Can't decide on meat bird breed, input requested.

[willheveland]

I think it is wise to have your birds processed. For what most charge($2.00 or so) you can't beat it. Just the expense of keeping the water hot long enough for 50 birds is costly. For what he can do in an hour or so would take you guys all day or all weekend. That's why I do batches with the birds being processed. If they have a scalder(or outside woodburner year round) with a tub plucker and an ice water bath It's hard to beat them. If you only needed 1 or 2 birds at a time then it would be different. But you have the right idea. good luck... Will

 

[maf2008]

an idea if you are looking for a processor... I found the local college under "poultry science" there are lots of willing students studying poultryn that would love to make a few extra bucks.... give that a try maybe?

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[the simple life]

Thanks for the info. I would not have thought of checking with a college.

The processor that I left a message with yesterday called me back this afternoon and said he takes up to 100 at a time and he has everything needed to process them completely, he scalds, plucks, ices,wraps and freezes them whole.
He has a pretty big operation there, he is in the process of building a new smoke house and he bought all new equipment this year.

Will, like you said this is definitely the way for us to go. There are just too many birds and we really aren't set up for it.
They would be dying of old age by the time we did 50.

 

[greyfields]

http://www.jmhatchery.com/free-range-broiler/colored-range-chicks/prod_5.html

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Do the colored rangers breed true or are they hybrids who need to be purchased every year?

 

[jaku]

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Hybrids.

 

[greyfields]

I have rebred them. They do fine. But if you're serious about your meat chickens as a business, buy new chicks each crop to get consistent results rather than some of the ranomness that creeps in when you breed F1 crosses.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Hey thanks! No I am not looking for a business. I just want to be able to raise my own chickens for eggs and meat.
I am trying to find the best birds for this that aren't the White Cornish X.
I have done those and for some reason it just bothers me to see them like that.
Looking for a fast growing, self reproducing, meaty breasted chicken.
I processed a RIR roo yesterday and could hardly fit my hand inside of him. He was a hatchery chick, but gee that is a waste of feed.
I have some lovely White Rocks that seem to be growing fast and big. I have heard to cross them with a New Hampshire but am not sure why. What does he bring into it? Curious...
So I have a little of everything and am watching them grow. So far the Rocks win. The Delawares are next along with the BCM's.
The others are still to young to make any guesses.
I think I will try the colored rangers and see how they go.

 

[Buster52]

I'm raising some standard Dark Cornish. 25 of them from Ideal.

I just happened to hatch 2 RIRs and a BO about the time they came in, so they are growing side by side, which is giving me a nice comparison. So far I like what I see in the Cornish. They are already showing a difference in breast size and they are at least as active as the other chicks.

And they breed true.

 

[chickenannie]

Try K22's from Moyer Hatchery in Pennsylvania (they are like freedom rangers).