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  5. Self-Reliance: How do you?

Self-Reliance: How do you?

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  • RafterWR RafterW

    cdavis So long as they grow to 10 weeks, and don’t die on me before then, they should pencil out to $2.50-$3/lb depending on carcass weight. Even less per pound if we decide to self-process…$1.80/lb if we process them at home.

    cdavisC Offline
    cdavisC Offline
    cdavis
    Team Blue Big Green Egg Masterbuilt Canning Kamado Joes Regular Contributors Power User
    wrote on last edited by
    #108

    RafterW sounds like you did your homework and you’ll know exactly what you’re eating. Congrats and good luck my friend. I hope all goes well.

    1 Reply Last reply
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    • RafterWR RafterW

      2EA2F16D-2B74-44F7-A110-F4F6C0D591CE.jpeg

      50 chicks delivered yesterday. Freedom Ranger broilers. T-minus 10 weeks until I’m enjoying the fruits of my labor.

      processheadP Offline
      processheadP Offline
      processhead
      Regular Contributors Power User
      wrote on last edited by
      #109

      RafterW You’re one lucky plucker.

      Paul

      1 Reply Last reply
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      • RafterWR RafterW

        cdavis So long as they grow to 10 weeks, and don’t die on me before then, they should pencil out to $2.50-$3/lb depending on carcass weight. Even less per pound if we decide to self-process…$1.80/lb if we process them at home.

        DeepwoodsbutcherD Offline
        DeepwoodsbutcherD Offline
        Deepwoodsbutcher
        Power User Veteran Regular Contributors
        wrote on last edited by
        #110

        RafterW nothing quite so satisfying as taking your own food from start to finish.

        1 Reply Last reply
        1
        • RafterWR RafterW

          2EA2F16D-2B74-44F7-A110-F4F6C0D591CE.jpeg

          50 chicks delivered yesterday. Freedom Ranger broilers. T-minus 10 weeks until I’m enjoying the fruits of my labor.

          mrobisrM Offline
          mrobisrM Offline
          mrobisr
          Team Blue Cast Iron Sous Vide Canning Dry Cured Sausage Masterbuilt Military Veterans Power User Regular Contributors
          wrote on last edited by
          #111

          RafterW I have 30 Bielefelders at 5 weeks, good looking chicks.

          RafterWR 1 Reply Last reply
          1
          • mrobisrM mrobisr

            RafterW I have 30 Bielefelders at 5 weeks, good looking chicks.

            RafterWR Offline
            RafterWR Offline
            RafterW
            Power User Regular Contributors Cast Iron Big Green Egg
            wrote on last edited by
            #112

            mrobisr nice, these will hopefully be ready to process at 10 weeks. I’ve got a mobile coop wagon that I will move within a 650 square foot electrified net from Premier1. They will be about three days behind my cows in the pasture, the cows get moved daily, the premier1 fence will get moved every third day and their wagon/coop will get moved daily within the fencing.

            Main goal is to get a second source of manure on the pasture, while also spreading the cow manure, feeding on the fly larvae and foraging for insects to help reduce my feed cost for the chickens. This is why I chose a red ranger over a Cornish cross, these chicks are already scratching in their bedding at less than a week old!

            Secondary goal is the meat source from the chickens. I’m shooting for a target of no more than 1.66/lb of feed/bird over the course of 10 weeks, with the supplemental food source that the pasture offers.

            Matt W.

            processheadP Dave in AZD mrobisrM 3 Replies Last reply
            3
            • RafterWR RafterW

              mrobisr nice, these will hopefully be ready to process at 10 weeks. I’ve got a mobile coop wagon that I will move within a 650 square foot electrified net from Premier1. They will be about three days behind my cows in the pasture, the cows get moved daily, the premier1 fence will get moved every third day and their wagon/coop will get moved daily within the fencing.

              Main goal is to get a second source of manure on the pasture, while also spreading the cow manure, feeding on the fly larvae and foraging for insects to help reduce my feed cost for the chickens. This is why I chose a red ranger over a Cornish cross, these chicks are already scratching in their bedding at less than a week old!

              Secondary goal is the meat source from the chickens. I’m shooting for a target of no more than 1.66/lb of feed/bird over the course of 10 weeks, with the supplemental food source that the pasture offers.

              processheadP Offline
              processheadP Offline
              processhead
              Regular Contributors Power User
              wrote on last edited by
              #113

              RafterW
              Sounds like you got the science and the metrics figured out for maximum productivity. You must have done your share of research on best-practices.

              Paul

              Tex_77T 1 Reply Last reply
              1
              • processheadP processhead

                RafterW
                Sounds like you got the science and the metrics figured out for maximum productivity. You must have done your share of research on best-practices.

                Tex_77T Offline
                Tex_77T Offline
                Tex_77
                Team Blue Power User Traeger Primo Grills PK Grills Canning Sous Vide Community Moderator
                wrote on last edited by
                #114

                processhead With his background in precision ag, I bet he has it down to a science! Maybe he will move on to ostrich or something more exotic next.

