Trying To Make Money On Meat Birds

[kuntrygirl]

 


I'd like to know the answer to that question too, since I want a meat flock in the Spring, and hubby is worried about the cost.

Meyer Hatchery has a feed consumption chart available here: http://www.meyerhatchery.com/productinfo.a5w?cat=1020&subcat=5081&prodID=WBRS&grd_prodone_filter=PRODUCT%5fID%20%3d%20%27WBRS%27

According to the chart, on average one of their meaties will consume about 15 lb. of feed.  I do not know the conditions under which the data were obtained; your mileage may vary. 

Thank you for this information. I will share this with other people who are raising broilers at this time.

 

[LindaB220]

I found this if anyone is interested.

Broiler Management Guide

http://en.aviagen.com/assets/Tech_Center/AA_Broiler/AA_Broiler_Manual.pdf

Quite a set up isn't it?

 

[Ruthster55]

They even have a fancy set-up manual for the broiler parents. Look up Ross 308 parent stock manual. (can't paste a .pdf link from tablet)

Each Cornish X strain is a bit different in its management.

These manuals are for large-scale farmers who have invested tens of thousands of dollars in a climate-controlled broiler house. They then order either broiler chicks or parent stock from the large firm.

This is a very different model from free-range, partial free-range, Label Rouge, or tractors.

However, some techniques like weighing the birds at different ages, are similar.

I happen to be in an area where there is actually a taste preference for non-CornishX chicken. For example, around Christmas, people will actually pay $14-15 for a mature rooster (RIR or BR mix - nothing unusual) for eating purposes. People like eating regular chicken, but for Christmas, a big roo in the stew pot is appreciated. By contrast, people in the US often give away roos for free.

Marketing is more than half the battle in trying to make money from meat chickens. The other big question is feed costs, of course, as well as having good growing conditions and low mortality.

Folks in the US who have access to low-cost non-GMO grains who can custom-blend their own feed have a leg up, because they can market their birds as non-GMO-fed.

 

[kuntrygirl]

I found this if anyone is interested.


Broiler Management Guide

http://en.aviagen.com/assets/Tech_Center/AA_Broiler/AA_Broiler_Manual.pdf

Quite a set up isn't it? 

Yes, by Mr. Ross himself.

 

[kuntrygirl]

They even have a fancy set-up manual for the broiler parents. Look up Ross 308 parent stock manual. (can't paste a .pdf link from tablet)

Each Cornish X strain is a bit different in its management.

These manuals are for large-scale farmers who have invested tens of thousands of dollars in a climate-controlled broiler house. They then order either broiler chicks or parent stock from the large firm.

This is a very different model from free-range, partial free-range, Label Rouge, or tractors.

However, some techniques like weighing the birds at different ages, are similar.

I happen to be in an area where there is actually a taste preference for non-CornishX chicken. For example, around Christmas, people will actually pay $14-15 for a mature rooster (RIR or BR mix - nothing unusual) for eating purposes.

Marketing is more than half the battle in trying to make money from meat chickens.

Yes, that's where I got the link from - from Ross.

 

[Triplecross]

I've read on another BYC post that fermenting their feed will reduce cost and it's better for them. I'm hoping to raise a small flock of CX this spring and am planning on doing the FF system.

 

[Ruthster55]

In the city near where I live in Latin America, there is more than one commercial chicken processing plant. These plants sell their product to the numerous butcher shops in town. The butcher shops are refrigerated.

Necks, gizzards, feet etc. are easy to obtain because the processing is less centralized than in the US.

Live chickens are also sold at the market. Some are layers or ornamental breeds but some are obviously for eating.

Dressed whole chickens are also sold there, but I do not buy processed chicken there because of the lack of refrigeration. (There is apparently no law prohibiting this, but most consumers purchase from butcher shops and prefer to just purchase fruits and vegetables at the market).

 

[Ruthster55]

I can't imagine hanging a bird to age more than a day or two except in nearly constant hard freezing weather.

 

[Pine Roost]

Do yall think I would have good results with feeding 17% broiler starter/grower from hatch to harvest (7-8 weeks)? I found that a little cheaper and would like to use that if they will grow like they should.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Do yall think I would have good results with feeding 17% broiler starter/grower from hatch to harvest (7-8 weeks)?  I found that a little cheaper and would like to use that if they will grow like they should.   

17% is a good percentage. How much is it in your area? I use 26% game bird, which may be too high and it's only $13.99 for a 50 lb bag.