Chicken questions-is it worth getting a few broilers for butchering or would I spend more in feeding them?

Question

We had broilers every summer when I was a kid but I am really rusty on their care and costs. I have useable feeders and waterers in the barn loft, and and old grainery I can convert part of for them. Also have plenty of fencing material for an outside area. What does it cost to feed a chick to butcher size? Also, could I keep back some females for eggs later on? How about winters-do they need heat lamps? Can I turn them loose around the farm in warm weather so they can clean up grain and bugs? Is there a way to get farm cats (who love pidgeons) used to chickens? Or should I just bite the bullet and continue to cringe every time I buy eggs or meat?

Thanks for your time.

Answer 1

Ayla, Go for it. you've got about everything that you need. It will be well worth it, especially for the eggs. You probably won't save much money on the broilers, but the quality will make them worth while. Another thought, you may want to raise more than you need for both broilers and eggs and sell a few to your neighbors to cover all of your costs. I'm going to stick in a couple of sites so you can brush up a little bit on raising them if you need to. It will come back to you pretty fast. When ordering your chicks make sure you get a duel purpose chicken or get a good layer and eat the roosters. I think your main goal will be for the eggs. Good Luck

http://www.gatewaytovermont.com/thefarm/...

http://www.backyardchickens.com/

Answer 2

It really isn't just a dollars and cents question.

Living in the midst of an Old Order Amish community, I buy my chicken fresh from my neighbor...the last time it was $4 for a dressed out fresh chicken.  The flavor and quality of the meat, without preservative or antibiotic or accelerated growth feeds is amazing.

There are some differences.  These chickens don't have b*****s the size of Dolly Parton's...but with the cost of everything you buy at the store inflating as fuel goes up, it's well worth looking into.

Other benefits of free chickens around your place...you won't have fleas or ticks on your property to infest your cats and dogs.  Chickens eat them.  They also eat any scraps you toss out.

Answer 3

You know, my husband & I have also been thinking about getting a few hens for eggs.  Most everything here is more expensive than in the lower 48, but we do go through the eggs.

I wish I could help you out but I am as curious as you are.

We don't have any cats, but we do have 8 dogs.  They usually stay away from the barn unless one of us is there & I guess it wouldn't be hard to teach them to leave them alone, but like you, our winters are cold.  Do we keep them cooped up all winter, do we let them out during the day>  I like to hear them clucking around so I would definitely want them out in good weather, pecking around for bugs & all.

Sorry to go on & not be of any help, but I will be interested in the responses you get.

*************EDIT****************

PH 1:  Great info.  I was wondering about something though.  You said duck eggs are great for baking.  If a recipe calls for 2 large eggs (chicken) would you still use 2 duck eggs?  The reason I ask is because the duck eggs I have seen look larger than chicken eggs.  THANKS!

Also, is it still a good idea if you have a fenced area to bury the fencing wire 2 or 3 ft. under ground to keep predators from digging under the fencing?  Thanks again!

***************EDIT #2**************

Ayla, I apologize for breaking in on your question....

Answer 4

If you buy feed yes, it the cost isn't worth it, but if you free rang them like it sound like you wood they don't cost a thing.

As long as you don't have a garden near, busy rode, or a dog that likes chickens, you can raise the chicks for about 25-30$ and let them lose ( with a water supply) and they'll do just fine.

if you want eggs you need to get a laying breed. Its best to talk to your local feed store for that. They have good butcher/layer breads, but it just depends on your style

As long as the water doesn't freeze you don't need a heat lamp after they reach half there size. If the coops dark they'll lay more if you leave the light on 24-7.

As far as locking them up you don't in the winter if you don't want to they can usually figure it out for them selves (unless you have to keep the water from freezing).

Cats are a problem after the chickens are about half grown. They get to be to much of a challenge. So keep the cats out till then.

