Self-Reliance: How do you?
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gus4416 They are. “freedom rangers”. They take a bit longer than a cornish cross to finish out but they are supposed to forage a bit more. This is my first time raising chickens. We started with 51 chicks, one died in the brooder within the first few days of arriving. Around 3 weeks of age, once feathers came on, I moved them out to the mobile coop you see in the picture for their first night outside but I didn’t put up their electo-netting. That was a mistake, I lost four that night to predators that consumed them from the outside of the coop, from below. Once I got the electro-netting up, that kept out ground based predators. the next two weeks, I lost 8 more to aerial predators, before getting a scare crow built, which has put a stop to that.
I got my wholesaler license submitted with the state, I plan to raise several hundred next year, after dialing in my method.
RafterW Have fun while supporting your habit. Go for it.
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Chickens are growing, bees are foraging. Things are moving along this summer. Chickens are set for processing mid-July.
RafterW Everything is looking good.
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Chickens are growing, bees are foraging. Things are moving along this summer. Chickens are set for processing mid-July.
RafterW Outstanding, looking good.
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gus4416 They are. “freedom rangers”. They take a bit longer than a cornish cross to finish out but they are supposed to forage a bit more. This is my first time raising chickens. We started with 51 chicks, one died in the brooder within the first few days of arriving. Around 3 weeks of age, once feathers came on, I moved them out to the mobile coop you see in the picture for their first night outside but I didn’t put up their electo-netting. That was a mistake, I lost four that night to predators that consumed them from the outside of the coop, from below. Once I got the electro-netting up, that kept out ground based predators. the next two weeks, I lost 8 more to aerial predators, before getting a scare crow built, which has put a stop to that.
I got my wholesaler license submitted with the state, I plan to raise several hundred next year, after dialing in my method.
RafterW If you are ever wanting to try a dual purpose breed that can be sexed at birth give Bielefelders a test. I’m raising some for the first time this year and so far they have lived up to their reputation. The only thing left is to verify their laying, but as much as I have read I’m betting they will do great.
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RafterW If you are ever wanting to try a dual purpose breed that can be sexed at birth give Bielefelders a test. I’m raising some for the first time this year and so far they have lived up to their reputation. The only thing left is to verify their laying, but as much as I have read I’m betting they will do great.
mrobisr I was late to the start for ordering these freedom rangers, had I had my crap together a littler earlier, I could have ordered all males, for meat purposes or all females for the dual purpose, should I want layers. All things considered, I didn’t pay too much for these birds, and having a local mill has kept feed costs pretty low.
Keep me upto date on the Bielefelders, please. I’m going to try pasture raising a group of cornish cross next spring and see how that goes, the larger size and 3 week shorter season to finish out is appealing. These should butcher at 11 weeks.
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For anyone interested, here are my numbers on the chickens. Some of the final stats on total feed consumed and feed per bird consumed are estimates at this time but should come in pretty close:
Estimated Feed Conversion Ratio (live weight, processed weight): 3.09:1, 4.29:1
Estimated gross carcass percentage: 0.72%If these numbers do hold true, this will be a very high performing group, compared to the breed standard.
Matt W.
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For anyone interested, here are my numbers on the chickens. Some of the final stats on total feed consumed and feed per bird consumed are estimates at this time but should come in pretty close:
Estimated Feed Conversion Ratio (live weight, processed weight): 3.09:1, 4.29:1
Estimated gross carcass percentage: 0.72%If these numbers do hold true, this will be a very high performing group, compared to the breed standard.
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RafterW Really nice grid to know where all the money is going. Great job. Betcha many do not generate information like that at all. Then, they wonder???
zbigjeff yeah, you’ve got to have a good idea of costs before you start in on something new, in my opinion. This group isn’t going to be sold, or at least not for much profit, just selling to friends and family at my cost and time. It should scale pretty nicely, raising 400-500 in a season really isn’t much more work than 50, especially with a processing partner, they still need food, water, shelter and moved every so often.
