Let me start off by saying that these are NOT my laying hens. These are Cornish Rock Cross meat birds and they grow exponentially faster than any chicken that I have ever known. This is our 3rd time raising these birds to fill the freezer and though I very much enjoy the end product, getting there is quite interesting.
You see, these birds were specifically bred to eat to the max, grow exponentially fast, and have the largest breasts you have ever eaten. Now, before you go off calling me on GMO or other Frankenstein breeding practices, this is a well recognized breed. I didn't come up with this breed and there is no more genetic manipulation going on than when one breeds a specific dog for certain desired traits. (Think of a Dalmation, you want spots, right?) So here they are a week in.
These birds will reach butcher weight in 9-10 weeks. Yes, you read that right, less than 2 and 1/2 months till full broiler size of 6-8 pounds each. I know, I know, many of us are so far removed from where our meat comes from that you might say, "I would never be able to raise and butcher my own meat." Let me tell you, I said the same thing several years ago. But these particular birds go from sweet, cute fuzzballs to ginormous and kinda gross birds. I say gross because they grow faster than their feathers do so they look rather funny.
These chickens will all be heading outside to an outdoor pen when they are ready to come out from under the heat lamps. They will have access to fresh grass, bugs, water, sunshine and non medicated feed while they are growing. What that means for my family is that there are no factory chickens being raised in filthy conditions here. No chickens being stuffed full of antibiotics to ward off the inevitable diseases that come from too many birds being packed into hoop houses or barns that are overcrowded, under ventilated and disease ridden. These birds will be raised in a humane, clean, natural environment and I will know exactly what went into the food I am feeding my family.
At this time we raise about 25 of these Cornish Rock Cross Birds at a time, if we eat chicken once or twice a week, this will last our family of 7 for 3-5 months. We may do another round of chickens in the fall to store before winter as well.
I will keep you all posted on the exponential growth rate, and current food cost breakdowns for these meat birds in a few weeks. Right now the chickens are eating 2.5 quarts of non medicated chick starter a day, and drinking about 4 quarts of water as well. Stay tuned!
You see, these birds were specifically bred to eat to the max, grow exponentially fast, and have the largest breasts you have ever eaten. Now, before you go off calling me on GMO or other Frankenstein breeding practices, this is a well recognized breed. I didn't come up with this breed and there is no more genetic manipulation going on than when one breeds a specific dog for certain desired traits. (Think of a Dalmation, you want spots, right?) So here they are a week in.
These birds will reach butcher weight in 9-10 weeks. Yes, you read that right, less than 2 and 1/2 months till full broiler size of 6-8 pounds each. I know, I know, many of us are so far removed from where our meat comes from that you might say, "I would never be able to raise and butcher my own meat." Let me tell you, I said the same thing several years ago. But these particular birds go from sweet, cute fuzzballs to ginormous and kinda gross birds. I say gross because they grow faster than their feathers do so they look rather funny.
These chickens will all be heading outside to an outdoor pen when they are ready to come out from under the heat lamps. They will have access to fresh grass, bugs, water, sunshine and non medicated feed while they are growing. What that means for my family is that there are no factory chickens being raised in filthy conditions here. No chickens being stuffed full of antibiotics to ward off the inevitable diseases that come from too many birds being packed into hoop houses or barns that are overcrowded, under ventilated and disease ridden. These birds will be raised in a humane, clean, natural environment and I will know exactly what went into the food I am feeding my family.
At this time we raise about 25 of these Cornish Rock Cross Birds at a time, if we eat chicken once or twice a week, this will last our family of 7 for 3-5 months. We may do another round of chickens in the fall to store before winter as well.
I will keep you all posted on the exponential growth rate, and current food cost breakdowns for these meat birds in a few weeks. Right now the chickens are eating 2.5 quarts of non medicated chick starter a day, and drinking about 4 quarts of water as well. Stay tuned!
