** We are taking orders NOW for the 2016 production year!**
We normally take orders starting in January. Sometimes as early as February we are fully reserved, if you miss the window to order and would like to be put on a waiting list there is a possibility we will have some available when the processing days gets closer. Sometimes we have a better than expected survival rate or a customer has to back out last minute. Last year we had quite a few on the waiting list that were able to get a nice amount of chickens. This year, we are LIMITING production to 2 batches only (as opposed to 3 batches last year). So don't wait to contact us if you are interested.
How to Order From Us...
We take orders for chickens in January-February. During that time, we figure out our production planning for the year. We raise more or less birds depending on the demand. We ask our customers to send a $5 deposit per bird ordered, by March 1st. Once we know our demand, we schedule our batches of chickens and organize which orders can fit into each batch. We spend a lot of office time talking with customers, taking orders, sending out reminders for deposit due dates, following up with questions etc. Once we have our production numbers set, we start accepting waiting list names in case we have some chickens available later on for whatever reason.
We offer several batches of meat chickens each summer. The chickens are cornish-cross meat chickens that grow efficiently to plump 4 to 6 lb birds when processed.
How We Raise Our Meat Chickens...
We start them as day old chicks from the hatchery. We get them in the wee hours of the morning at the local post office. The post office knows to call us the minute the chicks are checked in, even at 2:00 in the morning! We quickly get them out of their travel boxes and dip each of their beaks to encourage them to take a drink and get them hydrated after their long journey. Dipping their beaks also helps to teach them where the water source is. We get them settled into their warm brooder that features fluffy pine shavings, several heat lamps, and fresh water. Later that day, we introduce their feed once we are sure they are well hydrated and rested after their long journey.
The hardest part about raising these meat chickens, is the time commitment. Our lives revolve around raising them for the 3+ month period. We can't go anywhere for more than a few hours. They need checked often, and as they get older, they need moved several times daily. It can be a little daunting as we start into the season, knowing we will be tied down so much for such a length of time. It isn't something we can do casually, it would be much easier to raise them in a dirt pen and toss some feed and water in with them, but we believe it is important to have them on fresh pasture for the health benefits of both the chicken and you the customer. Also, their manure is a great natural fertilizer that keeps that section of our field nice and green! By the end of the season you can see exactly where the pens sat, there are squares of darker green lush pasture.
As they grow and feather out they start to look a little awkward, it appears they grow faster than they can feather out. At this point, when they are 3-4 weeks old, we start to transition them outside for some bright sunshine. We try to plan it for when the weather is forecast to be warm for a few days to allow them a smooth transition to pasture life.
When they are still in the brooder, we try to encourage them to snack on greens by giving them clumps of grass that we are digging/weeding out of our garden area on a regular basis.
Here Sierra is taking them out of the brooder and getting ready to move the to the chicken tractor pens. The pen in the back corner has a few that got a scratch or minor injury (sometimes during feeding time they get a little excited and their claws scratch another one, so we like to keep an eye on them and spray a little vetricyn on the wound to prevent infection.) Any birds we fear might be sick are removed and kept in a completely separate area in case it is contagious.
Once in the movable chicken pens (called a chicken tractor) they enjoy sunlight, fresh air, water at all times, several feedings per day, along with fresh green pasture. They get moved onto a fresh spot of grass at least twice daily. The chicken tractors feature a sheltered section to allow the birds to get protection from wind, and enjoy some shady areas when it is warm out. Most of all, the chicken tractors provide protection from predators in the area (mostly hawks, coyotes, and loose dogs).
Getting settled into the tractor, their first day in there.
A better view of what the chicken tractor (movable pen) looks like.
My happy helper, who happened to need 3 stitches at the urgent care earlier that day from falling and hitting his head on the sofa of all things. It happened on a day that I was giving a farm tour to one of our customers too! It was quite the day.
Chickens lounging in the morning sun and green pasture.
