I figured it out!

[chickenfeverforever]

ChickenAlgebra]Cost per bird - honestly, I think we'll go back to doing what we always do. Go to TSC and the other chain store here and get the left over meaties that are a week or two old. We get 'em for .25 cents each, if that much. If they start to get ugly, we often just get them for nothing. We ordered from MT-DI and have had nothing but birds who are NOT sturdy and they just fall over dead left and right. We tried 50, and ugh, they aren't growing well, over half have died, and we are culling the rest this weekend because I am sick and tired of these weak, sick birds and they are wasting money. And I'm not paying more than that for meaties because I'm cheap.

I wish my tractor supply offered this, If their birds dont sell.....I believe they return them to the breeder, But I could be wrong. All I know is my TSC never has any chicks over a few days old. No feathers thats for sure. Plus my TSC never has Broilers either so I guess it doesnt matter either way. This year they had some pitiful birds thats for sure. Not sure what breeder they are using.

I did find some for .90 cents that we are going to order int he fall. I wish I could find some local.​

 

[speckledhen]

We have removed references, quoted several times (please don't do that when you know it's a rule violation and causes us more work), to a certain activist group, which violates one of our main BYC rules. Please keep them out of this discussion.

2. No discussions about animal rights organizations or Cock fighting​

 

[chickenfeverforever]

Boy did you cause quit the accidental stir. lol. Oh well, It happens right? So when do you plan to get your meaties? In the fall?

 

[Connorrm]

Ha! I really did. I think I'm going to try schelts. Unless I plan on getting some light Brahmas....then I'll go to Meyer and pay the extra money and get 15 of them. I really like light brahmas!


I'm really excited though. Rabbit show season is winding down so now this is all I have to look forward to, lol.

 

[Kelsey2017]

I bought 50 cx at $0.89 each, no shipping I just had to go pick them up, so $44.50 total. They are 7 weeks old today and I will feed them the last of the bags of feed that I have and then get probably one more for a total of 7 bags (they have eaten two bags in two days

) so for the feed 7 bags at $13.25 for a total of $ 92.75 so, $137.25. I actually received 51 birds then lost 3 as chicks right away, one to flip or something random at 3 weeks and one to our dog so 5 losses total. So the math for comes out at $2.98 a bird. I think they will end up dressing out at around 5 each so if I divide the $2.98 by five pounds that is $0.59- $0.60 a pound. That does not include my labor but I think that comes out pretty good. I should factor in the electricity for the brooder bulbs but I would rather stay in denial about those hidden costs, lol! I believe I can easily sell 10 chicken at $3/# and get the money I put into it back so I can start over with another batch and have still have 36 birds for the freezer.

I had fed with the method of measuring out an amount of food each day and only giving them that much. The did get free choice for the first week and I have now switched them to 12 on 12 off every other day now to bulk them up. They should be getting their age in weeks in pounds of food (they are 7 weeks old so they should get 7#s of feed, this ratio only works for 50 chickens) based on the chart in some of Gail Damerow's books. It has seemed to serve me well, although I think the birds could be a touch bigger if I hope to get 5# dressed birds. On the days that I fill the feeders they will easily eat 25 pounds of feed, they share it with everybody though, 25 tiny Jearhon's and my ducks. They have put on more weight in the last week than I expected but I haven't lost a single one since 3 weeks and don't want to lose any now. It was quite hot over the last few days so I didn't want to risk feeding them too much with 78 degree temps. We go though a ton of water and I keep it close to them in the shade. They are running around in the chicken yard with the layers so they probably get more exercise than they need but so far no hint of anyone with leg probs. They run and flap their wings and are clean and heathly. More losses will make my math start to go in the wrong direction!

I love raising them, I don't think of them as anything more than 'friendly' even if they only like me for my food! They do poop alot, but think of all that lovely compost for the garden and it is not so bad. They themselves stay very clean with good management and room to move around outside. I don't have tractors but will do the subsequent batches in them now that it is warm enough to start chicks quicker and without so much time in brooders.