meat bird all in pricing

[sideWing]

I'm experimenting with cornish X this season too. It's great to see everyones experiences.

We started with 15 puchased from a local feed store for $.75 each about $12 with tax.

I purchased bulk feed for half of bagged feed cost. I purchased enough to see them through to about week 9 (or whenever they run out of food). 340 lbs for $72.42

We lost one to heart attack in the first week, but the others are growing crazy fast and doing great. We will process ourselves and we already raise chickens so we have the tractors, feeders, etc.

We could get out of it for $6.03 per bird if all goes well. Next year or later this year I think I would go with red rangers since I know a local hatchery (so no shipping cost) and I'm hoping they have more flavor.

Good luck!

 

[TattooedMama]

Update:

Got my birds back today, numbers are great!

Average over 42 birds 4.75 lbs @ 7 weeks of age

Total processing charge $140

If we add that to the pet bird cost we have a final expense per bird: $ 8.45

I think these numbers are outstanding and what I'm striving for. Good luck with your chickens

What was your cost per bird before processing fees? Just trying to work that out for those of us who could process ourselves. Thanks!!

 

[slingshotandLAR]

 What was your cost per bird before processing fees? Just trying to work that out for those of us who could process ourselves. Thanks!! 

I was at $5.12 I think per bird before processing, that includes losses.

One thing I want to point out, I know everybody's climate and situation is different but it's amazing the difference in the birds that arrive when it's warmer outside during shipping.

Our first batch of chicks arrived on April 15, we had a mortality rate of 18%. That is a ridiculous number, basically unacceptable by my standards. The birds I currently have took one less day to arrive? I have no idea how that happens?? Anyway,...mortality is at 1% with this group and holding steadily. I have no chicks moving slow or looking anything but vibrant.

I know we can't really pin down why the rates for different batches vary so much, the only thing different between the two batches was the weather when they were shipped( at least on my end) I have no idea about hatch conditions or parent stock and what not)

I don't want to take this thread off track, it would have helped me immensely if it was here when I started with broilers.

Mortality rates can really affect your per bird cost and need to be part of the discussion, it's just as important as food costs as far as I'm conserned especially when your selling the birds.

 

[slingshotandLAR]

One more thing you can expect....

 

[burgerusmc]

One more thing you can expect....

Man she looks tasty! Gonna order them today I think!!

 

[TattooedMama]

I was at $5.12 I think per bird before processing, that includes losses.

One thing I want to point out, I know everybody's climate and situation is different but it's amazing the difference in the birds that arrive when it's warmer outside during shipping.

Our first batch of chicks arrived on April 15, we had a mortality rate of 18%. That is a ridiculous number, basically unacceptable by my standards. The birds I currently have took one less day to arrive? I have no idea how that happens?? Anyway,...mortality is at 1% with this group and holding steadily. I have no chicks moving slow or looking anything but vibrant.

I know we can't really pin down why the rates for different batches vary so much, the only thing different between the two batches was the weather when they were shipped( at least on my end) I have no idea about hatch conditions or parent stock and what not)

I don't want to take this thread off track, it would have helped me immensely if it was here when I started with broilers.

Mortality rates can really affect your per bird cost and need to be part of the discussion, it's just as important as food costs as far as I'm conserned especially when your selling the birds.

One more thing you can expect....

Thanks for the tips!! That bird looks gorgeous. I am very intrigued by the idea of a meat bird project. Of course we have so much going on my boyfriend just sorta rolls his eyes at me

We just got 3 BB turkeys for Thanksgiving and hoping they don't eat us out of house and home. I am going to keep good records so I can average the price per bird of these as well.

 

[slingshotandLAR]

Quote:
Quote:
Thanks for the tips!! That bird looks gorgeous. I am very intrigued by the idea of a meat bird project. Of course we have so much going on my boyfriend just sorta rolls his eyes at me

We just got 3 BB turkeys for Thanksgiving and hoping they don't eat us out of house and home. I am going to keep good records so I can average the price per bird of these as well.

They be fine.... 3 birds won't eat all that that much. With out pasture it goes something like this: Total feed in lbs: 102lbs of food per bird That's an estimated age of 15 weeks and live weight 34.5lbs. That gives you a carcass weight of approximately 24.50lbs These numbers are for toms they will be a bit less for hens. Also if they are on pasture they can supplement their diet 30% or more foraging. Turkeys are fun animals to have around Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[burgerusmc]

Got 25 birds from moyers on wedneaday, and so far so good! Have the temp at 94 degrees, all doing well so far!

 

[TattooedMama]

Got 25 birds from moyers on wedneaday, and so far so good! Have the temp at 94 degrees, all doing well so far!

How are they doing? I am still contemplating getting meat birds this year. I keep promising my Honey no more new animals. I am tapped on feed prices right about now $60ish a month for birds and $60-80 for goats. We were thinning our project birds & then I found out a friend was selling the ducks I previously sold her, so those are back now, so we went down 9 birds and added 4 more- chicken math (err duck math?!).

They be fine....

3 birds won't eat all that that much.

With out pasture it goes something like this:

Total feed in lbs: 102lbs of food per bird

That's an estimated age of 15 weeks and live weight 34.5lbs.

That gives you a carcass weight of approximately 24.50lbs

These numbers are for toms they will be a bit less for hens.

Also if they are on pasture they can supplement their diet 30% or more foraging.

Turkeys are fun animals to have around


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You were right. I fretted for little to no reason in regards to the amount my BBBW turkeys would eat. They are doing well and they are out on pasture now. I really expected those to eat a lot more but they have maybe 1/4 of a 50lb bag of feed left and that was opened June 1st. Now they are on pasture since a few days ago (swapped out with the ducks for the quarantine pen) I think we will see them eat even less. They sure seem to like running around, they are in a pen maybe 100ft by 30ft. I really need to slow their growth if they are going to last until fair early October, I am thinking 20% feed.

 

[burgerusmc]

They are doing great and getting huge so fast! We have only lost one so far. They are a little over 3 weeks and eating like crazy. We are going to move then into the chicken tractor next week.