Our labor costs for processing is Zero. All are family and friends. We trade help back and forth and trade what we grow and raise with-in our group.
There were 15 of us processing birds. 10 kill cones, 2-120 gallon scalding tanks, 2 featherman pluckers, 3 different evisceration stainless steel tables (each table 2 stations), 3-100 gallon tanks (pink water), one shrink bag station and one large 24.5 cubic foot cooling tank. Then transferred to our custom combination walk-in refrigerator/flash freezer (-45 degrees F) Freezes 5 pound bird in less 30 minutes.
Most of our equipment (including walk-ins) was bought at used food processing equipment auctions and distress sales at pennies on the dollar.
The cost per bird if read correctly you would have notice that labor not included. $2.59 is cost of chick, feed, feed additives and supplements, equipment depreciation.
Since raising meat birds it has only raised our monthly electric bill by $15 a month. We keep the brooder room warm with a corn furnace (Bio-mass), one small circulation fan and 2-60W lights.
Were are in our 3rd generation of cornish x breeding but only 325 chicks produced this season so far. Most of our chicks come from Townline in Zeeland, Michigan.
The enzymes we use are a blend of naturally occurring digestive enzymes. Enzymes are large protein molecules that are made up of long chains of amino acids. Enzymes are present in all living things, where they perform the essential functions of converting food to energy and new cell material (increases muscle mass). Most processed animal feeds have limited amounts of intact enzymes due to the heat use to process raw material into end products. Unlike hormones they do not alter normal bodily functions but increases the efficiency of the digestive process.
