Broiler Chicks - Day 8

The chicks are all doing well.  One had a slight case of pasty butt very early on - likely from shipping stress.  It is fine, now.  Other than that all thirty peeps are doing great.  They are voracious eaters and feed intake has quadrupled since they arrived.  They are growing and have a stout look to them, especially the ones I assume are the males.  Here's a video I took Wednesday afternoon.  They were hatched the previous Wednesday so are a week old in the video.

Broilers - Day 4

My sixteen y/o son Ben has decided he'd like to take over the broiler project.  I think this is a great idea, though I'm still going to keep track and be in charge of this first batch.   I'm so wrapped up in this, I really want to track and see the end cost/result. 

He will be taking over their care, but I'm going to stay on board just for my own interest.  After this batch, if he'd like to continue, it will be entirely him.  I'm very happy he's decided to pursue this.  It will likely be a nice little business for him to save some college money, and I'm glad he's stepping up.  He also plans to develop a page on my website.  Sounds great!  Go, Ben!

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As of day four we have lost one chick.  This occurred on the second day, and really, losing one or two the first three days is to be expected.   Everyone else seems to be thriving and, yes, GROWING.  They are still on Countryside Organics. It's GMO free, no chemical fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides used in the growing of the grains, and there are no antibiotics in the feed.  I like the label but the cost is pretty high.  Searching for a cheaper source.   A friend has a lead on some non-GMO feed, but is not sure it is organic.  Also, I'd have to buy in high quantities.  With little to no storage around here, it looks like a dead end.  Also, the feed needs to be organic as my customers have made it abundantly clear this is what they are looking for.

So far, we've only had one hic-cup:  Yesterday (a chilly and rainy day) our breaker blew and the heat lamp went out. Fortunately Ben noticed pretty early on, and reset the breaker before anyone got chilled.  YAY, Ben.  I was not home and would not have discovered it for several hours, possibly resulting in some losses.

Broilers Day 1

The broiler chicks arrived this morning!  31 peepers all healthy and happy.  They are currently in the brooder box having their first meal.  Cost up to this point:  $38.50 for the chicks (quite a deal) and $29.69 for the fifty pound bag of "Organic Soy-Free Broiler Feed" for a total on day one of $68.19.  That breaks down to $2.19 per chick.  This doesn't include supplies I already had such as the heat lamp/bulb, brooder box, bedding, feeders/waterers, and electricity.  We shall see what the cost will be on day 56 (8 weeks) which is when I plan to butcher the first of them.  Yes, you heard me right.  We are there.  I have allll these chickens in my back yard and I'm going to Wal-Mart to buy franken chickens pumped full of heaven only knows?  The plan is for me to butcher them.  I will do the first.  If it turns out to be too much of a chore (hearteache) I will take them to Musckrat Hollow and have them processed there. 

You may have noticed there are no cute pictures of baby chicks with flower hats.  My intent is to take very good care of them, but keep them as farm animals and NOT pets.  I am determined.  I am, after all, a farm girl.  I was raised on a thousand acre working farm.  Raising and butchering farm animals is not new to me.  I just have not done it in a while because I haven't had to.  I bought my chickens at the grocery store in nameless bags.  But in this economy and with the stuff now going INTO the chickens from the grocery store, it's crazy for me to not do this.  So.  We're off!  Join me on the adventure. :0)

Here's a video from this morning:

 

WOW!  It's been a LONG time since I've checked in over here!  Buuuusy summer!  And now I have a new project!  BROILERS!

Thirty black broiler day old chicks on the way.  This will be my first attempt at raising on solely organic/non-gmo feed$, and of course pasture.  I’ll see what the cost is at seven weeks.  In the past they’ve been raised on pasture and non-medicated but not organic feed.  I’m taking the leap with this batch to see if I can afford it (can I NOT afford it?), what the final cost will be, and will my customers be willing to pay the extra. 

 

Stay tuned!

 

Also, once these broilers have come and gone, I'll be starting my incubators for fall hatches.  These will be chicks from my stock grown out over winter to be sold as spring layers.  This will also give me the opportunity to finish my incubation blog.