I'm trying to figure out which is cheaper- broilers or my own hatches

[warmfuzzies]

I can hatch chicks basically free, and they are raised free range, supplemented with the rest of the flock (around 30 grown birds). I give them one big scoop of gamebird feed a day. I give them as much as they will eat, which really isnt much. (It takes us about two months to go through a 15lb bag, $15 worth)

I got about 3 lbs of meat out of a 18 week old roo, and about 1lb out of a 8-10 week old roo.

Figuring I can sell at least some of the pullets, which is cheaper? I have never done any broilers, but seeing that they are butchered at 8-10 weeks, and they weigh so much more, are they really cheaper?

Just wondering what others have found to be true.

 

[jaku]

Broilers aren't cheap, that's for sure- but, the initial cost of buying the birds is the least of your costs. The food is what kills you. I guess it would depend on how happy you are with the meat yield of the birds you hatch, the percentage of birds that actually hatch, etc. I love raising broilers, but it's expensive and much more time consuming than other breeds. Personally, I'd say that if you're happy with what you're getting with the birds you're hatching, stick with that, rather than paying a ton for feed, building seperate facilities, spending time moving pens, etc.

 

[LoveKhlassy]

4-H does something where you can get 20 broiler chicks for $20. if you bring at least 4 of them to fair, you get your 20 bucks back!!!

it's my 2nd year and i love raising them. hate the end of the project though

poor babies...

LoveKhlassy

P.S we also get laying hens (you can get roosters too) from 4-H for $0 bucks. they lay plenty of eggs, and i have made some money selling them to neighbors.

 

[TimG]

Quote:
If you don't process them yourself, that's what will kill you (at least in some areas).

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

I got nice broilers for .85 each and feed them my co-op chick starter (my recipe) and range (grass) they are good size at 8 to 10 weeks, so if compare incubator to co-op broilers its almost a wash. unless you take your birds somewhere to get them processed the broiler is going to be heavier and will cost more to process, now if you do it yourself

 

[jaku]

Quote:
If you don't process them yourself, that's what will kill you (at least in some areas).

Definitely true- I didn't even think of that because I process myself.

 

[mtnhomechick]

Figure the cost of the bird plus 15 to 20 lb. of food per bird to realize the 8-10 lb. weight.

I keep mine in a 6x12 covered dog kennel. I move it every day and take the food away at night.

Plus you'll likely lose a couple. Higher mortality rate with meat chicks.

No doubt it's more expensive but I like the taste better and it's quicker.

You could get a 3-4 lb cornish hen in 4 to 5 weeks which would dramatically cut down on the cost of food. You would still be getting a lot more meat than you are now.

 

[kycrawler]

i hatch a bunch of chicks and sell the pullets and raise the cockerls you can make money off of the pullets and have nothing in the roosters so what if they take longer to grow out and weigh less you have next to nothing in them

 

[warmfuzzies]

Quote:
Thats what I did this last time, and I havent tasted the meat yet, but I am sure it wont be a problem with us. I guess I will probably stick to this. I do my own processing, so that is not a problem.

Thanks everyone!

 

[justpete]

One comment warmfuzzies about doing your own processing.

I also process my own birds. I spend 3.5hrs to kill,pluck and clean 50 birds.
I spend another 4-6 hrs parting out and shrink sealing.

It takes the same amount of time no matter what size the bird is.
I would much rather put my time into processing a meat bird than an extra rooster.

Just my opinion.



Peter