How much would you pay....I have a plan! see post #16

[shelleyb1969]

Oh wait!....my brain just started functioning properly and I think I've seen the light!

So this is the better plan:

Get a small nonrefundable deposit and give them a price per pound.

Ask what size turkey they'd like to have, weight wise.

When the turkeys begin exceeding the optimal weights that I need, then I take them to slaughter.


Is this right?

 

[Mac in Wisco]

By the processed weight, just like people would buy them in the store. Weigh them after you get them back from processing or just ask the processor to weigh them and mark it on the package for you.

 

[Opa]

You can buy a digital fishscale that will weighs up to 50lbs. They sell them at Meijers and Walmart. Or you can order one on line from SportsmansGuide.com. Make a wire hook like you would use for catching chickens only shorter with no handle. Make loop in it instead. Then slip that around the birds leg and lift. I think I would price them based on dressed weight. Most people can't get there mind around the idea of weight loss due to butchering. Example: " The butcher that processed my deer must have stolen the best cuts. I took in a 180 pound deer and only got 60 lbs of meat back". Dumb logic but with most people so far removed from the procurring of their own food it's a reality you will have to deal with. Good luck with the project.

 

[shelleyb1969]

How does live weight compare to processed weight in turkeys?

Let me word it that another way...if I weigh a live turkey, and it weighs 20 lbs., how much will it's processed weight be? Approximately, of course.

Or, what % of a live bird's weight will be removed during processing?

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Dressed weight is about 75%. 20 will get you 15...

 

[Mac in Wisco]

I double checked that with some web searching and that is about right. Wild turkeys dress out about 65%, commercial birds about 85%, and the heritage growers usually say 75%...

 

[shelleyb1969]

Thanks soooo much mac! That's exactly what I wanted to know. So now I will know how big (weight wise) to let each turkey grow in order to get an approximate dressed weight. I think I'm in business now!

Thank you, mac and opa, for all this wonderful help and advice. You've given me much needed information. I really appreciate it.

Michelle

 

[Sugar Sand Farm]

Shelly I know its different but when we were pricing the processing of our hogs, they charged by the live weight . Didnt matter what the dressed weight was. They also wanted to charge to pick up the pigs,kill them. We had two one 350lbs and one 250 lbs. We decided it was too expensive so our friends did it for us It cost our neighbor 500.00 to butcher his 2 pigs and he only got 185 lbs of meat. When you took your chickens in for processing how did they charge you I would charge accordingly

 

[Poler]

Quote:
I know exactly what you mean!

I processed a steer for a customer, and the customer was very upset the quantity of meat that he got in return. I tried to explain it to him, but he wasnt having it!

 

[shelleyb1969]

The processor that does it for me charges for the whole bird...one set price regardless of weight. It's $1.45 for small, like chickens, and $2.85 for large, like geese and turkeys.