Answer 5

You will spend less to get you chicken from the store, BUT>>>

you want to do it so that you do not support the horror the animal interment camps, the cruelty of the factory farm. In the end you can raise a better product than you could ever buy as any decent chicken is sent to the restaurants while the rest end up in our market, or worse. You will be much happier just to know where your food comes from, and raise them in a better and happier environment. Factory farms are a sin against life and destroy our environment. Consider broiler layers so you can have fresh eggs (oh, the flavor!!!!!) and also meat birds. There are a lot of on line articles and links to hatcheries and to home bird and egg production, projects like setting up your hen house roost and utilizing waste, movable range fences, and on and on. There are a few links below.

Answer 6

We had them as a kid, and have a few now, for eggs.  I don't know how how cold it gets where you live, but around hear we can leave the out year round, and it cuts down on the feeding bill  if you live in an area that you can let them free range.  Theres nothing like seeing those bright orange yolks.

Answer 7

The breed we got for meat (white moulians/mountains?) are bred to be an 8 week project. They grow insanely fast.

We are using flock raiser and have gone through 1/4 of a bag for 12 birds in 2 weeks.

If you let them live past 8 weeks it's actually cruel. They will break their legs with their weight and have heart attacks.

Egg laying varieties like plymouth barred rocks and rhode islands are much smaller. You can feed them Layena so when they stop laying eggs, they can be butchered and their meat will be palatable.

I also got a couple of Indian runner ducks for eggs. Duck eggs are excellent for baking.

I can't give you an exact cost but so far it appears to be cheaper than buying organic eggs and I don't trust the egg wash process or animal management processes of the agri-corp farms.

You need a heat lamp to start chicks, but they are cheap. Get a red bulb so they are less likely to pick at eachother. Our lamp and bulb was about 10$ and is good for 12 birds.

You can turn them loose to free range during the day and train them to come back to a coop at night.

Look up "Storey's Guide to CHickens" at the library. It will give you lots of info.

So far our set up is looking to be cheaper. I also prefer knowing that I was a good steward over my animals and they were never fed chemicals (that I'll end up eating), kept in unsanitary conditions, or subjected to cruelty (like the way Tyson treats its animals).

And best of all, nothing beats the taste of fresh chickens and eggs.

If you don't want the hassle of the set up, maybe try your local farmer's market? You can often buy better quality cheaper if you patronize your local farmers.

Best of luck!

EDIT to BSB:

That is an excellent question about the duck eggs. I am not sure. I got a small egg laying breed so I'm assuming the larger egg layers would be more of an issue. I'd guess you'd have to eyeball and try it.

Yes burying the fencing around the coop is a good idea. The main thing is keeping them secure at night.

You can also build portable coops that you can pick up and move every day. That way the chickens are free-ranging but still secure. Their manure is also incredible fertilizer.

Best of luck to anyone who wants to try it. Raising your own or buying local is such a gift to yourself, your family's health, the animal, and the planet.

One more thing.....

Eggs do not need to be washed! Buff them with fine grit sandpaper if you need to clean them. Compost or throw out really dirty ones. Do NOT wash them! Not good for you! Agri-business puts eggs through a chemical egg wash.

Natural eggs are good for up to 2 months in the fridge. A rotten egg will float and you need to wait about 2 weeks if you want to hard boil so that the membrane hardens.

Answer 8

In almost all cases it is more cost effective to buy the Chickens or Eggs.  If you live in a very remote area you may be able to raise them at a savings but only in remote areas.  Whole chickens cleaned can be purchased at .59/lbs.   It is impossible to raze your own at this rate of return.   The rewards from raising your own is in the pleasure of seeing them go from your own yard to your table.

Answer 9

)If all you are going to do is cook them up when convenient then all you have to do is feed them cracked corn ($7/50lbs) and water till you fricassee them.

If you are going the raise em from an egg and make more eggs route you have to think of a few more things.

-base chicken cost of the chickens minus whatever you would get by not having to buy more when you cook them.

- Determine what the breed is capable of laying within a 15 month window (average laying lifespan). This will DIFFER based on environment, maturity, and quality of feed.

- Add QUALITY feed (not just the cracked corn above, vet, maintenance, butchered storage, etc.

There will be other costs, I just haven't done this in a while. It doesn't get that cold here so I don't have a lot of cold weather experience. If I had the right property here I would do it myself again. I live on a yutzy property near Lake Lanier. They would have a fit if I got chickens.