Author Topic: Chickens! (Read 4403 times)

Hit or Miss · « **on:** February 27, 2011, 04:23:12 PM »

One of the ladies at church let me know this morning that her daughter has lots of chicks to get rid of. I'm seriously considering taking a bunch to raise for butchering. Any tips? How long does one feed them til they are butcher size?

possume · « **Reply #1 on:** February 27, 2011, 05:29:40 PM »

well i know they mature and start laying around 5 months and they are pretty much full grown then

bubbinator · « **Reply #2 on:** February 27, 2011, 05:55:59 PM »

Depending on the breed, 5-6 months. They start laying about that time or a little later. Feed tip- with the green freaks taking all the corn to make gas, it is out of sight in feed stores-Look for a product related to Game Bird Feed, called "Knockout" around here in AL. It has little corn but lots of other grain like wheat, millet and some processed pellets that my free range flock of chickens and guineas love. It is the same price as scratch feed (cracked corn w/ a very little wheat) and has a much better % of nutrients. Good luck and enjoy, they are lots of fun to watch.

Graybeard · « **Reply #3 on:** February 27, 2011, 06:57:47 PM »

Long long ago in a land far far away (hey I like that line) I worked with a guy who had several monster chicken houses and raised over 100,000 at a time in them. He told me the folks he was contracted to furnished the chickens and came to get them when they wanted them.

According to him at six weeks they were sold as cornish game hens, at nine weeks as fryers and at 12 weeks as baking hens. Same chickens either way just how long he fed them before the folks came to gather them and take to slaughter. Now yours might not grow that fast but that six months stuff sure isn't average.

My friend Barry up in PA gets some each spring to raise as meat birds and as needed he replenishes his laying hens. Some of those he has are ready to eat in a lot less time than six months and weight almost as much as a hen turkey.

I've not messed with raising them myself but am at times tempted to. We did raised them when I was a boy but I sure don't recall how long they took to mature. We had Rock Island reds back then. Barry raises some sort of cornish cross I think.

Bugflipper · « **Reply #4 on:** February 27, 2011, 09:30:58 PM »

If your only intent is to raise them for butcher, you would be better off buying cornish cross chicks that GB was talking about. By the time you buy the supplies and feed needed to get regular chicks to butcher size, It would be cheaper to just go to a butcher shop and buy the same amount of chickens. Cornish crosses have the best feed conversion and quickest butcher times.

If you think you would want to keep some on hand for sustainability, odds are the little girl isn't raising that type either. In most cases people raise the large heritage breeds. They will hustle a bit for their own food if given the opportunity. But you still have to feed them. There are several game type and banty breeds that will raise their own chicks and hustle for their entire food supply if allowed to free range.
http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/BRKPoultryPage.html

Starting out predation is one of the bigger problems. It seems every varmint in the vicinity wants a shot at an easy meal.

LunaticFringeInc · « **Reply #5 on:** February 28, 2011, 12:43:38 AM »

I used to wack my Cornish/Rock crosses at about 8-10 weeks depending on progress. These days I just keep a few hens around for eggs only. Dont really save much in the way of money over keeping the chickens, but then Im not able to free range them either. But they sure taste a heck of a lot better than store bought!!!

GeneRector · « **Reply #6 on:** February 28, 2011, 02:26:22 AM »

Howdy! Keeping snakes out of the chicken pen is almost impossible. At least that has been our experience. I don't miss that aspect of chicken raising at all!
Always, Gene

Hodr · « **Reply #7 on:** February 28, 2011, 03:05:12 AM »

Snakes in the nest are a pain. Try leaving just 1 or 2 nests on the ground, when the hens start laying slip some golf balls into the nest and let snakes eat all they want, result dead snake with undigestable golf ball inside it. You lose a couple egss and some scrounged golf balls and clean the snakes out pretty quick.

Hodr

Hit or Miss · « **Reply #8 on:** February 28, 2011, 04:49:41 PM »

Thanks for the info guys! I'm still on the fence on this right now. I'd need to build a pen and get feeders and waterers and such. That would be considered an investment in the future though. I was reading about the cornish cross earlier this evening and they have quite a high mortality rate, that is before you whack them! The guy figured he had $9 a chicken in them after butchering them himself. We bought chicken on sale for .98/lb last week for whole birds. It would be nice to have some practical experience for later though.

billy_56081 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 28, 2011, 04:54:28 PM »

I'm thinking forself sustainable chickens bantams or leghorns would be more hardy. Unless givin the correct feed the big gainer birds will break their legs from weak bones and heavy weight. Besides the little ones lay more eggs.

