I figured it out!

[booker81]

Best deal on chicken for me....the gas money spent driving about 20 miles round trip to pick up 10 large roosters that the people did not want at all. Processed at home, averaged 3-4lbs dressed, for the cost of about 1.5 gallons of gas

So about... $0.50 a bird total or $0.15/lb. I like that math.

When I raise meaties, I went through 200lbs of feed for 12 birds in 7 weeks, so average 17lbs of feed per bird total. I didn't restrict feed. They did eat a LOT in the last week or two, and if I went more than 7 weeks, I would imagine the feed consumption would increase exponentially.

 

[chickenfeverforever]

Quote:
Thats about the ammount I was thinking. Roughly 20 pounds a bird. I havent decided if I am going to feed all the time or 12/12. I want to try and grow them as large as possible without any deaths. I know someoen posted saying they raised theirs to the size of small turkeys at 12-15 pounds. I would realistly like 10 pound birds

 

[Two Creeks Farm]

My wife took record of what she had in the fridge/freezer and most of what she buys are around 5 lb birds. Not sure if I shoudl strive for much higher then that...we have just about none left for our family adter a sunday supper LOL!

 

[Connorrm]

I would just kind of like to raise them to about 5 so I can cut them in half for the grill. It's my favorite way to eat chicken. I really love it.

 

[chickenfeverforever]

I bought some chicken breast at the store yesterday and name brand chicken breast is $5.99 a pound and a whole roaster (Not cooked of course) that weighed 5-6 pounds (Perdue I think) was just over $10.00. All the packs of chicken breasts were around the same. Couldnt believe how much it was. See we butcher hogs and a whole cow every year so we dont shop for meat. Ever. Unless we need chicken. No matter what I spend in feed, I will feel so much better knowing not only will it be cheaper, but I earned the right to eat it, I learned something along the way, I know exactly whats in my meat and more importantly....Whats NOT!! I wont have the picture of 5,000 chickens cramped in a small space, legs broken, Laying in their own poo and pee all day. The amonia they inhale day in and day out. The medication they are given. I cringe just thinking about it.

 

[Connorrm]

Quote:
You really hit the nail on the head. That's actually what got me started with my renewed interest in chicken keeping.(No animal rights discussions, period)


By the way, I'm so jealous you can raise your own cow and hog. That must be so wonderful. I wish I had that kind of pasture. I have one hay field. That's it. And most of the hay goes towards the rabbits (and now a chicken tractor!). I also have a large garden. I'm really trying to grow what I can. It's hard work, but I can feel better about it.

 

[walls0stone3]

how real are the vids.. I mean I've seen "real" tapes of PA.. that were dairy farms in mexico and the UK.
I can also make a tape of a broomstick fire'n 50 cal rounds if I have the right stuff... just check what kids do on You tube. I'm not saying it's all great whatever, but honnestly do ppl really think that every chicken farm is like that?

And what are you going to do...really? go find that farm and check for yourself?

one person on one bad farm can make a lot of tape.

now, how the hell do you get a 10 lb bird?

 

[Connorrm]

I definitely think they're real. It wouldn't make sense profit wise if chicken WASN'T produced that way for the mass market. Unfortunately, people have become zombified to where their food comes from.

 

[chickenfeverforever]

Quote:
You really hit the nail on the head. That's actually what got me started with my renewed interest in chicken keeping.

By the way, I'm so jealous you can raise your own cow and hog. That must be so wonderful. I wish I had that kind of pasture. I have one hay field. That's it. And most of the hay goes towards the rabbits (and now a chicken tractor!). I also have a large garden. I'm really trying to grow what I can. It's hard work, but I can feel better about it.

Here are some books you need to read:

The backyard Hoemstead
backyard farming
living on a acre

Its amazing how much you can raise and grow on just 1 acre of land. I even have a book on living on 1/4th an acre. Did you know that from a quarter of an acre you can harvest:

1,400 eggs
50 pounds of wheat
60 pounds of fruit
2,000 pounds of veggies
280 pounds of pork
75 pounds of nuts

We have just a couple acres so we dont raise our cow here. My husbands parents raise and keep the cows and the pihs though we have the room for the pig, just not the building yet. Ih have a very nice sized garden Not sure the measurments but I think most would consider it large. I also grow a garden all year round. PM me if you wanna know more about that. I think it is very important to know where your food comes from and grow all you can.

 

[chickenfeverforever]

Quote:
No animal activist or cockfighting discussions!