Need help with selecting a meat bird

[greyfields]

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I don't think any chicken can smell as bad as dog @#$% does. It's different.


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If well fed, that shouldn't be a problem.


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It would be borderline. But, you could always get poultry electronetting and let them out during the day when they are larger, then lock in the tractor at night for security.

 

[greyfields]

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That is very much a point of debate. When you count in mortality and losing all the feed into a 7.9 week old bird who drops dead, then I fell Cornish Crosses are neither the cheapest or best tasting broilers.

 

[Beekissed]

I don't know why any heavy meat breed wouldn't do as well and maybe won't consume as much feed. They might finish slower but, so what?

As far as the work and expense, you might advertise for someone in your local area that might be willing to raise them for you, for shares on the meat. Try your local 4-H club and such. I know that I offered to raise, care for and process broilers for my sister if she paid for the chickens and the feed, as long as I got to keep some of the meat. She isn't real wise when it comes to raising birds and she is pouring her money down the drain. Its worth a shot anyway! Have you thought of putting wire around your swing set and turning it into a temporary coop for night time and just free ranging when you can be home in the evenings? I feel the chicken tractor is your best bet, but if noone can help you build it, then you're back to the starting point.

 

[hdchic]

I purchased 50 from MMM, and they were great! They had great customer service, and they threw in a couple of "freebies"....

As for the smell, I have 4 dogs of my own, plus babysitting another. No, dog poop doesn't smell great, but its way different than meat bird poop. And although no poop smells great, some is more tolerable than others. I personally think cow poop is rancid, and the DH thinks its not bad at all. Anyway, point is, if you have them outside, you'll hardly smell a thing, as long as you keep it picked up. Kinda like changing diapers...just keep the pail emptied and its not bad!

 

[blueskylen]

HI All,
I purchased the red broiler mix from Ideal and have been very happy with them - The TSC here also gets their chicks from Ideal, and they said that you could order thru them and possibly get only the number that you want.

These chickens are growing well and at 6 weeks now, seem to be putting on weight and running around - way larger than the buff orps that we purchased at the same time.
I have food out for them all of the time, but they don't seem to be sitting around it (altho it disapears quickly ) and keep busy out in the run. I put treats like tall grass cuttings, lettuce, cracked corn, and old apples in the run, and they really go after it. They will be ready to butcher at 10 weeks, and I am hoping that they will be about 4 lbs. each dressed, and a tender meat. The next time we buy, we are going to try the Cornish X, and see what the difference is, and which we like better. I am happy with these now tho.
P.S. about the smell - I am taking other posts here advice and using the deep litter method - started woth about 3 inches of hay - and dusted with DE - a bit more hay. As the top layer gets poo covered - dust with DE and add a couple of inches of hay, etc,etc. I almost no smell at all, and no flys! Very happy with that. After they are processed, then we will clean it all out and use the entire run for the egg chickens ( who are using just half of the run and coop now ). Thanks for all of the GREAT advise and for this forum to all!

 

[greyfields]

I still haven't managed to figure out with 100% certainty what the red and black broilers are from Ideal. No one responded to me from the hatchery.

I think they are Red/Black 'Slow' Cornish which are marketed as 14 week birds. That's too slow for me.

 

[kees]

What does TSC mean?

 

[hannibalpunic]

I read this a ways back about a new breed of meat chicken, but didnt find too much more on it. The breed is called The Improved Corndel Cross

www.apppa.org/Raising%20Your%20Own%20Meat%20Flock.doc

let me know what you think

 

[hannibalpunic]

and here also:

http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Cornish-Cross.html

http://datcp.state.wi.us/mktg/business/marketing/val-add/add/pdf/2003/18041.pdf

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

TSC = Tractor Supply Company - a local feed and eqpt store.

I didn't have Cornish X but I do have Freedom Rangers, another meat bird. Yes, they stink more than regular chickens but they don't smell like dog poop and I HATE dog poop.

This is my first try with meat birds and I gotta tell you - we (Dad and I) butchered 3 of the roosters today; when my daughter came home from work she wanted to try them. We cut up the breast meat and pan fried it with a hoisin sauce and she was amazed. Called me in to smell them browning because it smelled WONDERFUL. Tasted wonderful too!!! So tender I was amazed.

I have a BF who is put off by the whole meat chicken thing but I will tell you to go ahead and do it. You will not regret it, especially if you are used to eating organic chicken (which I've never had). No matter what kind of meat bird you raise, it has to be better than store bought.

I've never been a chicken meat lover but I have to say that putting up with the stink for a few weeks is well worth it. This chicken was absolutely fantastic.