Once the barn expansion was done we started plans to do our first batch of Meat Chickens.
We ordered Cornish Cross, online from Murray McMurray Hatchery.
Chicks showed up happy and healthy with zero losses.
We ended up with 27 and did have one loss as an adult , and the rest went to the freezer.
It was an enjoyable process. They go from hatched to freezer in about 60 days so that is a lot of growing to do in a short time. We would like to add a way for them to be on grass to help the feed bill, but that will come in the future.
There were not as easy to process as rabbits, but pretty close. It is nice to have variety in the freezer.
As we said we ended up putting 26 in the freezer, with an average weight of 6lbs and a total weight of over 150lbs processed. The smallest was 3lbs 14 oz and the largest was just over 8 lbs!
After we have been eating these , it will be hard to every go back to store bought chicken again.
Green Journal Homestead 