All you who raised 10lb+ birds in three months...GIVE ME THE SECRET!!!

[jaku]

How did you possibly get your birds to cost $40/apiece?? I figured my Cornish X's to about $6-8/bird, and I was going to do a couple of turkeys in the spring. I couldn't imagine the difference being that big! Could you break that down better?

 

[becky3086]

The turkeys cost $40 not the chickens! Still, is it just me or is $40 for a turkey a lot?

 

[cjeanean]

not if you sell them for $60!!

 

[willheveland]

How to get 10+ lbs. birds

1. High protein feed
2. Fresh water always
3.Feeders kept full during day(they won't eat in the dark)
4.Choose males over females
5.Give them feeder space,but make them stand to eat.
6.Raise them in tractors,in groups, so they compete for food.

Your results will get better as you develope your own system.Try different things until you find what works for you.

No secrets just my opinon. Will

 

[DaKid]

jaku
Yesterday 12:43 pm How did you possibly get your birds to cost $40/apiece?? I figured my Cornish X's to about $6-8/bird, and I was going to do a couple of turkeys in the spring. I couldn't imagine the difference being that big! Could you break that down better?

as of now the 11birds I place in my freezer cost me around $40 per bird start to finish, that buy chicks-feed- butcher -plus the cost of shaving and 2 bales of hay, my time and labor well it's a hobby
I still have 6 more turkeys that I will keep a few more months or maybe untill next spring then I just might use these guys as my breeders

here my break down
purchase 24 turkeys plus shipping .........$205.00
feed -shaving and hay............. $402.00
butch shop charges $7.50 a turkey X 11 birds = $82.50
grand total as of today .........................$689.50

divide the total 689.50 by 17 birds = $40.56 per bird as of now today total cost

I lost 7 turkeys out of 24 so 17 is why I divided by the total I still have 6 more turkeys in the pen alive 11 in the freezer total 17 birds

I going to try to off set my cost by selling some eggs or hatching orjust raise the chicks for next yr. eatting and I plan on butching my own next time around so I'll save some there too

Al.​

 

[kstaven]

What was the finish weight of the turkeys?

 

[DaKid]

DaKid
Out Of The Brooder
From: Berkley, Ma.
Registered: 08/31/2008
Posts: 132
E-mail PM Re: All you who raised 10lb+ birds in three months...GIVE ME THE SECRET!!!Yeah, really. It's even getting harder to find that 20+ turkey in the store!

thats why my 5 month old turkeys weight in live weight tom 42 lbs - dress and finish came in at 32 lbs . my hens 28-30 lbs live weight dress out at 22 -24 lbs
all just meat no necks-livers -heart, ect where in the birds at weighting -who needs store bought

 

[bheila]

We raised 20 to 12 weeks. Gave them broiler grower for the first 4 weeks. Then I pumped them full of wheat, corn and broiler grower after that. We get free corn and wheat from husbands job. I also free ranged with a light out in a tractor when it wasn't warm enough. I had a broody hen raise 7 more for me for 3 weeks until she couldn't cover them anymore and I feed them the same way. They dressed out at 10-11lbs. The last batch we raised was a little stringy though they were 14 weeks old and I felt too much time free ranging. If I brine them then they're okay.

 

[greyfields]

Quote:
here my break down
purchase 24 turkeys plus shipping .........$205.00
feed -shaving and hay............. $402.00
butch shop charges $7.50 a turkey X 11 birds = $82.50
grand total as of today .........................$689.50

divide the total 689.50 by 17 birds = $40.56 per bird as of now today total cost

I lost 7 turkeys out of 24 so 17 is why I divided by the total I still have 6 more turkeys in the pen alive 11 in the freezer total 17 birds

I going to try to off set my cost by selling some eggs or hatching orjust raise the chicks for next yr. eatting and I plan on butching my own next time around so I'll save some there too

Al.

Brooder lamps, brooder bulbs, electricity for brooders, insurance, gasoline/mileage to and from the processor, portable netting? electric fence charger? chicken tractor cost to build? fencing?

One thing about processing your own, everytime I do it, it reminds me why I should pay for it next time. H8 H8 H8 and I'm terrible at it.... plus I"m required by law to have them processed if I'm to sell any.

 

[Beau coop]

Quote:
here my break down
purchase 24 turkeys plus shipping .........$205.00
feed -shaving and hay............. $402.00
butch shop charges $7.50 a turkey X 11 birds = $82.50
grand total as of today .........................$689.50

divide the total 689.50 by 17 birds = $40.56 per bird as of now today total cost

I lost 7 turkeys out of 24 so 17 is why I divided by the total I still have 6 more turkeys in the pen alive 11 in the freezer total 17 birds

I going to try to off set my cost by selling some eggs or hatching orjust raise the chicks for next yr. eatting and I plan on butching my own next time around so I'll save some there too

Al.

Brooder lamps, brooder bulbs, electricity for brooders, insurance, gasoline/mileage to and from the processor, portable netting? electric fence charger? chicken tractor cost to build? fencing?

One thing about processing your own, everytime I do it, it reminds me why I should pay for it next time. H8 H8 H8 and I'm terrible at it.... plus I"m required by law to have them processed if I'm to sell any.

Did you have a post some where that you broke down your costs for raising meaties? Not sure if it was cornish x or rangers?