The Rangers are DONE-10 wks.3 days!!! Woo Hoo!!!

[moenmitz]

My 19 laying hens traipse around 12 acres that has a fence around it-I would not describe them as confined. My opinion- if they have access to more bugs, grass and sky than they need or use, and are allowed to forage it freely-then they are free- ranging. A fence around the perimeter should be irrelevant. If they are in a fenced enclosure with too little of the above, or with too many other chickens to share it with, that is not free-ranging. I really wish the USDA would re-define these terms. People assume that the free-range chicken and eggs they get at the store are all running happily around a field of grasses somewhere, when in reality, they are probably sharing a dirt pen with 10,000 other chickens. That kind should only be allowed to be called "Un-caged" or something like that. Free-range chicken should be...FREE to range- and they should have to be supplied with decent range to do it on!

 

[SandraMort]

So what would you call what my birds have now? They have a large stall in the barn with free access to half of the area of a circle with a 36' perimeter, if that makes sense. No calculator here. Then in the afternoons, they get to play in the unfenced yard for 1-4 hours a day... I tried to bump it up but they left the property and 5 didn't' come home.

 

[Heather J]

I'd call that semi-free range or partial free range. That's how my birds are. About 20 square foot per bird in the fenced run, then free range for a few hours a day in a half-acre pasture area. If I work until it's nearly dark and dh doesn't let them out, then they're in the pen all day--plenty of space for running around, but not really free range.

 

[vermontgal]

As to pricing, in central Vermont I have many options to buy locally raised chicken at our farmers' market. Typical price, dressed, ranges from $3.00 to $3.80 per pound. Some farmers will also sell chicken "shares" - which means that the customer pays up front and then receives the chickens as they are butchered, on predetermined farmers' market dates. Chickens are supposed to be within a certain weight range (4.5-5 lbs). This is the meat-bird equivalent of a Community Supported Agriculture share.

 

[Bossroo]

Quote:
Oh JOY , and I hope that you enjoy the ideal pastoral life !!! I wish that I could. But in my neck of the woods,I have a different scene. I have 20 acres with predators galore... coyotes, racoon, 'possum,fox, skunk,bobcat, cougar, redtailed hawk, owl to name some. I would have to farm with a shotgun 24-7. We also get only 10.5" rain a year from Nov. to May (last 2 years it was more like 6") S Cal the norm would be the 6". The rest of the year , well they don't call California the "Golden State" for nothing. With land prices going for $200,000 +++ an acre I have to build something akin to Fort Knox on a patch of ground 10' x 30' and feed nothing but commercial feed to even have a few chickens. What you suggest simply is not feasable here as the chicken would have to be sold for something like $ 66.98 a pound.

 

[Acre of Blessings]

Quote:
346 lbs total, for 73 broilers- so average dressed weight was 4.74 lbs.

WOW!!! >>>>picking jaw up off desk<<<<

And you went 10 weeks. I may have to rethink this broiler thing then.

 

[moenmitz]

Quote:
Oh JOY , and I hope that you enjoy the ideal pastoral life !!! I wish that I could. But in my neck of the woods,I have a different scene. I have 20 acres with predators galore... coyotes, racoon, 'possum,fox, skunk,bobcat, cougar, redtailed hawk, owl to name some. I would have to farm with a shotgun 24-7. We also get only 10.5" rain a year from Nov. to May (last 2 years it was more like 6") S Cal the norm would be the 6". The rest of the year , well they don't call California the "Golden State" for nothing. With land prices going for $200,000 +++ an acre I have to build something akin to Fort Knox on a patch of ground 10' x 30' and feed nothing but commercial feed to even have a few chickens. What you suggest simply is not feasable here as the chicken would have to be sold for something like $ 66.98 a pound.

I am not sure if I am interpreting your post correctly, but you seem to think I am criticising those who dont free range. I intended no such thing, and apologize if you interpreted it as such. I merely explained my set-up, and defined what I think free range is. I am not "suggesting" any arrangement to anybody!

You seem a wee bit defensive of your arrangement-which I dont get since it is necessary in your situation obviously, and hardly would be comparable to "10,000 chickens in a dirt pen" which was what I was saying was deceptive to be described as free range.

 

[moenmitz]

Quote:
346 lbs total, for 73 broilers- so average dressed weight was 4.74 lbs.

WOW!!! >>>>picking jaw up off desk<<<<

And you went 10 weeks. I may have to rethink this broiler thing then.

I think it was the turkey starter. I dont plan on feeding it next time- think they would still have been stout little suckers in good time without it!