Self-Reliance: How do you?
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RafterW birds are getting big
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Nice coop. Looks like the you put some thought into it.
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RafterW Chickens seem to be doing well. That’s quite the tractor you have for them.
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RafterW they are 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.
Matt W.
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Chickens are growing, bees are foraging. Things are moving along this summer. Chickens are set for processing mid-July.
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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.
Matt W.
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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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