Just finished processing 500 Cx

[greenpeeps]

I'm raising cornish x for the first time, and I want to have things go right. Currently I'm just feeding them the Fast Grower that came with the order. I'm wondering what do I need to add to the feed to improve their growth?

As for processing your birds, wow is all I can say. I found a local farmer that processes birds for $1.85 each. For me that's a great price so I don't have to do the deed.

 

[crittersitter]

Yummy! What time should we come over for dinner?

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Must be a very nice processing set up.

.....Alan.

 

[rancher hicks]

I'm rather curious. Does that 2.59 include, cost per chick, labor for feeding and watering, (maintenance), utility cost, (electricity), labor for processing, cost for shipping of chicks if delivered? The overhead? And if this is the first year, waterers, feeders, coop costs, fencing, predator prevention costs? I ask cause friends have asked if I was going to do meat birds. What did you use to keep records?

One thing that surprises me though I'm sure does not apply to OP, is how anyone could order chicks through TSC. I have a friend who orded 100 chicks at $2.50 ea. , when he could have ordered them for approx. .90 less. He figured he was saving on shipping. Also that people will go to TSC to buy chicks, when on craigs you can get them for less.

 

[bigredfeather]

Quote:
Average dressed weight was 4.82 at 5 weeks? What is this enzyme you are speaking of if you don't mind sharing. That is an incredible average weight for only 5 weeks old. Please share your how you managed to pull this off.

 

[rancher hicks]

Forgot to ask, what's the difference between giving chickens "enzymes" and "hormones"?

 

[ghulst]

Where did the chicks come from?

 

[uhuh555]

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.

 

[rancher hicks]

So in other words the cost from chick to freezer is not $2.59?
Whether you take a pay or not labor is never free. I think you knew where I was going with my questions. As a Business Major it's just natural to look at the whole picture and counts ALL costs.
That said , knowing what your chickens ate and how they were raised is priceless.

 

[uhuh555]

We raise all our grains for the feed used by all the animals (ducks, geese, chickens, sheep, goats, pigs and soon to be 2 different breeds of miniature cattle). By selling a portion of the grain it pays for all expenses in mixing our feed recipes. Labor is paid for by the farm excess.

So let me put it this way; cash out of pocket for the chicks is $1.47-cost of chicks (including S/H) and 4 different supplements specifically used for the cornish x.

At the end of the year the farm is making 4 times what my husband and I made combined in our best year. I no longer work outside the farm 3 years now and enjoying it immensely. It has taken us 35 years to reach this point and has been worth every moment. Our food nearly all our lives have been free of preservatives and hydrogenated oils (Trans fats) and my favorites “gaur gum” and “lotus bean”.

So when it comes to “imaginative and/or creative bookkeeping” of modern man, I try to keep it simple buy adding up all we have and subtracting what we began with (nothing) leaving us heavily on the plus side in spite of have to share with “Uncle and Aunt Sam”.