                Isaiah 5:22 Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks

                1 Reply Last reply
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                • RafterWR RafterW

                  mrobisr nice, these will hopefully be ready to process at 10 weeks. I’ve got a mobile coop wagon that I will move within a 650 square foot electrified net from Premier1. They will be about three days behind my cows in the pasture, the cows get moved daily, the premier1 fence will get moved every third day and their wagon/coop will get moved daily within the fencing.

                  Main goal is to get a second source of manure on the pasture, while also spreading the cow manure, feeding on the fly larvae and foraging for insects to help reduce my feed cost for the chickens. This is why I chose a red ranger over a Cornish cross, these chicks are already scratching in their bedding at less than a week old!

                  Secondary goal is the meat source from the chickens. I’m shooting for a target of no more than 1.66/lb of feed/bird over the course of 10 weeks, with the supplemental food source that the pasture offers.

                  Dave in AZD Offline
                  Dave in AZD Offline
                  Dave in AZ
                  Military Veterans Sous Vide Canning Traeger Regular Contributors Power User
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #115

                  RafterW I really love reading this well thought out kinda science based agriculture. I’ve never done it myself, but I find it incredibly interesting. I’m looking forward to hearing how these chicks do and your feed rates, etc! Thx!

                  1 Reply Last reply
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                  • RafterWR Offline
                    RafterWR Offline
                    RafterW
                    Power User Regular Contributors Cast Iron Big Green Egg
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #116

                    I’ll keep you all posted.

                    Matt W.

                    Tex_77T 1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • RafterWR RafterW

                      I’ll keep you all posted.

                      Tex_77T Offline
                      Tex_77T Offline
                      Tex_77
                      Team Blue Power User Traeger Primo Grills PK Grills Canning Sous Vide Community Moderator
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #117

                      RafterW what if the sasquatch on the Ninnescah river gets your birds? Austin

                      Isaiah 5:22 Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks

                      RafterWR 1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • Tex_77T Tex_77

                        RafterW what if the sasquatch on the Ninnescah river gets your birds? Austin

                        RafterWR Offline
                        RafterWR Offline
                        RafterW
                        Power User Regular Contributors Cast Iron Big Green Egg
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #118

                        Tex_77 I haven’t put any thought into that scenario. The squatch would likely defeat my electrified perimeter netting and be able to unlatch the lid of the coop.

                        I feel there is a story to the ninnescah Sasquatch, that I’m not privy to lol.

                        Matt W.

                        Tex_77T B 2 Replies Last reply
                        0
                        • RafterWR RafterW

                          Tex_77 I haven’t put any thought into that scenario. The squatch would likely defeat my electrified perimeter netting and be able to unlatch the lid of the coop.

                          I feel there is a story to the ninnescah Sasquatch, that I’m not privy to lol.

                          Tex_77T Offline
                          Tex_77T Offline
                          Tex_77
                          Team Blue Power User Traeger Primo Grills PK Grills Canning Sous Vide Community Moderator
                          wrote on last edited by Tex_77
                          #119

                          RafterW well here are a few articles:

                          Observation of a Bigfoot eating mussels on the Ninnescah River

                          Two motorists spot a Sasquatch TWO DAYS AGO on South Fork Ninnescah River 30 miles west of Witchita

                          The Legend of Sinkhole Sam

                          Isaiah 5:22 Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • JonathonJ Offline
                            JonathonJ Offline
                            Jonathon
                            Team Blue Admin Walton's Employee Power User
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #120

                            WAIT WAIT WAIT…Big foot? What the heck is going on in this thread? If anyone is curious I go back and forth but I will say this. Driving from Wichita to Missoula just reinforced how HUGE this country is and how empty a lot of that is, so COULD it exist? Yes, does it exist? I don’t know!

                            RafterW We found a dead duck and some eggs in a nest near it. We waited 6 or so hours after finding the nest to see if a duck came back and none did, so we have them in an incubator in the basement. Are they going to hatch? Probably not. Looks like more than 4 hours without a momma duck sitting on them will basically kill or prevent them from developing but we bought the incubator because at some point in the future we want to have chickens!

                            Get more help with your processing questions and learn more about processing meat by subscribing to our waltonsinc.com youtube page at https://wltns.link/waltonstv I am a Gorilla, love yourself

                            RafterWR G B 3 Replies Last reply
                            1
                            • JonathonJ Jonathon

                              WAIT WAIT WAIT…Big foot? What the heck is going on in this thread? If anyone is curious I go back and forth but I will say this. Driving from Wichita to Missoula just reinforced how HUGE this country is and how empty a lot of that is, so COULD it exist? Yes, does it exist? I don’t know!

