raising cornish crosses?

[abigalerose]

Im highly considering switching my dogs to a raw diet (If anyone here has done that feel free to tell me more about it) and I'm thinking, since I have adequate space and building for plenty of chickens, why not raise my own meat for them? Problem is I'm bad at math, so can anyone tell me how much it'd cost me to raise 50 Cornish X chicks? What about 100?
I just need to know the cost of buying the chicks and the cost of feed. I've already got proper housing, etc.
also, how long will chicken stay good in a deep freeze for? (don't make fun of me for asking, I have chickens but I don't actually eat chicken very often, unless I go out). Thanks in advance!

 

[tmarsh83]

There will be some variance but here's the calculations I've been using.

$2 per chick. Readily available around here for that price.

I use the 2:1 feed conversion, which might be a little ambitious but as an outline it works.

So, if you want to butcher at six pounds, figure 12 pounds of feed per chick, and divide that out by whatever the feed you plant to use costs. I.e. $14 feed / 50 lbs = $.28 per pound, $.28 x 12 = $3.36 per bird.

That math would mean it will cost roughly $5.36 per bird in feed and chick cost to raise the birds to six pound live weight, about $.90 per pound. Around $268 for 50 birds.

The other thing you'll need to consider is how you plan to process. If you're going to pluck, that's slot of work or a semi-significant investment. Though for dog food you could probably skin then and avoid most of that.

How long will it keep? Dang near forever if you invest in a vacuum sealer. I had three year old venison last week that his gotten buried and didn't show the first signs of freezer burn.

 

[abigalerose]

Thank you! That's very helpful

 

[donrae]

Another way to go might be to keep an eye on CL and look for free or cheap roosters. Lots of folks seem happy to give them away. Not CX, but dual purpose birds that are plenty big enough to butcher. We had a member here a few years ago who did very well feeding her family that way.

 

[abigalerose]

Ah that is a good idea!

 

[abigalerose]

Is it possible/okay to cut down on feed costs by feeding table scraps?

 

[Hay Belly]

How are you going to get your chickens to the food bowl?

 

[abigalerose]

What do you mean?

 

[Hay Belly]

Sorry, I meant are you butchering them and how much do the supplements cost you are going to ad to give them a balanced diet?