Considering Meat Chickens

[Cheeky Chick]

I'm on the fence about getting meat chickens. While I love the idea of having fresh meat, and knowing they have eaten healthy feed without drugs, and that they've had a good life, not a tiny cage...I am SO attached to my Layers, I think it might have a hard time not getting attached.

My family eats ALOT of chicken, and I know I'd always have to have new chicks coming in, so we have a constant supply of fresh meat. (My sons are growing teenagers, plus a hungry husband and I like my chow too!) I think it's the attachment factor that's bugging me. My husband would do the butchering, so I wouldn't have to do it.

I think I'm asking you to convince me. My friend is giving me a 10x10 dog run, and my husband would build them a shelter. It's too cheap and easy to say no to.

Thanks for reading!

 

[angelbabyamy]

I thought I would have a hard time raising meat chickens, my chickens are very spoiled and Ioved. I just butchered a Cornish X and rooster a few weeks ago and although I felt bad that we had to kill them, I just kept telling myself that's what I bought for and meant to be. They had a great life free ranging and living with the others.
I have twelve 3 week old Cornish X chicks a BLRW is raising for me now and I can't wait to start filling my freezer! I hope I can do another batch this fall. Having a broody raise them is wonderful!

 

[SIMZ]

I thought I wouldn't be able to do meaties, either. It helps me that they're all the same. They're more of a group of chickens to me and not individuals like my layers are. I do miss them when they're gone, but I'm also always ready to see them go.

 

[bj taylor]

i think i'm going to try meaties in the fall. the fact that they all look alike will help when it comes to processing them - i hope

 

[SIMZ]

It really helps me. The first time we did them we only had 7, and two of those were a week older. Since those two always stood out to me I had the hardest time with them. I even knew which chickens they were in the freezer.

It was much easier the next batch when they were just all the same and no one really stood out.

 

[kizanne]

Cheeky Chick,

It is a great thing to me to have fresh chicken that I know how it was raised. I appreciate knowing that I'm not contributing to the misery that the traditional egg and meat chicken go through. It make me feel good to know that mine were not given any medication, hormone, by products that I didn't want. I love knowing they had grass and bugs and things that I know they enjoy but more importantly I feel improves the nutrition that my family is eating. BUT.....

you made a cheap and easy remark. I just want to encourage you to look through the posts here because most people can't make it cheaper than chicken on sale at the grocery store. (unless you already buy organic). If you just want cheap stick with the store. If you want better tasting, better for you, better for them then you'll be able to do it and the first one is to me the hardest. I had a nameless CX that we did as part of my first batch, since then we've weeded out some roosters that hatched from our expanded layer eggs which we could definately tell who was who. We have also did the rooster I thought we were going to keep so he got a name, but he crowed toooooo much. And just Friday we had to do our first layer who had a name and has been around for over a year. It gets easier and the reward is worth it. Try it out. If you find you can't do it, around here you can sell them on craigslist for a reasonable price, live to people willing to kill their own.

 

[Cheeky Chick]

Thanks!
Actually, by the cheap part, I meant a free dog run for them.

Much cheaper than the house and coop my layers live in! I picked it up today, and now my husband and sons will be putting it together tonight I think.

My husband will take care of the processing of the birds, so I think that will work. I'm gonna look into getting chicks. Anyone have suggestions as far as where to order from?

 

[kizanne]

If for your first try you want to do CX's then I used Whelp and was happy. I sprung the 0.17 each for the cocci spray since I didn't use the medicated starter. Whelp allows an order as small as 25.

It also depends on how many you want to get. If you order by the 100 then there are places you can get them cheaper.

Are you planning on Cornish Crosses to start? They convert the least meat to the most meat and are done real early. One draw back is you have to process when they are ready otherwise you'll lose them to heart attack. Also for the summer depending on where you are you'll have to be careful with the heat.

The next bird that people seem to like is the Freedom Rangers.

 

[Cheeky Chick]

If for your first try you want to do CX's then I used Whelp and was happy. I sprung the 0.17 each for the cocci spray since I didn't use the medicated starter. Whelp allows an order as small as 25.

It also depends on how many you want to get. If you order by the 100 then there are places you can get them cheaper.

Are you planning on Cornish Crosses to start? They convert the least meat to the most meat and are done real early. One draw back is you have to process when they are ready otherwise you'll lose them to heart attack. Also for the summer depending on where you are you'll have to be careful with the heat.

The next bird that people seem to like is the Freedom Rangers.

I checked out their catalog! NO SHIPPING COSTS!! How great is that! Yes, the Cornish crosses sound like the type I want, since I have some hungry men here! Big bird with lots of meat! As it is, I have them eating two chickens at a sitting. (and they're skinny as reeds!) (the boys, not the chickens!)

I can fit 25, it'll be tight, but they can free range in my yard during the day, so they'll only have to pile in at night. My husband is putting the run together tonight or tomorrow, I'm pretty excited. I might order the chicks by this weekend since they have to be inside anyway, so they get a head start.

My daughter said she's moving out, my boys want to butcher the birds themselves. Two sides of a coin I have here.