My plan...

[jmeeter88]

OK, so I definitely do not have the heart to kill my own bird... But what if I raised some meat-birds and then hired a local to kill/butcher/etc them for me? And how difficult are they to raise? They would have to be in a separate coop, correct?

 

[miss_jayne]

super easy. seriously. there is tons of info and thoughts on the forum about how different people raise them.

i feed mine twice a day and have water 24/7. after three weeks in brooder, out they go into a nice tractor hoop house. i have a brooder lamp for cold weather, but they are so hot that steam raises off the house when it's cold!

you only have them a short time and then, in your freezer.
expect to pay 1.50 to 2 bucks a bird for processing. (which, BTW i found is easier to do than i thought)

you'll love the meat. it makes the best chicken soup you ever had!

here is the hoop house...it has a silver tarp over it to keep the weather off of them and stays super toasty at night. (that is one of my daughters and two guinea pigs checking out the construction of said hoop house!)

some of the meaties at 6 weeks...

 

[jmeeter88]

How old are they when you have 'em butchered?

 

[miss_jayne]

4 weeks for cornish hen size

6 wks for fryers

8-10 wks for broiler/bakers

10 and up for 'oh my gosh, is that a turkey?' size!



mine (7 wks, yesterday) are pushing about 7bls i believe.

pic below of me plucking one..warning, naked chicken, w/head in pic and a crazy lady! this one i chose for making soup for DH this week, as he had the flu. (which he shared, how kind, soup & flu, with me!)

 

[Daycare Mom]

Love the pic of miss_jayne and the naked chicken!
But seriously the meaties are very easy to raise. I was worried at first, but they are really easy. The only complaint I have is they are stinky. I knew that going in and we just move the tractor and it isn't so bad. Mine should be ready in 2 weeks or so! Can't wait!

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

But what if I raised some meat-birds and then hired a local to kill/butcher/etc them for me?

That really depends. I have yet to find a butcher in my area that will do poultry because of the different diseases they carry. I have four butchers in and outside of my county that have I have already spoken to. I will have to butcher my birds myself. Before you commit to the birds I would call around and find out of there are butchers locally to you that are willing to deal with them.​

 

[miss_jayne]

they are seriously easy to butcher...refer to crazy picture above; if i can do it, anyone can. i didn't even use a manual or anything, just went for it.

hubby just got me a double sink from a salvage today for easier outside butchering. (it was only $20, enamel and everything!!!)

plus, you can end up with this....(my personal first butchered bird)

to keep smells down, a great method is to hose off the area you had the tractor in the day before after moving it. i also sprinkle with a little lime. no smell, no flies!

 

[miron28]

Hey miss_jayne what was the type of chicken in the pic ? I am new to this and I am looking to get started in raising my own meat bird’s. and were is a good place to order them? thank you

 

[sussexgal]

Hey JMeeter,

KNK processes birds. The are in Edmeston - maybe 30 - 40 minutes from you. tele# (607) 965-8361 78 South Street, Edmeston 13335

Might be another option for you. Last year they charged 2.00$ a bird. Haven't talked to them this year yet....

 

[MissPrissy]

Nice photos, Jayne. LOL