What are the basics on raising meat birds?

[Chicks Galore3]

I have 22 laying hens, and 1 rooster. I have been standing on the borderline of perhaps getting some meat birds to raise but I'm not sure if I am or not. I have a couple questions.
How much space do they need?
Freedom rangers, CX or naked neck? This are my three options.
How much work are they compared to laying hens? Just for comparison - I don't mind work.
Can you make a profit from these? Obviously you would have to raise and sell a good number. It probably also depends on feed price and what we pay for already-processed chickens.

I don't want any info on how to butcher them...I know some people who will do that for $1.00 a piece.

Thanks!

 

[SmokinChick]

They're still & only chickens. Same requirements as "normal" chickens so you should be fine.
To discuss what breed to get, depends what you like. Do you want healthy, meaty birds in 8 weeks? Or healthy birds in 12 plus weeks? Standard breeds can't hold a candle to CX for meat production.
Counting feed costs only my CX'ers cost $1.75 a pound. I sell some for $3.00 a pound to friends and family. I raise 30 in a 7'x14' tractor. And I think it gets a little tight but not crowded.
Enjoy!
P.S. process yourself, Its not difficult. My $.02

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

I've now raised a batch each of CX, Jumbo Cornish, Freedom Rangers and Red Rangers. Freedom Rangers are my favorite (2nd set out in the garage in the brooder, almost ready to go outside). I've never tried to raise them for a profit, only for my own family's consumption. However, I have some friends and relatives who are interested and I agreed that if they would come over on butchering day and help with all the butchering and processing, and cover their percentage of the feed, I'd add more chicks to my order and raise more than I really needed. My Freedom Rangers cost me about $2.40/pound to raise. I'm trying fermented feed this year to see if it brings feed cost down. I didn't have nearly the economical results of SmokinChick above with my CX and Jumbo Cornish because I lost so many of them. I live at 8,000 feet of altitude and suspect that this is the reason. Perhaps you'd have better luck. FYI, I was just as successful with the Red Rangers in bringing almost the entire order to butchering weight with almost no losses, but they took about 2 weeks extra to get to the weight of the Freedom Rangers.

 

[Chicks Galore3]

Thank you guys! I am leading toward CX but have heard they can have muscle problems...is there a way to combat this problem?

 

[LindaB220]

Thank you guys! I am leading toward CX but have heard they can have muscle problems...is there a way to combat this problem?

Yes, treat them like chickens. Let them roam with plenty of space. Separate feed and water a ways apart. Keep it shoulder high so they MUST stand up to eat. Look into fermented feeding. 2 x daily all they can eat in 30 min or so. Cuts down on the smell. Also allows you to fill waterers a lot less. Saves money because it's wet and no dropped feed. Win win all around. Good luck.

 

[katbriar]

I'm at 7500 feet elevation and raising "slow" cornish x. They take 12 weeks to finish instead of 8 but they have fewer problems, so it's worth the extra month for me.

I'm also feeding fermented feed and these are happy, active, healthy birds (and the feed costs are about 50% of dry)!

 

[Happy Chooks]

They're still & only chickens. Same requirements as "normal" chickens so you should be fine.

I have to disagree here with raising Cornish X chickens. They poop tremendously more than "normal" chickens. Give them more space, or you'll be cleaning their brooder daily.

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

I'm at 7500 feet elevation and raising "slow" cornish x. They take 12 weeks to finish instead of 8 but they have fewer problems, so it's worth the extra month for me.

I'm also feeding fermented feed and these are happy, active, healthy birds (and the feed costs are about 50% of dry)!

Katbriar, when you say "slow" cornish x, are you refering to a specific strain/supplier or is it the way you are raising them that you are talking about? I've had such bad luck with mortality rate that I'm hesitant to try again (FYI, no such luck with Freedom Rangers or Red Rangers). However, I'm interested in learning what you are doing because the cost per chick is significantly lower with the CX.

 

[LindaB220]

I have 22 laying hens, and 1 rooster. I have been standing on the borderline of perhaps getting some meat birds to raise but I'm not sure if I am or not. I have a couple questions.
How much space do they need?
Freedom rangers, CX or naked neck? This are my three options.
How much work are they compared to laying hens? Just for comparison - I don't mind work.
Can you make a profit from these? Obviously you would have to raise and sell a good number. It probably also depends on feed price and what we pay for already-processed chickens.

I don't want any info on how to butcher them...I know some people who will do that for $1.00 a piece.

Thanks!

Spend the $1. Best deal of the day.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote: No kidding. The processor my friend used is $7 per bird. That's killed, plucked and gutted. You still have to package it yourself.