Matt W.
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zbigjeff yeah, you’ve got to have a good idea of costs before you start in on something new, in my opinion. This group isn’t going to be sold, or at least not for much profit, just selling to friends and family at my cost and time. It should scale pretty nicely, raising 400-500 in a season really isn’t much more work than 50, especially with a processing partner, they still need food, water, shelter and moved every so often.
RafterW RE: Your opinion regarding “idea of costs”. I ran an accountant and tax service for a number of small-mid size businesses on the side in the past. All of the businesses that did not breakdown their costs were done within 3-6 years and only 2 who were diligent went down. But, it took them around 8 years. There are 8 businesses who did control the costs (granularly) are still operating today. I’m out of that side business now. In conclusion: Your “humble opinion” is spot on. SMILE!!!
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RafterW is going to need to hire a high powered CPA to keeps his books, I think I know a couple who could do it for you!
Isaiah 5:22 Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks
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RafterW is going to need to hire a high powered CPA to keeps his books, I think I know a couple who could do it for you!
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RafterW it’s all about massaging the numbers and walking the line.
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RafterW said in Self-Reliance: How do you?:
Tex_77 You’d just “cook my books” which probably wouldn’t be such a bad idea!
As any good accountant will tell you, you need to keep as many extra sets of books as is required to keep your business profitable. lol
Paul
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RafterW said in Self-Reliance: How do you?:
Tex_77 You’d just “cook my books” which probably wouldn’t be such a bad idea!
As any good accountant will tell you, you need to keep as many extra sets of books as is required to keep your business profitable. lol
processhead Correct the real set, the set for the bank, and the set for the IRS.
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For anyone interested, here are my numbers on the chickens. Some of the final stats on total feed consumed and feed per bird consumed are estimates at this time but should come in pretty close:
Estimated Feed Conversion Ratio (live weight, processed weight): 3.09:1, 4.29:1
Estimated gross carcass percentage: 0.72%If these numbers do hold true, this will be a very high performing group, compared to the breed standard.
RafterW That is good notes on your process. I raised chickens one year with a friend, it was a long time ago but we were lucky, we got corn screenings from grain driers in the area. Farmers were happy to let us come in and scoop them up.
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For anyone interested, here are my numbers on the chickens. Some of the final stats on total feed consumed and feed per bird consumed are estimates at this time but should come in pretty close:
Estimated Feed Conversion Ratio (live weight, processed weight): 3.09:1, 4.29:1
Estimated gross carcass percentage: 0.72%If these numbers do hold true, this will be a very high performing group, compared to the breed standard.
RafterW no where close to your adventure but I got 10 new soon to be laying hens.
my other hens are getting old. Soon to be noodle soup and broth. -
RafterW no where close to your adventure but I got 10 new soon to be laying hens.
my other hens are getting old. Soon to be noodle soup and broth.cdavis A number of you are bypassing the current chicken issues and going right to the source yourselves. I applaud all of you for that effort.
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RafterW no where close to your adventure but I got 10 new soon to be laying hens.
my other hens are getting old. Soon to be noodle soup and broth.cdavis I foresee eggs in the near future.
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RafterW no where close to your adventure but I got 10 new soon to be laying hens.
my other hens are getting old. Soon to be noodle soup and broth.cdavis You are smart keeping them in that nice fenced area. We have had up to about 30 over the years, but now down to only three & certainly not the production we used to see. We have a good run around the hen house, but like to let them free range too & that is where the problems start. I would like to get another flock of guinea hens too, but need to figure out how to get critter control at 110%.
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cdavis You are smart keeping them in that nice fenced area. We have had up to about 30 over the years, but now down to only three & certainly not the production we used to see. We have a good run around the hen house, but like to let them free range too & that is where the problems start. I would like to get another flock of guinea hens too, but need to figure out how to get critter control at 110%.
calldoctoday you need to know about my friend Robert C Baker who invented chicken fingers and never made a nickel as he published the process for everyone to use.
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