What is your cost to raise a Cornish X to butcher?

[SIMZ]

Hi! We raised 7 cornish cross this spring to 7-8 weeks and had them butchered. I approximated my costs to be around $9 a bird (ave. of 5 1/2 lbs each), which included $1 for butchering and the cost of bedding. I paid $1.18 for each chick. That seems high to me. Their food averaged out to 18 lbs each, but we weren't very careful and surely had waste.

Does that sound right or is there a way to cut costs?

I took good care of them, but to be honest, they are just gross birds! Therefore, I'm not sure the "at least you know how they were raised" argument is really worth the extra $3 per bird for me. lol I DO know that they were humanely butchered.

Curious to your cost per bird!
Thanks!
Stacie

 

[remadl700]

I mix my own feed with local wheat and flax seed for an average cost of $3.20 of feed per bird. With the chick price fluctuating from $.80-$1.5 per based on volume sales.

$3.20(feed)+$1.25 (avg chick)=$4.55 with $1.25 in supplies avg per bird =$5.80 and I sell them at $3.00 per lbs. So a 6lbs bird is $18-$5.80=net $12.20 a bird.


This does not include utilities and barn expenses. But with having existing facilities it's much cheaper.

 

[Mac in Wisco]

What other costs did you figure in? By my math you were buying feed at $19 per bag?

 

[bigredfeather]

When running males to 7 weeks and females to 8 weeks, my average cost per bird is just under $5. That's with me doing the processing.

 

[Denninmi]

My first attempt worked out to $1.32 a lb, skinned and dressed. I thought that was decent. Yes, I can buy a whole chicken for about 89cents a lb at the grocery store, but it's "enhanced" and not very fresh when you get right down to it. Mine tastes so much better, and I'm NOT just saying that. It is yummy!

 

[SIMZ]

Thanks everyone! It looks like I have some work to do to cut costs.

I bought my feed at TSC at $14 a 50 lb. bag. I'm pretty sure I can be much more efficient with feed. My only other expense was all the bedding. I have a plan for the next time to keep them outside much more to avoid all of that mess.

Is there somewhere I can get chicks for around $1.25 this time of year when I'm only getting 30? I'm very new at this and in Indiana. So far I've checked McMurray, Welp, and Mt. Healthy.

 

[homesteadapps]

Quote:
Very similar costs here right now.


For the Original Poster:
We prefer the DP for ourselves but raise 50 to 100 Cornish each year for others and a few for ourselves.


I put this together earlier this year to help newbies get a handle on costs for planning purposes:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=5528345#p5528345


Edited to add about bedding:

Hay makes great bedding and is nicer to work with once used -- in the garden, etc... We prefer it over wood chips (expensive) or straw (doesnt break down in the compost as fast as hay)

 

[SIMZ]

Thank you for posting all that info! I hadn't even considered using hay, but it's something I will definitely consider. Also, thank you for the links for the cheaper prices. Those are much more reasonable then what I was seeing.

 

[Bluff Country Chicken]

Homesteadapps....
What is the mix recipe you use? I had called our local co-op this spring and the price for 50# of the same level protein feed as our local Farm Fleet store was actually higher than in the store. I believe it was s 21% protein level.

 

[myhubbycallsmechickeemama]

Quote:
We built a lawn tractor for our meaties and all I can say is OMGosh, it has made my life so much easier!! They are moved every morning (only 4 weeks old) for now and they are not all poopy and when we move it I take my spray nozzle and water down all the poop in the yard. My lawn is definitely loving it as much as me!

We can get cornish x chicks at CAL Ranch (only in ID and UT I think) for .90 right now.