The Hermit · « **Reply #10 on:** February 28, 2011, 05:33:59 PM »

Back in the day that I raised chickens, a friend brought out a fighting cock that was rescued from illegal fights. The hens were terrified of him, but he killed every snake that came into the coop.
Momma wouldn't go in to gather eggs, so I did every day after work. It took leather gloves and a big wooden dowel in hand. That rooster was fearless. The first time he came after me with his spurs, was his last time. But, the hens had learned to kill the snakes by watching him.
Them chickens were funny. Besides feed, I gave them cracked clam shells which made the egg shell harder.

The Hermit

Graybeard · « **Reply #11 on:** February 28, 2011, 05:45:49 PM »

Quote from: billy_56081 on February 28, 2011, 04:54:28 PM

I'm thinking forself sustainable chickens bantams or leghorns would be more hardy. Unless givin the correct feed the big gainer birds will break their legs from weak bones and heavy weight. Besides the little ones lay more eggs.

Tis true. Barry almost always has one or two of his meat birds that get so heavy so fast their legs can't take the load. When one breaks a leg that's his cue to kill that one and that he best start thinking about reducing their numbers. Like Hermit mentioned he also feeds them some kinda shells to make the eggs harder.

blind ear · « **Reply #12 on:** February 28, 2011, 05:49:39 PM »

Graybeard, what type enclosure does Barry raise his birds in? ear

Graybeard · « **Reply #13 on:** February 28, 2011, 05:54:41 PM »

I've never actually seen it. He and I have been swapping e-mails daily since before the turn of the century. I've never met him in person however.

From what I have gathered he has a pig pen in which he raises two hogs per year on one side and the chickens on the other. I'm not sure how much access they have to an open area. I'll try to remember to ask him when I write tomorrow and perhaps get him to send along a photo or two of it. I'm pretty sure he has sent some photos in the past of it but not a wide view of the entire chicken coop area. He was having some varmint problems and sent some photos of that with part of it showing that I can recall.

I'm pretty sure tho his meat birds and laying hens are separated physically so likely he has two separate areas for them. I'll have to ask and see about photos.

FourBee · « **Reply #14 on:** February 28, 2011, 06:08:35 PM »

Raising your own chickens for the dinner table is surprisingly different from commerically raised chickens. If they get to run around at all in the sun, their meat will be thougher to chew. Some, even tuff as boot leather. Just a warning.

steg · « **Reply #15 on:** March 07, 2011, 02:04:02 AM »

When I was a younger man I raised alot of chickens,Grizzlies,cornish cross, and a few more breeds, I just wanted to mention canabalism, and excessive pecking of each other, I cured this two ways, first I put a red film on the windows so the blood wouldnt attract them to peck more,second and most important I went to the deep litter feeding method, and got rid of my feeders, basicially what you are doing is putting an initial layer of straw, hay, or whatever on the floor, and just scatter their feed over it, now they are kept busy enough scratching for food to have time to peck each other, keep this mix just a little damp to keep the dust down and avoid lung problems, Good luck with your chickens...................................steg

30-30man · « **Reply #16 on:** March 08, 2011, 03:11:40 PM »

The best breed for meat by far is the X Cornish Rock. They can be harvested in 7-8 weeks. They are what most grocery stores sell. The Barred Rock, Sex link, Black Austrolorp, Production Reds lay the best brown eggs and will lay the most. I prefer the Barred Rock. It's a medium bird that is docile and quiet generally. It lays large brown eggs with thick shells. If you are thinking you can raise birds or gather eggs cheaper than the stores, think again. There is no way you can raise chickens to lay eggs when a dozen at the store is around $1.20. Two chickens that lay one egg a day to get a dozen by the end of the week will eat more than $5.00 in feed per week. The math is will not come out in your favor unless you grow your own feed. I do and it's the only way I've been able to stay in business.

AtlLaw · « **Reply #17 on:** March 08, 2011, 04:52:58 PM »

Quote from: 30-30man on March 08, 2011, 03:11:40 PM

The best breed for meat by far is the X Cornish Rock. They can be harvested in 7-8 weeks.

+1

That's what I raised. Man do they grow fast! I got a hundred chicks once and I started slaughterin at "Game Hen" size. By the time I finished they were 2.5 lb. fryers!

FourBee · « **Reply #18 on:** March 09, 2011, 08:13:38 AM »

Quote from: AtlLaw on March 08, 2011, 04:52:58 PM

Quote from: 30-30man on March 08, 2011, 03:11:40 PM
The best breed for meat by far is the X Cornish Rock. They can be harvested in 7-8 weeks.

+1

That's what I raised. Man do they grow fast! I got a hundred chicks once and I started slaughterin at "Game Hen" size. By the time I finished they were 2.5 lb. fryers!

Hey AtlLaw; A hundred ! Bet you were glad when that was overwith.

Quote

30-30man ~ The math is will not come out in your favor unless you grow your own feed. I do and it's the only way I've been able to stay in business.