                              RafterW We found a dead duck and some eggs in a nest near it. We waited 6 or so hours after finding the nest to see if a duck came back and none did, so we have them in an incubator in the basement. Are they going to hatch? Probably not. Looks like more than 4 hours without a momma duck sitting on them will basically kill or prevent them from developing but we bought the incubator because at some point in the future we want to have chickens!

                              RafterWR Offline
                              RafterWR Offline
                              RafterW
                              Power User Regular Contributors Cast Iron Big Green Egg
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #121

                              Jonathon who knows on the eggs, but it is worth a shot since you’ve got the equipment! Give it about a month in the incubator since you don’t know how old the eggs are, if nothing happens by day 30, I’d bet that nothing will happen.

                              Matt W.

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              1
                              • JonathonJ Jonathon

                                WAIT WAIT WAIT…Big foot? What the heck is going on in this thread? If anyone is curious I go back and forth but I will say this. Driving from Wichita to Missoula just reinforced how HUGE this country is and how empty a lot of that is, so COULD it exist? Yes, does it exist? I don’t know!

                                RafterW We found a dead duck and some eggs in a nest near it. We waited 6 or so hours after finding the nest to see if a duck came back and none did, so we have them in an incubator in the basement. Are they going to hatch? Probably not. Looks like more than 4 hours without a momma duck sitting on them will basically kill or prevent them from developing but we bought the incubator because at some point in the future we want to have chickens!

                                G Offline
                                G Offline
                                glen
                                Regular Contributors Team Grey Sous Vide Canning Dry Cured Sausage Masterbuilt Power User Meat Hack Winner Veteran
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #122

                                Jonathon If they don’t hatch by 30 days in the incubator be carful how you handle them LOL

                                Give a man a fish and he eats for a day
                                Teach a man to fish and he drinks beer for a lifetime

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                2
                                • RafterWR RafterW

                                  Tex_77 I haven’t put any thought into that scenario. The squatch would likely defeat my electrified perimeter netting and be able to unlatch the lid of the coop.

                                  I feel there is a story to the ninnescah Sasquatch, that I’m not privy to lol.

                                  B Offline
                                  B Offline
                                  bocephus
                                  Team Orange Power User Canning Masterbuilt Veteran
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #123

                                  @rafterwJust put a good game camera and with the pictures you will be able to buy all the chicken you want.

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  1
                                  • RafterWR RafterW

                                    mrobisr nice, these will hopefully be ready to process at 10 weeks. I’ve got a mobile coop wagon that I will move within a 650 square foot electrified net from Premier1. They will be about three days behind my cows in the pasture, the cows get moved daily, the premier1 fence will get moved every third day and their wagon/coop will get moved daily within the fencing.

                                    Main goal is to get a second source of manure on the pasture, while also spreading the cow manure, feeding on the fly larvae and foraging for insects to help reduce my feed cost for the chickens. This is why I chose a red ranger over a Cornish cross, these chicks are already scratching in their bedding at less than a week old!

                                    Secondary goal is the meat source from the chickens. I’m shooting for a target of no more than 1.66/lb of feed/bird over the course of 10 weeks, with the supplemental food source that the pasture offers.

                                    mrobisrM Offline
                                    mrobisrM Offline
                                    mrobisr
                                    Team Blue Cast Iron Sous Vide Canning Dry Cured Sausage Masterbuilt Military Veterans Power User Regular Contributors
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #124

                                    RafterW Sounds like a solid workable plan to me.

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • RafterWR Offline
                                      RafterWR Offline
                                      RafterW
                                      Power User Regular Contributors Cast Iron Big Green Egg
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #125

                                      Jonathon If you don’t already know, Yoder has a pretty large animal auction on the last Friday of each month. Keim Auction is who puts it on. They often have fertilized eggs by the thousands that sell there. Its pretty wild lol, its where rednecks and the Amish/Mennonite gather in one place together haha!

                                      Matt W.

                                      Tex_77T 1 Reply Last reply
                                      1
                                      • RafterWR RafterW

                                        Jonathon If you don’t already know, Yoder has a pretty large animal auction on the last Friday of each month. Keim Auction is who puts it on. They often have fertilized eggs by the thousands that sell there. Its pretty wild lol, its where rednecks and the Amish/Mennonite gather in one place together haha!

                                        Tex_77T Offline
                                        Tex_77T Offline
                                        Tex_77
                                        Team Blue Power User Traeger Primo Grills PK Grills Canning Sous Vide Community Moderator
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #126

                                        RafterW now that sounds like a fun time!

                                        Isaiah 5:22 Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks

                                        RafterWR 1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • Tex_77T Tex_77

                                          RafterW now that sounds like a fun time!

                                          RafterWR Offline
                                          RafterWR Offline
                                          RafterW
                                          Power User Regular Contributors Cast Iron Big Green Egg
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #127

                                          Tex_77 The people-watching opportunities are spectacular!

                                          Matt W.

                                          1 Reply Last reply
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