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

[pichuris]

Isn't it incredible how much the little things grow in such a short amount of time? Great record keeping!

Yeah, no kidding. I check on them this morning and its like holy crow where did all that poop come from.
Thanks its my first time raising broilers so I want to see if weight, taste & expense is worth it or if I should just continue my regular rooster reduction. Although I already have 8 of them sold when they are ready so who knows maybe this is the route to go from now on.

 

[Pearce Pastures]

Yeah, no kidding. I check on them this morning and its like holy crow where did all that poop come from.
Thanks its my first time raising broilers so I want to see if weight, taste & expense is worth it or if I should just continue my regular rooster reduction. Although I already have 8 of them sold when they are ready so who knows maybe this is the route to go from now on.

That is really neat how you kept track. I want to get a scale to do that next time. Saturday is the big day here. I will be taking out the feedt tomorrow morning to let them "clean out" beforehand. Some of those birds have to be close to ten pounds. It is hard to believe how quickly they went from fluffy yellow chicks to big ole' eating machines.

 

[SIMZ]

That is really neat how you kept track. I want to get a scale to do that next time. Saturday is the big day here. I will be taking out the feedt tomorrow morning to let them "clean out" beforehand. Some of those birds have to be close to ten pounds. It is hard to believe how quickly they went from fluffy yellow chicks to big ole' eating machines.

Oh, won't it fun times in our area this weekend!

Our big day is tomorrow. It should be interesting to see how big some of our chickens dress out at.

 

[Pearce Pastures]

No kidding

I went on a hunt for 2 gallon freezer bags yesterday---no way they are going to fit into one gallon. I need to read up on what other people use for freezing whole birds for next time we do this.

 

[SIMZ]

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.

 

[pichuris]

How much feed do you believe 23 red broilers eat from start to finish? I found a place that I can purchase the broiler feed from in bulk but the minimum is 500# at $145.85. Average what I'm paying now for a 50# bag of this stuff averaging out $16.99. So by going this route each 50# bag comes out to be $14.56. Now I don't think they will be eating the 500# but it would be for future meat birds.

Pearce Pastures & SIMZ
Do you process your own birds? I'm on the fence about it. I normally have a friend who does it but at the same time I don't want to inconvenience him since he doesn't charge me. Normally its only a few birds at a time. This time its going to be the 23 at one time. My issue is watching the point where the animal's life or spirit leaves its body once thats over I'm fine. My husband says he will do it if I do the plucking. So I'm going to be a big girl and try it. Now that I think about it I might just try one and see how I do. I wish my parents didn't shelter me from this when I was young. They never let us see when they processed the pigs, cows or chickens. Wonder why if they grew up with it why not us. sorry rambling. lol

 

[SIMZ]

Pichuris -- My last batch of 50 broilers ate 675 pounds of feed. They were all butchered by before 7 weeks, though. I don't have any experience with red broilers, so hopefully someone else can chime in. Depending on how soon you plan to raise more meat birds it might be worth it to go with 500#.

We started processing our own this spring. Before that we drove them about an hour to be processed. We mostly started doing it ourselves because we sell them and they need to be processed here to sell. It takes a change in thinking to get used to processing, I think. Maybe you should try one and see how it goes OR even see if your friend will teach you. That's what we did and it helped tremendously. (I was too embarrassed to stand there and cry around other people! LOL)

 

[milleryardchx]

Im doing a fall batch they arrived sep, 25th first round we will see how this goes!

 

[pichuris]

SIMZ - Wow huh. Maybe the bulk feed is the route to go. It will all depend how these red broilers go and if I decide to continue then I'll do the bulk feed.

As far as processing. The first time I brought and dropped them off and went up the hill to the house. The second time I stayed there but just didn't watch the part when he slit their artery. Once they are not moving I'm good I can handle everything else as far as watching. But I've never done it myself physically. I've been watching videos on youtube and so far it hasn't bothered me. Gosh I've got problems. lol

For some reason I'm not sold on the Cx's so I'm not willing at this time to try them. My friend gets them at 6wks then processes them when they are ready.

 

[Pearce Pastures]

Yes, we are doing our own. Now I have never done a big batch like this time but rather just a few roosters that needed to go. I didn't grow up doing this either and actually ended up teaching the rest of the family how to do it

We are making tomorrow family thing, assembly line style, since we went in on this project together and are sharing the cost.

I am in charge of head cutting, rinsing, weighing, bagging and kind of keeping the show moving, my mother and father are scalding and plucking, DH and my oldest son are doing the finishing (removing insides, rinsing, and icing).

The first time I did a chicken, I thought I was going to pass out after the head cutting part (my hands were shaking but my elderly neighbors who taught me were very sweet about it and walked me through the whole thing). The next time I did it was much easier and now, it isn't so bad. I suppose it would be nice to have someone else do it but this way, I am saving the expense of having someone else do it.

I might see about buying in bulk. Never thought about that but we have the space in our barn loft to store it so it would be great if the feed store did give out a bulk discount. Thanks for the idea!