That's for sure. But it doesn't matter to me. I like raising chickens and not having to solely depend on the grocery store to supply me with eggs. I especially like to see those dark yellow yolks compared to the pale sickly looking yolks from store bought eggs. Same with drinking fresh cows milk. It's a whole different world.

burntmuch · « **Reply #19 on:** March 09, 2011, 11:30:51 AM »

I dont know if I save any money with raising meat birds or layer hens. But the chicken taste better, & the eggs are supposed to be a little bit healtheir for you. If they get to free range its a lot cheaper. Cause the price of feed is going up. Right now I have Isa browns for layers & I do the cornish cross for meat birds. I buy chicks a couple times a year grow them out & send them to freezer camp. The cornish cross take about 6-8 weeks, depending how big you want them. If I was to try a self sustaining flock I think I would go with the leghorns. From what Ive read they are descent layers, & they get to full size in a reasonable amount of time.

charles p · « **Reply #20 on:** March 09, 2011, 11:49:30 AM »

chickens raised in commercial houses are killed at about seven weeks.

Casull · « **Reply #21 on:** March 09, 2011, 02:26:54 PM »

Quote

Two chickens that lay one egg a day to get a dozen by the end of the week will eat more than $5.00 in feed per week.

What the heck are you feeding them? My uncle has a few chickens (13 to be exact), and the feed for them runs about $8 every two weeks.

burntmuch · « **Reply #22 on:** March 09, 2011, 04:20:24 PM »

My 9 layer hens & 1 rooster eat about 50 lbs a month. $24. Thats when theres snow on the ground. When they can free range, I would guess they eat less than half that. So average that out. they cost me $15 a month. I get 20 dozen eggs a mth. 75 cents a dozen.

30-30man · « **Reply #23 on:** March 11, 2011, 06:03:27 PM »

Laying pellets are about $12-13 a bag now. The expensive Layena is about $14. Scratch is about $10 a bag. It will quickly add up. Then you have to have light if you want them to lay in the winter. The math is about on spot if you account for everything not just feed. If you are going in for the enjoyment and not to save money, then it's worth every penny.

bubbinator · « **Reply #24 on:** March 11, 2011, 07:11:45 PM »

+1 plus for raising your own chickens-before retiring several years ago I worked moonshiners in Central AL. They were a sociable bunch of good old boys and I enjoyed talking with them in unofficial situations. Two brothers raised chickens commercially (day job!) and they told us their birds left for the processor at 6 wks @ 5 lbs. They also said they don't eat them either- they are full of growth hormones and other stuff to force the rapid growth! They did however drink their own moonshine, so I guess it was a better product!

LunaticFringeInc · « **Reply #25 on:** March 12, 2011, 05:55:14 PM »

The Leghorns make excellent birds for layers and are probably about as good a breed as there is for egg production. The down side is these scrawny birds don’t make much in the way of meat. The dual purpose breeds such as the Rhode Island Reds and Plymouth Barred Rocks do fairly well at converting feed to eggs and most of your roosters will put on enough weight to make a good butchering chicken. Just don’t let them go too long otherwise they will consume more feed than they are putting on meat. The meat breeds are pretty pathetic at egg production.

I generally keep just a few Leghorns or Rhode Island Reds or Plymouth Rocks for eggs. A couple of times or so a year I will order a couple of 50 lot Cornish Rock cross straight run, grow them out lickity split and then put them in the freezer and be done with it and just go back to my half dozen hens. Keeps my work to a minimum, gives me a full freezer and keeps those throw rug sized omelets coming.

Couger · « **Reply #26 on:** March 13, 2011, 02:28:05 PM »

L.F.Inc,

#1. Are you able to feed those rock cornish meat hens a 'ration' that's high enough in ptotein? But not loaded with growth stimulants or hormones? Could you elaborate a little?

#2). When choosing a meat/egg laying breed, I'd be inclined to choose a "brown egg" variety like the rocks, orpingtons or wyandottes, depending on which variety did best in the temperature I lived. Is that smart? I haven't actually raised chickens - yet, but how can one keep egg layers in snowy climates?

THANKS!

FourBee · « **Reply #27 on:** March 13, 2011, 07:01:09 PM »

Quote

Couger ~ but how can one keep egg layers in snowy climates?

You might try Heat Lamps (the red kind).

burntmuch · « **Reply #28 on:** March 14, 2011, 04:12:39 AM »

My layers produced eggs all winter long with no light. Slowed down just a tiny bit. They,re only a year old. Not sure if they will slow down as they get older

spooked · « **Reply #29 on:** March 14, 2011, 06:07:18 AM »

Quote from: burntmuch on March 14, 2011, 04:12:39 AM

My layers produced eggs all winter long with no light. Slowed down just a tiny bit. They,re only a year old. Not sure if they will slow down as they get older

They will!