Is anyone else raising fall broilers? Our chicks came today: 8/18

[Pearce Pastures]

I bought the last bag of 2-gallon bags on the shelf at Walmart yesterday for $4 and something. Then went to Aldi and they had a special display of them for around $2!!! So, if you need more go to Aldi. I've heard good things about the shrink bags that people use for packaging.

Our chickens are shut in their shelter today with only lots of water. They're a little confused about why no one is letting them out, so it was a little tricky filling the waterers around their mad rush for the door.

Processing days always make me sad, and I got a bit attached to some of these, but I bounce back once I see all that yummy chicken in the freezer.

I'll post final weights once we're done.

LOL oh so that's where they all went!

I had my dad stop by a store in LaPorte on his way home from work but I will check out Aldis next time.

And I got a scale today!! Is it sad that I am exciting over a scale? Ah, well. It is one of those fishing scales that you hang the fish/chicken from and goes up to 50 pounds (figure if I ever do a turkey, it might be nice since all of the food scale I saw only go up to 11 pounds).

 

[Huntress78]

Since I posted the numbers from the 20 4 week olds that we processed we have done two more batches of 10 birds each and yesterday we did the last 19. I was so happy to have them done and out of the coop that I danced a little jig! Never again will I raise Cornish X in my layer coop...the coop is now clean and dry!!
I still have to clean up and bag the 19 from yesterday. When I get the dressed weights I will post my final numbers.

Good luck to all those processing today!

 

[SIMZ]

Since I posted the numbers from the 20 4 week olds that we processed we have done two more batches of 10 birds each and yesterday we did the last 19. I was so happy to have them done and out of the coop that I danced a little jig! Never again will I raise Cornish X in my layer coop...the coop is now clean and dry!!
I still have to clean up and bag the 19 from yesterday. When I get the dressed weights I will post my final numbers.

Good luck to all those processing today!

It's a wonderful feeling after they're all done, isn't it? That first morning is like being on vacation when you realize you don't have to deal with meaties!

 

[SIMZ]

LOL oh so that's where they all went!

I had my dad stop by a store in LaPorte on his way home from work but I will check out Aldis next time.

And I got a scale today!! Is it sad that I am exciting over a scale? Ah, well. It is one of those fishing scales that you hang the fish/chicken from and goes up to 50 pounds (figure if I ever do a turkey, it might be nice since all of the food scale I saw only go up to 11 pounds).

It's not sad (although this thread might not be the place to ask!!) - having a new scale is very exciting when you're getting ready to process birds.

It sounds like you guys have a great plan going today. I hope all goes well - let us know.

 

[rolffamily]

Got my Cornish X on 8/22 and took them in to be butchered yesterday. They all dressed out between 7 and 8 pounds. I did prefer raising them in late summer/fall rather than spring/summer. They do much better in the cooler temps.
Taking them in, however, was stressful for both them and me. No one in the family will have anything to do with killing them though, so I would have to pay someone to come and help me. I'm not complaing. They are all more than willing to help take care of the chickens.

 

[SIMZ]

Got my Cornish X on 8/22 and took them in to be butchered yesterday. They all dressed out between 7 and 8 pounds. I did prefer raising them in late summer/fall rather than spring/summer. They do much better in the cooler temps.
Taking them in, however, was stressful for both them and me. No one in the family will have anything to do with killing them though, so I would have to pay someone to come and help me. I'm not complaing. They are all more than willing to help take care of the chickens.

It was always stressful when we loaded ours up and took them, too. The catching, the loading, the unloading..........

 

[pichuris]

Good luck to everyone today with their processing.
For myself just thinking about it makes me sad, happy, hungry for chicken and relieved.
Hugs to everyone!

 

[finnfur]

Mine stay inside their electric netting once they get big enough to not fit through the holes. Before that, they will squeeze through and go wandering.

However... I have never managed to get my netting that high and tight, so I have larger holes closer to the ground than they should be.

finnfur, what's your secret to setting up that fence?!

As for Fall broilers... I am expecting a call from the post office in the morning... I fell for the Meyer Broiler Bargain someone posted last week.

-Wendy

Wendy
The secret to the tight fence is corner tent stakes and support pole [ post a PIC later when I feed them] - When I first put them out I saw one outside the fence and by the time I got my fishnet catcher net she hopped back in. We have our 13 egg chickens in fencing also and move them several times a year. Have them on a trailer based coop also.
They are hopping thru the third course from the bottom - they should make it smaller one more row up- They don't fly over because we always clip the right wing so they can't make a high/straight flight.

I love it! Does the fence really keep them in? Or is it more so for the predators?

I really want to some how free range my flock 24/7. They have a huge run but it went bare after a few weeks. They free range when I'm home or won't be gone from home long. We have 3 neighbor dogs which aren't typically over here but every so often they come over and have and will kill my chickens. I'm not so concerned about the bald eagles but its just the dogs.

Picuris
Fence is primary for predators - coyote , bear and dog - Haven't lost a chicken to predator so far and ariel predation doesn't seem to be a problem here.
My dogs have hit the fence and only need one lesson - from then on they keep the nose at least 4" away- two of my four dogs won't go within 10' of the fence.

 

[Pearce Pastures]

All done and in the fridge. It went pretty well once we got going and I am happy with the outcome. I think next time, we could get the cost down more by buying from the feed store now that I know they are less expensive than TSC and I think we will do a bigger batch too.

So numbers time (love my new scale)...

We went through 5x50lb bags of feed and one bag of cracked corn (won't do the corn next time either)= $112.51
Cost of 19 chicks=$23.75

We lost two chicks so had 17 to end with.




DRESSED BIRD WEIGHT
1

2.63
2

2.75
3

2.94
4

2.94
5

2.94
6

3.25
7

3.31
8

3.43
9

3.44
10

3.44
11

3.5
12

3.56
13

3.63
14

3.75
15

3.81
16

4.0
17

5.13
TOTAL POUNDS= 58.5 Pounds
$2.08 per pound


Not sure how good that is but they look wonderful!

 

[finnfur]

For those that asked about the net efence - here are some Pics
This is the fenced 14 eggers.

This how I keep fence tight

Some things I have discovered helpful
Never put the entry at the corner - I usually put it one post from corner.
So I start with the second post as the corner post, stick it in the ground then take the next post in line and while holding with both hand straight upright I take my foot and pull the bottom as tight as possible . then push the pole in. If the bottoms not tight it will be impossible to have a tight fence line.
Repat as needed and try to keep all sides as straight a line as possible. If you have one end a odd # of pole just make the end a V [ requires another support/corner pole.
The corners I support with one of the fence co's sturdy poles- the net will clip in little groves on the pole - only need two or three connections. drive a stake about 2 feet from corner at 45 degree from fence [ I buy cheap metal camping stakes from Wally world ] any stake will work but they have a little angle piece that keeps the rope from slipping.
WE make a loop in end of a piece of rope and attach it so it self tightens around support and net pole. It is important to make the attachment just above one of the raised sections in the support pole and MAKE SURE IT IS NOT TOUCHING THE HORIZONTAL LIVE WIRES. Because when it rains the rope will be wet and ground out the fence thru the tent stake.
Took me a whole day to figure that problem out LOL
If I left out anything just ask because some time I just ramble on and forget something LOL
Tom