First time with CX

[NovaAman]

I decided to do a very small batch of meat birds. Just 10. I started them right away with a small coop and pen, heat lamps in the coop for when the days were chilly, they could decide where they wanted to be. They eventually ended up in the back of my yard, behind my layers, with a pen that was 20x20. I wanted them to also forage, which they did. I am very happy with the resulting weights of all 10.

The smallest bird was 5.76, 5.96, 6.87, 6.56, 6.68, 6.48, 6.6, 6.31, 5.99, 6.09. Not bad for my first go round, and them with a big grassy pen. Yes!

in total, I only purchased 5 bags of feed. $65 plus $15 for the birds, $80 bucks invested. They were also fed fresh fruits (cantaloupe, watermelon, and berries from my own yard), peas, corn, occasional bread. So, gonna do it again.

 

[teach1rusl]

Congrats! I'm so glad you gave them space; I hate to see meat birds crammed into tiny pens. I think it's nice (and healthier) for them to be able to peck about like 'normal' chickens... Since you didn't mention processing costs, I take it your processed them yourself???

 

[NovaAman]

No... Don't know how to, and I pay $2 per bird with Kapenga Farms here in Holland, MI.

 

[NovaAman]

Duh! So I guess 100 invested. I should learn to process...

 

[teach1rusl]

$2 a bird is a STEAL!!! I'd love to hear your take on how it tastes when you guys eat your first homegrown bird

 

[NovaAman]

Oh, we've done that. I take my extra cockerels to the processor also. I figure most people will take them and process them, and I am not giving some one else a cheap/free meal. They are free ranging also. But, in 2 days we will eat our first CX for Sunday dinner. Looking forward to that!

 

[NovaAman]

Sunday night we had our first broiler. I must say, there is no comparrison to store bought chicken. Nope, left the store bought chicken in the dust. We got two meals out of one bird. First night it was cooked Sunday dinner style, stuffed and all. The next day, I picked all the meat off the bones, made chicken and rice from that with veggies from the garden. The only thing I didn't grow was the rice. I have never had a near complete meal that I produced from my own land. It was AWESOME! And maybe THAT is why it tasted so good.

 

[MonsterClucker]

Thays awesome! I am raising my first batch of jumbo Cornish x 15 of em. I'm growing a real nice garden of veggies too for the first time in a long time. I'm really excited to make the first meal with my meaties and veggies! Being self sufficient rocks!