how many meat birds?

[woodcocksgsp]

How many meat birds is a realistic number, when just starting with chickens for the first time? Family of 4...

 

[miss_thenorth]

First time I did meat birds, I did two batches of 25. I figured we would eat about 1 chicken a week. That worked out well. last year I did 50 at the same time, and that worked out well too.

 

[bja105]

I did 25 the first time, and had no problems. 25 was an easy afternoon of butchering.
This year, I have 125 ordered, so far.

 

[little_grey_bantam]

I want to try 100 this year...
but we'll be raising 100 pet ones, so who knows

 

[schmism]

we started with 28 because thats what the farm store had left marked down week old buck each.

i think 25-30 is a good starting number.

 

[happyhensny]

We just got 25 Cornish X's yesterday - I'll let you know how the first butchering goes.

(BTW family of 5)

 

[4-H chicken mom]

We always went with 25. If you don't want to butcher that many in one day. Just butcher a few each week once they get to, I would do at least 6lbs and up. You won't regret it. It will be worth it.

 

[petrelline]

Definitely start with 25, especially if you haven't processed before. 25 is a manageable number and you can always do more later.

 

[ChristinaMae]

This is my first time doing meat birds, too, and I'm starting with 30. I figure it's a large enough number that we're unlikely to get attached to them, but small enough for our first time slaughtering and processing. We'll go through the birds pretty quickly - a little more than 1 a week for a family of 4, and we're only keeping 20 of them, my brother-in-law is getting the other 10 to come help with the processing.

If it goes well, we'll either raise one more small-ish group, or just wait until the next year. We're also trying out some turkeys this year. Good luck to you and your family!

 

[woodcocksgsp]

25 is what we were thinking...so I think we will stick with that. We would like to raise them natural without any extras...what are the best solutions for natural chicks starters, antibiotics, etc...or will they be fine with just their food, and not the extra stuff in their feed? i have read on some sites to start them on the gro gel at first and an antibiotic combo, but am wondering if we need to do this, or if we can sub it with something else....