They enjoy tender green pasture as much as they are willing to consume on a daily basis. We do not feed any medicated feeds, and we do not use antibiotics unless there was an illness that warranted it (we aren't going to raise sickly birds that aren't healthy for you to eat! We will treat an issue with proper medications and always follow withdrawal periods for food safety. We don't believe in making an animal suffer needlessly due to an illness that a short round of antibiotics or other safe medication could clear up. Normally, if there are a few birds that appear sick or injured, we separate them in another area, treat them with whatever meds are needed and we save those for our own family supply. We believe common sense goes a long way, and we aim for the healthiest bird we can produce for your needs both budgetary and health wise.
We feel that the way we raise these birds is a good balance of value and health benefits. They are NOT considered organic. Each time we have looked into organic feeds, we are met with difficulties in sourcing quality feeds as well as our customers not wanting the additional costs that come with feeding organic feeds.
We raise them on a section of ground that has not been sprayed or chemically fertilized (besides what the chickens produce in the way of fertilizer of course). This year we are using Country Wise Meat Bird Ration from Nutrena, which has a 22% protein ration. Last year we used a ration that had 20% protein so we will have to compare production with this new feed.
Once they have grown for about 8 1/2-9 1/2 weeks, they are getting pretty plump and ready to butcher. We watch their weights closely the last few weeks to make sure they are gaining well, and comfortable (sometimes if it gets too hot we set up fans on them to make them more comfortable in the heat).
They enjoy tender green pasture as much as they are willing to consume on a daily basis. We do not feed any medicated feeds, and we do not use antibiotics unless there was an illness that warranted it (we aren't going to raise sickly birds that aren't healthy for you to eat! We will treat an issue with proper medications and always follow withdrawal periods for food safety. We don't believe in making an animal suffer needlessly due to an illness that a short round of antibiotics or other safe medication could clear up. Normally, if there are a few birds that appear sick or injured, we separate them in another area, treat them with whatever meds are needed and we save those for our own family supply. We believe common sense goes a long way, and we aim for the healthiest bird we can produce for your needs both budgetary and health wise.
We feel that the way we raise these birds is a good balance of value and health benefits. They are NOT considered organic. Each time we have looked into organic feeds, we are met with difficulties in sourcing quality feeds as well as our customers not wanting the additional costs that come with feeding organic feeds.
We raise them on a section of ground that has not been sprayed or chemically fertilized (besides what the chickens produce in the way of fertilizer of course). This year we are using Country Wise Meat Bird Ration from Nutrena, which has a 22% protein ration. Last year we used a ration that had 20% protein so we will have to compare production with this new feed.
Once they have grown for about 8 1/2-9 1/2 weeks, they are getting pretty plump and ready to butcher. We watch their weights closely the last few weeks to make sure they are gaining well, and comfortable (sometimes if it gets too hot we set up fans on them to make them more comfortable in the heat).
Cornish-Cross chicken ready for butcher.
"Am I ready yet?"
Live weight of about 9 pounds means a butchered weight of around 6 1/2+ lbs with giblets.
All too soon, and sadly it comes time to butcher these meaties. Thankfully, they get to be something delicious and nourish local families so we thank them for their lives and get busy butchering. Our family of six and sometimes an extra helper or two will offer to come out and help with the butchering day process. We can usually do around 20 birds and hour on average, once we get things set up and going for the day. By the end of the day once the last customer has come and picked up their order of birds we are exhausted and all we want to do is put our feet up and grab a bite to eat! It is a VERY long day, but very worth it to see the happy customer's excited about getting locally raised chickens for their family.
I will spare the detailed butchering pics for another future page for the people that would like to take a peek on how we process them. For now, I will show you the already processed chickens so you can see what you will get when you come to pick up a chicken order from us.
Here is a barrel full of ice water, the bird carcasses are just chillin'.
Finished product, this is what you will load up and take home with you when we are done processing. These shrink bags will be great in the freezer, with little to no freezer burn. Or you can also take them home, and cut them up how you'd like and repackage them yourself.
Thanks for following along as I tried to explain how we raise our pastured chickens. If you would like more information, please feel free to call or email me (find contact info at the "Contact Us" tab above).
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