Late August a good time to start?

[calamityfarm]

Hi All,
I'm planning on growing out 25 meat birds, CORNISH X ROCKs. Spring was crazy, and summer will be even busier. I've heard that late summer/fall is a good time to grow them out. I was thinking of starting in late August. Does that make sense to those of you who have done this before?
Thanks,
Ann

 

[Kildare49]

I'll start my 2nd batch in late August. Chicks can handel the temps.

As they grow the temps will moderate. Keeps them foraging & don't have to worry about losing birds to the heat.

 

[BCMaraniac]

Hi All,
I'm planning on growing out 25 meat birds, CORNISH X ROCKs. Spring was crazy, and summer will be even busier. I've heard that late summer/fall is a good time to grow them out. I was thinking of starting in late August. Does that make sense to those of you who have done this before?
Thanks,
Ann

That sounds like a good plan. I think raising to harvest April/May and mid to late October is best for you and for the birds. Red Rangers or Freedom Rangers are a good choice for summer, I think, so advantage can be taken of the foraging capability of them.

 

[SIMZ]

That's a great time! We've raised batches at that time for the last 2 years and it's worked well. The only downfall is that your butchering day might be a bit chilly.

 

[redsoxs]

I agree with the above - I've raised spring birds and fall birds - sometimes both in the same year - anything to avoid the summer heat.

 

[daleeper]

Can't add a whole lot to what was said, but would suggest you calculate when you think they will be ready to process, and then think about what the temperature usually is at that time. Late August/early September works for us. We would want to be done butchering by Halloween, as it can get cold by then.

Fall is the best time for us, as the building we raise our broilers in gets hot in late spring and through the summer.

 

[bowhunter862]

I'm gonna be with ya raising a fall batch. I have 70 coming on August 20. As for a cooler butcher day, I like the sounds of that better. The only downside for me it it takes me away from the treestand on Saturday in October during archery season to process them.

 

[bigredfeather]

In Ohio, I like to start my Fall batches in early August or even late July. At this time here, it's easy to brood them because it's really warm. With this staring time, they are ready to process in late September/early October when the weather is cooling. I think Fall birds do better than Spring batches because it's cooler when they are finishing. You'll have a few more feathers to pluck, but won't lose any due to heat.

 

[Life is Good!]

We raised 25 CX last fall - got them Aug. 27th. Because October was really cold and wet, the birds used feed to keep warm instead of grow out! We ended up growing them to 11wks, and they were *only* 6lbs! Yes, they were CX. Healthy, delicious, fine, but thankfully, I wasn't keeping track of costs - as it would have blown all calculations!

After processing in the 'heat' of the summer vs. the 'cold' of the wet early winter - I prefer the 'heat'. The cold and damp really got to me. As did the 'warm' carcass and associated smell. We had to keep the doors shut due to cold - and it just was more unpleasant than being super hot. At least summertime processing, the cold water of the rinse hose felt really really good! There was little way to keep warm processing in November on an unheated concrete floor. Yes, we brought in a heater, but the drafts simply made it hard to get the heat to where it was useful (like on my feet!). We brought out scrap carpets to stand upon - damp and cold went right through them up into my garden willies and through my two layers of wool socks (Boy Scouts).

I also found it harder to keep things sanitary in the cold - as I found the doorknobs were getting slimed going in and out (where in summer processing, the door was left open). That's just one example. There were others that I've forgotten. So it's very very possible - we enjoyed the meat all winter long - but just hope for a warm fall!