Done With Meat Birds

[TimG]

I ate a roasted 11-12 week old Freedom Ranger today, a relatively small one (under 5 pounds). It was delicious and not the least bit spongy.

 

[annaraven]

Quote:
The 600 lbs is what I purchased from the mill based on previous batches of birds. So far, they've eaten about 100 lbs of feed.

Then so far, they've cost under $4 per bird:

((129 / 6) + 65) / 22 = 3.93181818
The lamp and other durable goods really don't count if you're going to do more birds...

If they're about 5 pounds per bird, that's (((129 / 6) + 65) / 22) / 5 = 0.786363636
And $.79 per pound of chicken is a pretty darn good price, if you ask me!

 

[HHandbasket]

Quote:
Not to mention, $0.79 per pound for chicken that you KNOW what it's been fed and where it came from.

That's like a double

 

[TinyBirds]

I prefer to order straight-run chicks any time we get any breed, because otherwise they kill the baby boys at the hatchery since hardly anyone wants the heritage-breed boys. They send out as many boys as they can (mostly barred rocks) for warmth like Ideal poultry, but there are millions of baby boys killed because no one wants them. So it's for that reason alone that I don't do meat-birds. Even if I didn't need any more hens for laying, I would still just buy heritage breed boys from somewhere like Ideal, so that way less of the babies have to be killed at the hatchery.

Edited to add: We have a separate area of our yard where I let the heritage boys free range around 5 months old. I have around 50 roosters there right now (I call it roosterville). I feed them some cheap deer corn sometimes as a treat, but heritage breeds can find most of their own food from that point on, so feed costs are minimal. I like to let them live longer, often a year or more, because it's sad to me that the boys don't usually get to live as long. They are so cute and sweet when there aren't any girls around. I've had boys that never fought at all for a full year in rooster-ville end up nearly killing each other if I put them in with some hens though. If I put them back by themselves, they return immediately to sweet little boys again. I love those sweetie boys when the girls aren't near them. They make the cutest sounds when I bring them corn or table scraps.

 

[Beekissed]

I did 20 CX this past spring and count them as a good investment. They didn't cost me much extra on feed and free range foraged all through their growth. They produced over 100# of meat and they were a dream to process. All survived and I didn't have to feed continually to get the proper growth in the right amount of time.

Having said that, I will state they do not have the rich, good flavor of an older dual-purpose roo grown out for 4-5 mo. Sort of like the flavor of veal vs. a good 2 yr. old steer.

 

[joe12pack]

I would look at raising your own birds as a health choice. Have you ever been to a farmer's market and bought any kinds of meats? From what I have seen, the prices are insane. $25/lb for steak. Chicken is in the $7-$8/lb price. This might be because I am in the SF bay area but I would imagine it's not that much cheaper in the rest of the country.

The reason why people buy organic meats is that they fear all the bad things that are fed to store bought chickens. I got into raising my own chickens after I discovered how bad genetically modified foods (GMO) really are. I could be wrong but I believe that most animal feed (especially corn) is GMO.

Here are some youtube videos from one of the experts, Jeffrey Smith, on this topic (I believe there are lots more than 3 parts, so search for the rest).

part 1

part 2

part 3

Say no to GMO and keep raising our own birds while we still can (before MegaAg corporations make it illegal to do so).

 

[mstricer]

No one mentioned the crowing!!!!!!!! OMG the crowing some start early, some start later. Some crow at 8am, but most at 3am. I don't like roosters much its the noise, everything else is good though.
I won't be trying to keep any roosters out of this spring hatches will be selling them cheap. The Amish usually will buy if price is right.

 

[knjinnm]

Quote:
DP's cost way more.

Hi Jeff,
Any updates on your efforts to create a good DP breed?
Joe

 

[blueskylen]

i have posted on this topic a few times in the past, but my 2 cents again. i have tried both FRangers and Cornish X - have gone entirely to the cornish cross for the last 3 years for a couple of reasons:

1 averaged out to about the same dollar amount to raise the FRangers for 12 weeks as to the Cornish X for 8 weeks, and got a lot more meat per bird from the Cornish.
average cost per bird was about $2.00 per lb. and that is considering all costs to raise them.

2. processing cost the same per bird either way

3. both breeds take time and energy to raise, so would rather raise 60 birds for 8 weeks instead of 12.

4. would rather have good layers for egg production like buff orps, etc. - and i also get to attached to my hens to even consider eating them.

5. still have more satisfaction and feel better about raising my own meat than buying mystery grown meat in the store - nomatter how cheap it is.


just my opinion and everyone has their own preferences.

 

[Yardbirds286]

Quote:
Amen..