First time for meat birds! A few questions?

[flash5153]

Im going to build a tractor in the next week or so. I want to know how big I should build it?? Of course that depends on how many birds. Well,,, I don't know how many I should start out with but I do plan on getting into this in the years coming. So I want to build a tractor for max amount of birds even if I don't fill it this year.
Im thinking of starting with 15 birds. Is this a good idea?? Or should I go less/ more?? Also,, what kind should I get???(From TSC)

I may be buying the chicks before I build the tractor. Give me some input please. Thank You

I would also like to know a general cost of having 1 bird(or 15) processed at the end of the year. (until I learn to do it myself)

 

[tsarge]

Gosh, I was in exactly your shoes a year ago! I was contemplating a dozen meat birds. I do not have the area to tractor them. My neighbor used to raise quail and gave me a 6'x8' pen that was attached to his garage. I converted that into a coup / pen for my meat birds. I came to the conclusion with the help of many here on BYC that I had enough room for 30 birds. I then looked at the labor involved and decided that the difference between 12 birds and 25 birds was nothing really, so I went with 25 birds. I lost only 1 due to an unfortunate feeding incident, and my results were excellent! I've up'd my number to a full 30 birds this year and can't wait to get started.

Figure out how many birds you want to try, then figure on 1.5 square feet per bird in your tractor. That should get you in the ball park.

When I had my birds processed last year, it cost me $3 /bird. That was culled, plucked, eviscerated and chilled. I had to package my own which I did with my vacuum sealer. This year, I'm setting up to do my own processing and save the cost. It helps to have family and friends willing to help after you've fed them home grown chicken all year!

Good luck!

 

[flash5153]

Well I would have no problem building a 6'X8' tractor. Lets see,,that's 40 sq ft @ 1.5 sq. per bird ,,,,,thats exactly 25 birds. So a 4'X8' could hold 21 birds .
If my figures are correct I am going to build a 4'X8' since 21 birds will good enough for me now. Its a little easier to move and easier to build. And could build another later and do 42 birds . lol
Somebody correct me if I am wrong before I go do this,,lol.
Thank You tsarge

 

[sonew123]

I had a coop-run for 26 meaties last year-If I would have planned better I SHOULD have done the movable tractor to keep the filth and smells down. I had a 15 x 10 run I kept them in and it was nasty by the end of everyday-I put down fresh straw/hay everyday to cover it up so they walked on clean ground. By the time 8 weeks came and wetn I must have had a good foot of hay and pooh layers working. I can't wait to see what Spring brings in that pen -hope the grass grows great!!! I will never do fast growers again-Im trying my hand at slow growers this year-to let them free range and such. The birds tasted great but cost alot more than expected and each bird was
"supposed" to cost 8$ but wound up costing 12.50$ each-ish. We butchered them ourselves to save even more

You either really enjoy it or not at all....good luck

 

[mrsteiner]

This is my first attempt at raising meat chickens too. I have 25 birds in the tractor my husband built for me from PVC pipe and chicken wire. It is about 80 square feet (9 x9). It is more than enough room for 25 birds. Since we live in Michigan, the tractor is currently a grow-out box in my garage because it's been too cold to move them outdoors. Next year I'll wait until late April to get my birds so they can move from the brooder to the out-of-doors, and my car can have the garage back!

I've never processed chickens before, nor do I have any interest in doing so, so I found a processor before I ordered chicks. There are two places within 30 miles of my house. One charges $2.25 each and they shrink wrap them and put a sticker on for weight. The second (which I plan to use) charges $1.75 per bird but doesn't wrap them. He chills them and puts them in a cooler you provide. Since I'm planning on cutting them up before packaging and freezing, I prefer this method.

 

[4-H chicken mom]

When it comes to the cost of feeding meat birds. You are really not saving much money. But, you at least know what they have been eating and how they are taken care of and they are so much better tasting. I have a seperate house for our meat birds and if I had the room I would do 50 but 25-30 is max for me. Meat birds are a little different than raising egg layers, so don't be afraid to ask questions. Good luck you will be happy you raised them.

 

[flash5153]

I have 10 egg layers now and it gets nasty so I can imagine what 20-25 birds would do. Fortunately I have wire ,lumber and plenty of yard space to have a tractor.
I think chicks are about $2 each,,and about $3 each to process,,,,and feed ?? (not sure what that will cost) .

How long from chick until time for processing does it take???

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
Around 8 weeks-depending on how big they are. The older they get the more prone they are to bad legs/ joints-flip-heart attacks etc... their bodies are not made to live long :-(

 

[flash5153]

I keep posting at the same time as everyone else and we are talking about the same things.lol

I am also from Michigan. I know Smith meats in my area processes chickens but I do not know the cost.

 

[flash5153]

8 weeks is about what I was thinking. Im assuming Grower is what I want to feed them. I'm not sure what the difference in cost from layer and grower,,but my 10 layers go through 40lbs of Layer feed every 2 weeks.
So I'm guessing it should be about the same for 20 birds,about 40 lbs every 2-and maybe 3 weeks. I say this because they are not full grown ,,or are chicks,,, so they should not eat near as much. And by the time they a full size its time to process.

Thanks for all the help. I will start building soon.