Colorado

[Mtn Margie]

Okay, quick summary....
CX 8 - 10 weeks
CX slow grow, red broilers, freedom rangers 10 - 12 weeks ( minimal starter crowing)
Dual purpose some 16 weeks, most 18-20 weeks, some longer (more crowing/ fighting depending on the breeds/ birds and more variable sizes)

Three experienced chickeners can get the job done, including clean-up within three hours for 25 Red Broilers. One prepping the carcass (bless,kill, scald, pluck), one cleaning ( gutting and separating the organs out) and washing and one kid chicken wrangling and filling the killing cones.
It did take us longer when we first started, I think my first bird ever took about an hour, most of that getting the scalding water just right and everything seemed awkward and then I gutted real slow because I did not want to make a mistake and I needed to figure out what I was looking at, etc. Now, we have it down and if you have more help, then the faster it goes.
Hope this helps....

 

[PrettyWhitty23]

My beautiful eggs have arrived. I received 6 black copper Marans, 4 buff orpingtons, 2 jubilee Orrington, 2 easter Eggers, 2 unknown breeds, 2 bielefelder, 3 isbar, and 9 barred Plymouth rock. I'm going to put them in the Bator tomorrow morning. Yay!

 

[21hens-incharge]

My beautiful eggs have arrived. I received 6 black copper Marans, 4 buff orpingtons, 2 jubilee Orrington, 2 easter Eggers, 2 unknown breeds, 2 bielefelder, 3 isbar, and 9 barred Plymouth rock. I'm going to put them in the Bator tomorrow morning. Yay!

Okay, quick summary....
CX 8 - 10 weeks
CX slow grow, red broilers, freedom rangers 10 - 12 weeks ( minimal starter crowing)
Dual purpose some 16 weeks, most 18-20 weeks, some longer (more crowing/ fighting depending on the breeds/ birds and more variable sizes)

Three experienced chickeners can get the job done, including clean-up within three hours for 25 Red Broilers. One prepping the carcass (bless,kill, scald, pluck), one cleaning ( gutting and separating the organs out) and washing and one kid chicken wrangling and filling the killing cones.
It did take us longer when we first started, I think my first bird ever took about an hour, most of that getting the scalding water just right and everything seemed awkward and then I gutted real slow because I did not want to make a mistake and I needed to figure out what I was looking at, etc. Now, we have it down and if you have more help, then the faster it goes.
Hope this helps....

 

[intangible04]

Wow, bet Orps and Marans would be an awesome cross size wise!  Let us know what they weigh when they get close to butchering age!   Right  now I have Barnevelder crosses, mostly with laying type hens, Austrawhites, Java's, Marans, etc.....  Looks like I am finally getting some OE's  hatching!!!  Yay!!!

That's what I'm thinking too. My BCM is a big guy too so I think I would get some good sized birds. How exciting! Hatching is always an exciting time.

Okay, quick summary....
CX   8 - 10 weeks
CX slow grow, red broilers, freedom rangers  10 - 12 weeks ( minimal starter crowing)
Dual purpose some 16 weeks, most 18-20 weeks, some longer  (more crowing/ fighting depending on the breeds/ birds and more variable sizes)

Three experienced chickeners can get the job done, including clean-up within three hours for 25 Red Broilers.  One prepping the carcass (bless,kill, scald, pluck), one cleaning ( gutting and separating the organs out) and washing and one kid chicken wrangling and filling the killing cones. 
It did take us longer when we first started, I think my first bird ever took about an hour, most of that getting the scalding water just right and everything seemed awkward and then I gutted real slow because I did not want to make a mistake and I needed to figure out what I was looking at, etc.  Now, we have it down and if you have more help, then the faster it goes. 
Hope this helps....

Wow, thank you for the information!
That seems really quick...once you've gotten the hang of it, comes to a bird almost every 7 minutes. Not to shabby.

So the million dollar question, how do you know when they're ready?

 

[samsr]

I was looking at meat birds, the shipping almost costs more than the birds! Geez.

I got mine from schlecht hatchery All arrived happy and healthy. And at about1/2 the price of the other places that i looked at.
My cornish crosses. They are a small family run hatchery out in the middle of nowhere in Iowa. We are raising them on non-gmo feed whick is more expensive but they should be good. I have a friend that wants 10 of them already. I wasnt aware that i was selling them though.

 

[suncatcher]

My beautiful eggs have arrived. I received 6 black copper Marans, 4 buff orpingtons, 2 jubilee Orrington, 2 easter Eggers, 2 unknown breeds, 2 bielefelder, 3 isbar, and 9 barred Plymouth rock. I'm going to put them in the Bator tomorrow morning. Yay!

Wow, colorful assortment of eggs!!! Finger crossed one or two of every breed hatch's for you!!!!

Quote: Totally forgot about them, have not been on their website in years...... What was their final cost with shipping? Also, how many did you order? Hmmm, you may have to share!

 

[samsr]

I ordered 35. They sent 36. Total price was 61 or 62 i believe. Shipping was 21 to my zip code. When they are grown. My neighbor and i will process them. He has a plucker and i have a home made plucker also. We should be able to make short work of them. Maybe i will keep a couple hens to see how they do. They are chow hounds though. I have had them for a week now and they are doing great.

 

[Mtn Margie]

That's what I'm thinking too. My BCM is a big guy too so I think I would get some good sized birds. How exciting! Hatching is always an exciting time.
Wow, thank you for the information!
That seems really quick...once you've gotten the hang of it, comes to a bird almost every 7 minutes. Not to shabby.

So the million dollar question, how do you know when they're ready?

When you are over the extra work and feed bills!

The meat birds are bred to be ready at their suggested week and dual purpose, well it really just depends on lots of things. Sex, breed, space, fighting, crowing. You can weigh them and have a general idea of size. I have done both and I kinda like being able to plan my processing and just get it done all at once.

 

[intangible04]

I got mine from schlecht hatchery All arrived happy and healthy. And at about1/2 the price of the other places that i looked at.
My cornish crosses. They are a small family run hatchery out in the middle of nowhere in Iowa. We are raising them on non-gmo feed whick is more expensive but they should be good. I have a friend that wants 10 of them already. I wasnt aware that i was selling them though.

I just looked at the pricing. Really not that bad at all, as long as you order a larger quantity.

If your neighbor is already asking for some, guess you can charge whatever prices you want.

Any chance you want to rent out your plucker lol. Did you use any plans?

When you are over the extra work and feed bills!    The meat birds are bred to be ready at their suggested week and dual purpose, well it really just depends on lots of things.  Sex, breed, space, fighting, crowing.  You can weigh them and have a general idea of size.  I have done both and I kinda like being able to plan my processing and just get it done all at once. 

Ha ha. That's what I was kind of thinking. If I started incubation this week plus the 20 weeks put me right before Christmas. Unless it's a heat wave, I'll pass on processing during that cold weather. Thats where the CXs start looking real good.

 

[suncatcher]

That is a good price! Will be interesting to see how they lay, and what they produce if you cross them with your rooster for next years butchering!