shortages

[CrealCritter]

I ordered 50 from this place. Hatch date March 14

Valley Farms Hatchery

Valley Farms Hatchery is a family owned and operated chicken hatchery that is located in Northwest, Alabama. We ship our high quality, NPIP Certified, baby chicks throughout the United States. Pick-up at our hatchery is available for our local customer base or anyone wanting to make the drive.

www.valleyfarmshatchery.com

$2.05 CCX straight run is better than $2.99 at Rural King? What's shipping cost?

I did some feed calculations, each CCX will need about 18 lbs of good feed. Last I checked a 50 lb sack of 21% meatbird is $22.00, that's about .45 a lb. Each CCX will need a minimum of about 18 lbs of feed to come up to a good processing weight. So 18x.45 = $8.10 a bird just for feed. This doesn't include the cost of the chicks.

For me to raise them, I would need bagged feed and I would be looking at 10+ dollars per chick to raise them to a good processing weight. Then process them myself.

I guess the days of raising 4 to 5 dollar CCX including the cost of the chick and feed are nowhere in sight

When I can buy a preprocessed and bagged whole chicken at Kroger for around $7.10. I'm thinking it's really not worth the time to raise CCX this year. But unless.maybe Rural King has $1.00 per chick that's they've fed for a week plus already panic attack

Jesus is Lord and Christ

 

[CrealCritter]

Yep 50 lb sack of 21% Meatbird is still $21.99 at Rural King. I ain't buying any at that price, I didn't just fall of the turnip truck, yesterday!

They also had at least 2 week old well fed turkeys for $6.00, down from $10.00. I was there 2 weeks ago those turkeys are the same turkeys, just a lot bigger.


Jesus is Lord and Christ

 

[baymule]

No Rural King here. People are in a buying frenzy at Tractor Supply and Atwoods, snapping up chicks as fast as they get set out. I’m skipping the madness and picking mine up at the post office.

 

[Mini Horses]

Yep 50 lb sack of 21% Meatbird is still $21.99 at Rural King.

No RK near me but prices for feed are just skyrocketing! I shop at a private, old time feed store -- where I buy MOST of my feeds -- isn't close but used it for about 30 yrs. You can still buy bulk seed there and plants at "reasonable" prices. I can save as much as $.50- $1.50 a bag on feed!

Even so....50# bags....
Sr horse feed $26.65
Dairy goat. 18.99
Alf pellets. 20.99
Chkn scratch. 17.99

It adds up both ways....buying what you need and savings on every bag. Plus, I like supporting the store. No mills around me anymore . I saved enough yesterday to get a "free" bag, vice TSC...which is close. Usually I get feed on a day I work in a store that's only a couple miles from there.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

One of our local stores had bags of legs/thighs for .39lb last week. I didn't get any because I've just got too many irons in the fire to can any right now. But, when I can get it for that price I have no plans to raise meat birds. Often there are backbones attached to the thighs and I can those for dog food. It's a win/win.

 

[Hinotori]

I eat extra chickens we have but don't raise meat animals. Too many options at restaurants supply stores around that make it not worth it cost wise for me.

 

[baymule]

I have a couple of customers that pay me $7 per pound for chicken. Each one wants 10 chickens. I pasture raise them in chicken tractors, moved daily and ferment their feed. What I make on the ones I sell will pay for or significantly decrease the cost. I can supply my daughter and family with chicken.

I got my 50 chicks this morning. For the next 2 1/2 months, I will be catering to some labor intensive chickens.

 

[Mini Horses]

If I had buyers, I might rethink. BUT the butchering is the worst part. Being only person in household, I don't need so many. The extra roos from hatch birds are plenty. I'm a white meat fan but bought 40# of thighs a short while back at $.29 per #. I cannot raise for that...and no butchering!

Most of my birds are the dual purpose types, who forage well and lay pretty decent as well. Makes for less work for ME, plus I can butcher fewer at a time as wanted.

We all have our personal situations for accomodations and willingness or need to commit. Right now, the economy is a volatile thing. Suggestions from others makes sense and offer options we may not have considered. Very helpful.

I'm looking at a lot of meat goat youngsters this year. Thinking at least one will be wethered and grown out a little longer for my own freezer this winter. It's a red meat, similar to beef taste. When used in seasoned dishes -- chili, stew, etc -- it's a toss up. Now a good beef steak, can't replicate that! . But roasts, etc...don't tell & taste great as imposter. It's here & paid for.

 

[baymule]

You are right @Mini Horses imitation beef, seasoned and cooked, steps right up on the plate. You raised it, it’s paid for.

BUT you can’t replicate a good heavy beef rib eye! Catch ‘em on sale and stock up.

 

[FarmerJamie]

One of favorite butcher shop has boneless skinless chicken breasts 40# for $1.79 per pound. It is frozen, but still. Locally grown.

All of the cases Saturday were chock full.

Our freezers are full and we have plenty canned.