Developing a Yearly Plan

[Mrs. K]

Well yes, but we are in the cattle business, and I have seen those high price boys...die. UGH! For me this is a hobby.

 

[User635240]

I have about 50-60 birds that are dual purpose. My plan was to have them mostly for meat, but I am finding overwintering is expensive and nasty here in southern Missouri (mud and muck). Unfortunately I bought them later in the year than I should have, which means I"m now feeding substantial amounts of grain to get them to grow/stay warm in our cold weather. They go through a bag of feed every couple days. So for now I am going to cull the largest of these and send them to freezer camp.

What I would like to do is to grow the flock to about 120 birds, harvesting 100 birds per year in the fall for family meat needs. The rest would be for starting a flock each spring, for eggs and meat the following year. Curious to know what others are doing as far as how they sustainably manage their flocks throughout the year.

Is using chicken tractors a preferable option, vs constructing a larger coop, through winter? How do the birds get space to run? I can move tractors every day to give the birds new grass, but it is time consuming. A big coop that is dry/enclosed/under roof MIGHT be an option in the winter, however. Curious what folks' thoughts are.

When do people doing similar to my plan cull? When to people incubate eggs? What months/recurring plan?

My plan is to donate overages to charity. My hope is to have robust egg and meat production, and to grow the operation over time.

Grain is expensive. The only suggestions I might have are:
- My hens seem to thrive off goat poops; sometimes I don't give them grain and they still lay eggs as normal. There is an occasional death from trampling by the goats. I also give them a bag of fresh mowed grass clippings and eat every last bit.
- Growing worms in plastic totes with compost, used cardboard, and used potting soil can make up to 20% of the chickens' feed.
- I think most people hatch out chicks in March - May then cull in September- October.