My first batch of CX done: The Results

[bowhunter862]

I just processed my 51 CX cockerels last Friday. They were 61 days old. I fed them 20% Starter/grower throughout. The first 4 weeks, they had feed 24/7, the rest of the time it was 12 on/12 off. They consumed 1150 pounds of feed, exactly half of which, they ate in the last 16 days. They only gained about 1.0-1.75 pounds each in that time. (I will not grow them that long again) They averaged 7.14 pounds per bird dressed. That does not include any necks or giblets. The smallest was my only poulet and weighed 5.77. The biggest was 8.34. Three birds died. The first two within two days off arrival and the third at 18 days old.

We had 5 of us working on processing. I had killing cones, an electric scalder, a whiz bang plucker, (just have to say right here, THAT THING IS AWESOME!) and two ladies on the gutting table. It took us 4 hours from the first knife cut to all cleaned up and sipping a cold drink.

We used shrink bags from Cornerstone which unfortunately failed about half the time and I don't mean from the dipping process. The bottom seams just popped open as we slid them down over the birds on the drying rack. I sent an email to Cornerstone about my dissatisfaction but as of yet have had no reply. By the way, 200 degrees is too hot for those bags. The first bag melted and split wide open instantly upon dipping which sent me scrambling to grab a crow bar off the pegboard to fish my prize out of the water before it cooked! 170 degrees worked well for the bags that didn't fall apart prior to the dipping.

What I am going to do different next time: (chicks arrive again June 28)
I will process at 43 days. (just before I leave for a weeks vacation)
I will feed 24% free choice for the first 3 weeks and 20% 12 on/12 off for the last 3 weeks.

Overall, I'm pretty please with my first attempt at raising meaties. Can't wait to start again on Friday.

Here's a photo of two random packaged birds.

 

[LovedMyAlydar]

Wow those look awesome. We are going to try raising meat birds next year.

I have a question? Did you keep yours confined as they grew or did you let them free range. I have been told if you let them free range they are too tough and the meat is stringy, that I should keep them confined if I want soft, tender meat.

Congrats on a job well done!

 

[Joanmcm]

Wonderful! The chicks did well then. What part of the country do you live in?

We are working on our first ever batch of meat birds and they are 43 days next week. I have not weighed them yet. We had a cold and rainy Spring and Summer just arrived with alot of heat.

The chicks have been fed 19% organic chick starter since the beginning to now. Also 12 on/12 off starting on the 21st day. I have to look over the records but we went through about 500#s of food to date. Need to check with hubby on how much for sure when he gets home. During the last week they ate 200 lbs at least.

Ours were in pasture pens ala Polyface farms that are moved every day. Today they will be moved 2x and probably 2x a day from here on in.

 

[bowhunter862]

Quote: I have a 12X12 coop with a 8X12 wire enclosed yard. They are too lazy to walk outside much. I had 8 or 10 that would come out. Most just stayed in the coop.



Joanmcm, I am in Northern West Virginia.

 

[redsoxs]

Very nice bowhunter! I used shrink bags for the first time this year as well. Didn't have the problems you did with the 26 I bagged - must have been water temp?? Anyway, great job - a very satisfying feeling to have the big bruisers in the freezer, eh?

 

[bowhunter862]

I used shrink bags for the first time this year as well. Didn't have the problems you did with the 26 I bagged - must have been water temp??

Not water temp. The bags split before I got anywhere near the hot water.

 

[LovedMyAlydar]

Where do you obtain the shrink bags? Would seem to be much better than just ziplock bags or the like.

 

[bowhunter862]

I got my bags from www.cornerstone-farm.com I just got an email from them regarding the low quality bags I received and the failures described above. They said they got a bad batch from their supplier and they are replacing all my bags. Pretty good service!

 

[Joanmcm]

Tacking on our results to your thread Bowhunter862. Our chickens were processed today at 54 days. Average weight was 4.5 lbs (dressed, no giblets etc). Smallest was 3.9 largest 5.8 dressed. Not huge but the right size for us. What we would do different is modify to a hoop house from the pasture pen to allow the birds some additional freedom and cut down on the moves. We moved them 2x a day and I would of done 3 if I had more time. Also some kind of automatic waterer. We used 3 waterers (2 gallon and 2-1 gallon) which had to be filled several times a day. More on hot days. We had alot of rain, humidity and heat. The processor said the chickens were clean and healthy with no signs of disease or parasites. Also, the chickens were overfed during a large portion of their life. I would monitor food a bit more carefully.

 

[bowhunter862]

Thanks for adding the results. Love to see the results from others. My next batch is at 18 days right now. They are looking good so far. They are thirsty for sure.