4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[daj198]

Now that I've found somewhere to get chickens slaughtered ( ), I need to do some costing. I know that it will cost £2.50 to get each bird slaughtered and dressed but I have no idea how much the feed would cost and how much they would eat during their 12 weeks. Could anyone give me a rough estimate?

 

Also, I'm having difficulty locating day old cobb chicks. Where do people get theirs from? Or do most of you breed them yourselves?

 

Thank you!

[chickenanne]

I think most people here just keep egg laying breeds.

But, what I think:

Is it not going to be much cheaper to despatch them yourself? £2.50 per bird seems fairly expensive if you're doing this to save £££.

Day old chicks could be a problem at this time of year, are you thinking of doing it now or in spring? And, have you considered getting an incubator and hatching eggs - this might work out cheaper longer term, and you'd not have the same probs of getting day-olds.

[TAJ]

PD Hooks a commercial hatchery near Abingdon Oxfordshire has day old Ross at 65p each unsexed, or 65p for females, 90p males. They also do slower Cotswold whites at 90p each. You have to give 24hr notice and collection is only Mon - Thur 9 -12. They will always have them throughout the year.

 

We got some from Cotswold Chickens that are now 3 weeks old yesterday. Given the weather you do need to think about how you can keep them warm as in this weather they will not be fit for being fully outside at 5-6 weeks - too cold.

 

I have only had my 4 24hrs, but they have got through a whole feeder (1kg size) of chick crumb in that time.

 

Tracy

[daj198]

Thanks guys, that's very helpful.

 

It would be cheaper to dispatch them ourselves but I think we could maybe do it once, but would then end up with lots of over-grown meat birds. I also hear that plucking and dressing is an awful job. We aren't really doing it to save money- I'm trying to make it cost the same as a free-range chicken from Tesco though... I don't know how they manage it! It must be because of the large numbers.

 

We would probably try rearing them in Spring as it would be warmer and I need to do more research. Any books about raising birds for the table you know of?

 

Tracy, those chicks for 65p sound very good value! They are quite far away though... I'll have to do some more calculating. At the moment I've worked it out as £8.33 per bird, just 37p more than a Tesco free-range chicken and so much tastier!

[missuscluck]

That is a good price. I think thats about what we paid. I dont think you are going to save any money though at £2.50 per dispatch and dressing. It is going to cost a bit to feed them and also you have to factor in the cost of bedding. When they are in a brooder whilst small they will need fresh sawdust every few days as they smell really bid if you dont. And electricity to heat them.

[TAJ]

OH is telling me our 4 have cost me £30 a bird so far and we have only had them 1½ days! Obviously he has accounted for brooder, heat lamp, food, chicks, food/drink containers, fuel costs for getting all of this and the dispatcher.

 

I keep telling him next time will be cheaper

 

I justify that the 'one off' purchases should not be costed in as we could sell them second hand if we didn't continue.

 

Tracy

[bronze]

I think you may be completely underextimating your costs. Taj is right there are lots of hidden costs.

I would say that ten birds easily eat a sack of feed in a week even if they only ate that feed for 10 weeks thats a tenner per bird at least. Add on to that the

chick costs Taj mentioned, your culling costs and all the bits needed for adult birds such as bedding and you're looking to double your estimate already.

[bronze]

btw I hatch my own but it may be worth checking out poulet on the river cottage forum.

[Lesley]

I bought through Poulet as well - and that's who Jude from Cotswold Chickens has hers from as well.

 

We can have ours plucked and dressed for £2.50 as well, during the game season. We have done that a couple of times and it has been worth every penny!

 

The only problem is that they take the wings off! - after plucking a fair few though, we understand why they do that

[bronze]

So do I!

[Lesley]

So do I!

 

My elbow is still sore after plucking last year's turkeys

[Dodge]

A quick thought

 

Everyone is saying how expensive it is working out, to put your own bird on the table.

 

It makes you think how Tesco can sell a whole bird for £1-99

Well actually I do know, they only pay the farmer a pittance about 10-15p each.

 

Which then begs the question. How does the farmer manage his costs to make a profit

I know we are dealing in huge numbers i.e. 30,000 at a time, but even so it must be a nightmare.

 

I would love to raise birds for the table, but it is just to expensive

 

I am still trying to get over the £1 each potatoes I grew this year.

[Lewis]

So do I!

 

My elbow is still sore after plucking last year's turkeys

I think I'm going to help dress 600 nearer Christmas.

Ouch

 

[Guest]

 

I am still trying to get over the £1 each potatoes I grew this year.

 

I think your potatoes cost about the same as mine!

[bronze]

So do I!

 

My elbow is still sore after plucking last year's turkeys

I think I'm going to help dress 600 nearer Christmas.

Ouch

 

 

 

I would rather gut two birds than pluck one.

[Lesley]

I think I'm going to help dress 600 nearer Christmas.

Ouch

 

 

 

I would rather gut two birds than pluck one.

 

So would I!