Discussions

I have a few questions- for those that raise meat chickens at what age do you slaughter them? Mine are 6 weeks old (Cornish cross). I was told at about 8 weeks?  
 
Where do you take them to be slaughtered? I heard there is a place by virden that charges $5 per chicken. Anyone have contact info? Anywhere in Brandon?  
 
What is the average price to charge for farm raised chickens when selling?  
 
Thanks

Pa-Pa's Poultry Processing Plant, near Glenora, MB. Close to Rock Lake, south of Glenboro. Very good work, we've been using his services for several years. Very clean, and well packaged. Don't remember his prices, but have always been cheaper than the ones at Virden. Call him at 2048258335 or you can email him at thechickenplant@gmail.com

Is there anyone in Closer to Brandon?

Granny's poultry kills them at 38 days. I always waited until six weeks.  
There is a Hofer near Chater that has a government inspected kill plant. Not sure of the cost per bird.  
The guys at Total Farm Supplies have the contact numbers and offer great advice.

Thanks!! Will ask the guy from total farm supply. Didn't want to transport them too far and risk them dying on the way. This summer is too hot!

Pretty sure Tim hofer,at chater quit doing that a few years ago. Closest place I know of is Glenbrook or virden.good luck  

Pretty sure Tim hofer,at chater quit doing that a few years ago. Closest place I know of is Glenboro or virden. Also the length of growing time depends on what you are feeding them and how big you want them when you're done. Remember once they are killed you lose a lot of weight.  
 
 
 
 
Edited by iceberg, 2015-07-14 22:19:46

The ladies name is Dianna Mcdonald.  
Excellent job.  
Phone # is 204-748-3537

we get our chickens may long usually and don't kill them until end of September. We like them to be larger and find not "pushing" them to eat results in them less of them going off their feet or getting sick  
. When we kill them they are anywhere between 6-10 lbs. Average size would be 7 1/2 lbs.

Our chickens are Cornish and they seem to be quite big already! We got them at the end of May.  
 
I have asked around and most people are telling me to slaughter at around 8 weeks. Is it true that they can get too big and their legs can give out?  
 

It just depends. Some chickens seem to be more prone to it ( they aren't always the biggest in the flock) Our rooster last year weighed 12 lbs after he was processed and he was fine.  

Yes, it is true. They can overeat very quickly and that will cause problems.  
 
Eight weeks is what people usually say for butchering. What is more important is the shape. You should butcher meat chickens when they no longer have a triangular shape (top of leg being one point of triangle, and then straight line across the back connecting the other two), but instead more rectangular.  
 
Depending on what they are fed as was mentioned, they will grow faster or slower. You can have chickens (even cornish cross) that are not ready at 8 wks. and still have that triangular shape. They will still be mostly bone. Something else to note as well is that if you are able to grow them more slowly (and especially if they can access greens too), you will get more flavorful meat.

We have a few hundred chickens which we process ourselves. We buy in May and finish out late August - early September (~12 weeks+) and they on average weigh around 7-8 lbs. Ours are outside running around and grain fed. We live 4 miles south of Souris.  
 
 
 
Edited by L. T., 2015-07-15 15:23:27

Remember there is a lot of weight bone and feathers. Weigh one and see what it is  
the way it is and you will know how much longer you need to keep them. I always had mine till the end of august too  

Thanks everyone. Will likely keep until end of August then. Some are big, some are smaller. I have just started allowing them full access to the pasture. I have noticed they aren't eating as much feed now.