders w/deposit after a couple batches under your belt put the profit back in your pocket,,,,,just sayin

 

[loanwizard]

You might consider direct marketing, that CL idea works well here taking advance orders w/deposit after a couple batches under your belt put the profit back in your pocket,,,,,just sayin

I would be interested in seeing the verbiage of such an ad that generates a good response.