What's The Process

[Browser8]

I have never processed a chicken myself.

I clicked on the banner of one of the fine BYC sponsors and they have a pretty good deal going on surplus birds.

Seeing as I am woefully inexperienced I figure I am pushing my luck even buying 50 of them ($35 for 50) but that is the smallest amount in the special that they run on surplus birds.

But... assuming I decide to take the dive....

I pay for the chicks... they arrive...

How long do you feed them before butcher time?

I am assuming that free range is probably not a good idea for 50 birds?

 

[bigredfeather]

16 weeks for dual purpose birds. After that hormones kick in and will effect the taste of meat. If you have a big enough area, they could still free range. Meat will apt to be a bit tougher, but you will save a ton on feed.

 

[Browser8]

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Thanks... that is very helpful information...

 

[Bossroo]

The better question would be WHY are they a surplus ?

 

[jaku]

What kind are they? Sometimes the "surplus" birds they sell you are nothing more than the birds that aren't really worth the effort to raise. Also, if you've never done them before, but want to get into meat birds, I wouldn't buy 50- that's a lot to deal with, and a big processing project. Personally, I'd just spend a little more per bird and get 25.

 

[Browser8]

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Agreed... this does seem like the type of thing that can get out of hand very quickly.