Treehuggers 2017 meat bird thread

[mdtreehugger]

As of this morning I am once again in the meat bird business for this season. My first 50 arrived after a nice long debate with the post office as to why they decided to put them on the delivery truck instead of holding them at the post office and calling me like they are supposed to. I have had them not call a couple times before but I have never had them send them out with the mail carrier before. There policy is they do not put live birds with the mail carrier. Anyways I made them get the birds back to the post office asap so I could go pick them up. 52 happy little fuzz balls are settled into there new home. 

[nytrapper23]

Nice , I have never had them send chicks out with the carriers?

[mdtreehugger]

I had never had it happen before either, needless to say I gave them a piece of my mind and let them know that it would not happen again. I will be calling the manager of the post office once I cool off a little, right now I would probably get hung up on for being rude and cursing. 

[mdtreehugger]

I had intended to post this last Wednesday when the birds were a week old, but like got a little busy and never found time. Anyways here they are just before we moved them to there bigger brooder at 1 week to the day. As of yesterday they are completely off of heat and will likely be moved outside the end of this week. It always amazes me how fast these things grow. 

[Brad H.]

I'm already loving this thread and hope to learn enough from it to do this myself next year. Keep up the good work!

[farmertrappe]

Apr 18, 2017 6:47:22 GMT -5 Brad H. said:

I'm already loving this thread and hope to learn enough from it to do this myself next year. Keep up the good work!

Next Year?/ You and your crew still have plenty of time, I figure a ten week commitment start to finish. Go small and simple the first year.

[Brad H.]

Apr 18, 2017 7:02:11 GMT -5 farmertrappe said:

Apr 18, 2017 6:47:22 GMT -5 Brad H. said:

I'm already loving this thread and hope to learn enough from it to do this myself next year. Keep up the good work!

Next Year?/ You and your crew still have plenty of time, I figure a ten week commitment start to finish. Go small and simple the first year.

The problem is that I don't have an outbuilding. Working on that now, hence the "next year" idea. Unless I get some serious motivation between now and the end of summer!

[mdtreehugger]

You really don't need a whole lot of space for them. I just keep my brooder outside under lean to, then off to the pasture. See muskrats greenhouse thread for ideas on how to build a chicken tractor. Just cover the top with a tarp instead of greenhouse plastic, and leave the ends open. You could probably even set the brooder up inside that pen during warmer weather.  

[mdtreehugger]

Here is there 2 week old picture update! 
They are now a little bigger than a quail, nearly fully feathered, completely of heat, and ready to go outside. Hopefully that move will happen tonight.

[mdtreehugger]

Made the move outside on Friday, all seem happy and growing well!

[mdtreehugger]

There 3 week old picture. Growing nicely and starting to look like chickens and less like babies. 

[pokeyjeeper]

Looking like chicken and dumplings with be served soon

[mdtreehugger]

4 weeks down, 3 weeks to go. 

[Brad H.]

Looks tasty!

[mdtreehugger]

Week 5 is here already. Only two more to go! 

[pokeyjeeper]

It's crazy how fast they grow

[mdtreehugger]

Ive been slacking on updates the last couple weeks, just keep forgetting to take there picture. Anyways, here is there 7.5 week old photo. 


My 2017 meat bird project is complete. 51 birds slaughtered and butchered yesterday. I have got to thank Farmer for letting us use his space to process the birds, a roof overhead and concrete under foot was much appreciated. He was also kind enough to make breakfast and stick around for the slaughtering. With his help we managed to kill, scald, pluck, and gut all the birds in 2 hours. We do not eat a lot of whole chickens, so we cut all of ours up and vacuum seal the pieces. This took Squirrel whacker and I an additional 4 hours. But it is completely done and the freezers are now bursting with another years worth of chicken.

[Brad H.]

That's crazy that that project is wrapped up already. I really have to get on this.

[lawoods31]

Totally off subject! Nice chicks though! Does anyone know how to get a hold of me Jc on here I'm a subscriber to his channel and want to send him a nice package he's the reason I found out about the swamp thanks guys good luck on the chicks

[Brad H.]

Jun 13, 2017 17:57:18 GMT -5 lawoods31 said:

Totally off subject! Nice chicks though! Does anyone know how to get a hold of me Jc on here I'm a subscriber to his channel and want to send him a nice package he's the reason I found out about the swamp thanks guys good luck on the chicks

JC doesn't come around too often. If you PM me I can send you some contact info.