Sourcing broilers

memorystick wrote: »

I was wondering where I can buy day old chicks for feeding. I usually pay €3 each from the van. Are there any hatcheries that sell directly to small customers? Thanks

Following. Also looking for this.

SouthWesterly wrote: »

I pay 3.50 for off heat. I figure the difference between the costs of day old is worth it when I take into account 4 weeks of heat, feed, work and risk of death

These seem expensive when you can buy a fresh plucked chicken in Dunnes for €5. I know, I know, it is the joy of rearing them. But then there is also the killing, scalding and plucking bit to be done...

My mother used to raise chickens in the 1970's. She would order day olds from some supplier in Dublin I believe and get them delivered to her in a box off a CIE passenger bus coming from Dublin that passed at the end of our lane in the midlands. I kid you not.

forgottenhills wrote: »

These seem expensive when you can buy a fresh plucked chicken in Dunnes for €5. I know, I know, it is the joy of rearing them. But then there is also the killing, scalding and plucking bit to be done...

My mother used to raise chickens in the 1970's. She would order day olds from some supplier in Dublin I believe and get them delivered to her in a box off a CIE passenger bus coming from Dublin that passed at the end of our lane in the midlands. I kid you not.

I'm putting a 3.5kg bird in the oven this afternoon. I reckon it cost me 9e to the point of kill.

Show me a bird of that weight, fed organic food and grass fed for its lifetime at that price.

I believe you about it the bus. I saw it myself as a kid

2 of us killed, plucked and gutted 15 birds in a couple of hours.
One of those birds fed 7 adults, 2 kids and still enough for another dinner.

Show me an organic chicken in tesco for a tenner that could do that?

forgottenhills wrote: »

That's fair enough. But I have to say that even though I could do the whole plucking and gutting this myself if I had to, it's something that I am more than happy to pay someone else, or a machine, do for me.

I should have edited my other post. To say show me any chicken for a tenner that would feed so many

forgottenhills wrote: »

What was the kill out weight and what age was the chicken?

That one was 3.1
All between 2.1 and 3.3 kg
10 weeks

forgottenhills wrote: »

The biggest one I can buy in my local supermarket, as previously named, is 2.2kg and retails at €6. There can't be much margin for the poor producer.

There's but they are factory killed at 3 weeks so less feed costs vans bigger economies of scale.
A 10 week bird cost me 9-10 euro. That's without labour costs.

Stationmaster wrote: »

Is it very difficult pluck them? I've hens, ducks, pigs, sheep etc and am thinking of getting into broilers but the plucking is putting me off!
Also, what's the best feed for them? I'm just giving my hens layers at the moment. Chick crumb?

I use organic Growers pellets.
Put some washing liquid into the pot of hot water. Get a pair of grooming gloves in amazon.

bobbyy gee wrote: »

who can kill and eat their pet chicken

If they are reared for food then I dont think they're pets.

Boardnashea wrote: »

My 12 broilers finished between 2 and 2.7kg. Delighted.
My kale, unfortunately, has been decimated by caterpillars. Looks like roast chicken and stir-fried butterflys for dinner!

Not a bad weight. How old.
Mine were 10 weeks 2.1-3.3 kg

Boardnashea wrote: »

I'm not sure but I would say a little older than yours. Maybe 12 to 14 weeks. I killed in two or three batches over a week and a half.

It took you 2 to 4 weeks longer to get on average a smaller bird than I did.
You need to sit down and do your sums on the cost per bird and also how much feed per kg weight.
I was reading some of the US pasture fed producers groups who say 2.8 kg of feed per kg of meat is industry standard. I've met that on both batches though I kept them 2 weeks longer this time.
I also fed 12 hours on and 12 off.

There is discussion about giving them grit to aid digestion. I'm waiting to see figures from someone whose testing this out in the U S. I didn't this year but will consider it next year.

bobbyy gee wrote: »

there's a machine that plucks them in 30 seconds it's a drum that spins

I know there are machines, but are they feasible for smallholders to buy (this is the smallholders forum)? I have no idea of how much such machines cost. For instance if such a machine cost €5k then it would hardly be economical for a smallholder rearing a couple of dozen broilers per year.