I figured it out!

[chickenfeverforever]

I'm not sure how you came up with your math either. How much did you pay for your chicks? Once you factor cost of chicks, feed for 8-9 weeks and processing....I am amazed and would like a break down if you have one.

My chicks were $1.26 a piece
Feed is roughly $15 a bag
Processing is $2.25
Freezer sealed is a extra $1.00
$1.00 extra if I want them cut up.


So for processing alone its $4.25 or $3.25 per bird if you dont want them cut up.

 

[RareBreedFancier]

Quote:
Ouch! Guess it pays to do your own. I couldn't justify growing my own to then adding that much for processing.

I too would love to know how the OP managed 1.26/lb 'cause that's unbelievably cheap!

 

[walls0stone3]

best I found was .60 a bird, aumish folks. Their is a fellow who kills birds here for a buck each.

My next plan is to simply hatch my own, pasture them, feed them on zuk from the garden and whatever they are come nov is what I have.

 

[CarriageStone]

We processed our own. However, the rest of our numbers looked good. Started out with 78 chicks delivered for $90. Losses in the brooder meant we raised 67 to slaughter. We netted about five pounds per bird. We didn't weigh every one, but let's be conservative and say it was 4.75 pounds per bird. That would be 318.25 pounds of meat. We went through 16 bags of 20% Grower that cost $15 for the last several bags (started out at $14 a bag) -- $240. So....$330 of cost in the birds (not factoring in my time nor equipment) for 318.25 pounds of meat means we're at $1.037 per pound. I'm very happy with that.

I know what the birds have eaten, how they've lived, and how they were processed. I could accept paying a little more compared to the store for the end product, but I don't want to pay a huge premium with all the work. If every batch works out this way for us, I'd be very, very happy.

P.S.
We processed at seven weeks.

 

[milleryardchx]

Quote:
where did you get chicks at that price?

 

[CarriageStone]

Schlecht's. $0.90 straight run. $20 shipping. I ordered 75, received 78.

 

[Connorrm]

Chick - .92
Feed - 3.88 (assuming 13lb of feed per bird)
Processing - 2.00
Total - $6.80 per bird (average weight 5lb - so 1.36/lb I was off 10 cents

)


Keep in mind I will do my own freezer packing/cutting/vacumn sealing

 

[Two Creeks Farm]

Quote:
In the end, you are right with the majority.

 

[Connorrm]

I was excited....something "fun" to do...and I'll save a little money from the store. I didn't know what the average was, I just like forum posting

 

[chickenfeverforever]

a meat bird will only eat a total of 13 pounds of feed in 8-9 weeks???