Thinking about ordering some meat birds

[gg706]

I cheat. I take live chickens to the processors they come out looking like store bought (but bigger) and I pay the guy $2-$3 a bird. I just don't have the time, patience, stomach or heart. I applaud those of you who do!

I wish I could find somewhere to take them and have them "done". There is a place here that butchers cows, deer, and I think pigs...but they will not do chickens. I have a neighbor that I have talked to that said he would help with the processing, for half of the meat. But I will have all the cost in purchasing them and feeding them to then only get half of the meat...a losing situation for me. I feel like I would probably have way too much $$$ in the meat I would get. I am better off to continue buying from the store or get some guts and do it myself.

 

[gg706]

I have thought that I would try Cornish X at least once...as they kindof have a "time limit" and I would HAVE to process them or they would start to die. As a way to motivate me to just do it. After the first time around if it is too much I can always choose to not raise any more and go back to store bought..

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

...I have a neighbor that I have talked to that said he would help with the processing, for half of the meat. But I will have all the cost in purchasing them and feeding them to then only get half of the meat...a losing situation for me.

Maybe you could re-negotiate. This is the deal I had with my mom, she paid the cost of 1/3 of the purchase price of the chicks and 1/3 the cost of the feed. I paid the other 2/3rds as well as the entire cost of the mobile coop/tractor that they were housed in. I also provided the vast majority of the care of the chickens, although I could call on her from time to time if I had to be away from home. She helped with the slaughtering, plucking and butchering and got 1/3rd of the processed chickens and stock. If you went "halvsies" with this neighbor, using a similar formula you would be basicly trading the cost of the housing and care for the neighbor's help and expertise during butchering. I'd also thrown in the back-up chicken-sitting into the mix a well, because you may need someone to run over and check water supplies on a hot day or something like that. If your neighbor isn't interested, there may be someone on this forum who lives in your area who is..

 

[TamTurkey]

Hmm. I would talk to your schools FFA or 4 h chapter. I am sure they know a local processor for poultry

 

[HeatherLynn]

Since this topic is already here

So is there a way to raise like the cornish X I think it is in a healthy manner? I want birds with some white meat that don't have to be boiled to oblivion . I still want them to enjoy the sun, and a bit of foraging and eating greens just like my others too. Do you think these can be raised to be a healthy, anti biotic free bird to feed the family?

I am also looking at Red Rangers. I had not heard of them before but they are on the consideration list. We are looking at meat and health as factors in choosing.

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

Since this topic is already here

So is there a way to raise like the cornish X I think it is in a healthy manner? I want birds with some white meat that don't have to be boiled to oblivion . I still want them to enjoy the sun, and a bit of foraging and eating greens just like my others too. Do you think these can be raised to be a healthy, anti biotic free bird to feed the family?

I am also looking at Red Rangers. I had not heard of them before but they are on the consideration list. We are looking at meat and health as factors in choosing.

The health and free ranging issue is why Freedom Rangers were "invented" as a healthier alternative to the cornish X. That said, I remember seeing a video of a woman who free ranged cornish X with good results. If I remember correctly, the secret is not to feed them the way forlks who are hoping to get maximum growth for minimum feed. This isn't the video I was thinking of, but it does show some very active, healthy cornish X

The thing that looks obvious to me is that they are expected to run around and look for most of their food, rather than just hang out next to a full feeder all day and eat themselves to death. The upside would be healthier chickens, the down side would be that they would probably take a few weeks longer to reach full size.

BTW, my Freedom Rangers are delicious. Froze most of them as full birds, so most of my recipies have been roasting them in the oven in various ways, but they have all been juicy, tender and very flavorful.

 

[HeatherLynn]

Its good to hear from someone who raised them. I have considered doing the cornish x but I just can't bring myself to if I cannot expect them to have any quality of life or health before we process. I just think sunshine, natural food, and less stress has to make a better bird and therefore a healthier meal ya know. I am very much considering the Rangers. I actually do not know if I could get my parents to eat the Cornish X because my mom feels they are severely un natural. That said she does not like my heritage breed meat either, its too strong flavored for her. I will probably go ahead and put an order in for the Rangers then to come in the spring.

 

[TamTurkey]

Cornish are just a faster growing chicken. If you get them the right time of year free ranging is possible and like hummingbird said they will grow slower but be full of meat. Good luck on your rangers. Good thing about those is you can reproduce them and only have to buy one set of chicks. I am one of those mean people who just house them in a temperature controlled environment with ac and heat clean fluffed daily shavings with a radio and full feeders and fresh water all day their only fun is once a week they get worms and crickets to play with. My chickens may not be free ranged but I know people who don't get pampered like my poultry does. To each his own.

 

[Oregon Blues]

So is there a way to raise like the cornish X I think it is in a healthy manner? I want birds with some white meat that don't have to be boiled to oblivion . I still want them to enjoy the sun, and a bit of foraging and eating greens just like my others too. Do you think these can be raised to be a healthy, anti biotic free bird to feed the family?

If you read extensively in the meat bird section you will find experienced poultry people, myself included, that insist that Cornish Cross are not dirty and they don't have health issues and should not have leg problems or high losses. All of those people , myself included, give their Cornish Cross lots and lots of space, sunshine, proper diet, and keep them so they can move around and get exercise.

They aren't nice to be around if they are kept in over-crowded conditions. They are great big birds that grow like out of control kudzu, and they need space if they are to be well raised and healthy.

 

[sjshaw1980]

My husband and I are in the process of raising up 15 cornish X chicks now as well as 7 barred rock "filler" chicks that got thrown in the box for warmth. They are sort of like people describe....not much for personality, you can see them getting bigger each day, and they are pretty lazy, but when the mood strikes they get up and play with each other, and run around like normal chicks do. The key is to give them as much space to do their thing as possible, and space the feeders and waterers out so they cant plop down and eat and then just turn their head to get some water. Make them move around and you should hopefully be able to avoid the leg and breathing problems, at least for a while. If you do start to see these issues, switch them to a 12 hour feeding cycle, 12 on, 12 off. This will slow their growth rate and give their little hearts and joints time to catch up to the rest of their bodies.
We have them in a large dog pen enclosure in our garage bottomed with a tarp, and with newspaper and shavings down for them to play in, as well as a covered area for them to snuggle up together. They are only dirty if you don't keep an eye on their bedding, and it does need to be changed every other day to keep them happy and sanitary. They are meat birds, they eat A LOT, hence they poop A LOT...so constant attention and a big run area is key to keeping things manageable if they cant be allowed outside due to cold or weather, etc.
As for the dispatching, I'm making my husband and brother-in-law do it this time. Last spring, we had several cockerels that we couldn't find homes for, and I got the unpleasant job of doing them in, as well as plucking and dressing them. Plucking and dressing isn't so bad but the guts are pretty stinky. To kill them, I used the under the arm, and yank down method of breaking their necks. It worked, but I dont recommended it unless you have a cast iron stomach. Use the hatchet or a cone, it's much easier on you.
Good luck!