Until this last summer, I had only raised White Cornish cross broiler chickens. They were familiar, less expensive and grew to butcher weight in a quick 7 weeks. I had always been curious about the Ranger breeds and how they differ in comparison to the Cornish cross. But since they were unfamiliar and priced a bit higher, I had been avoiding them. This past summer I decided to give them a try and I was extremely impressed.
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For this coming season, I have chosen to raise female white broilers instead of strictly males or straight run (a mix of both males and females) for a couple of reasons. Probably the biggest reason for me is that the females will grow at a slightly slower rate of gain and finish out at a smaller processed weight than the males. I sell our broilers directly to local consumers. Their feedback and the consensus is that a 2.5-4 pound bird is what they prefer.
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Tractors are a great option to use when raising meat birds. I have personally raised broad breasted turkeys, Cornish cross broiler chickens and Ranger chicken varieties in a tractor with great success. There are so many benefits to raising your birds in a tractor as opposed to a coop or completely free range.
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Are you dreaming of adding to your flock? Got a colorful egg layer in mind, or how about giving some meat birds a try? Planning and ordering early will help you achieve the flock of your dreams. At Meyer Hatchery you can order chicks all year round, but it is always a good idea to order your chicks early and
Read moreMany homesteaders and small farm owners like to raise their own meat chickens, turkeys, ducks and other poultry in order to provide wholesome, fresh food for their own use. Let’s discuss the options that currently exist for what happens at the end of the growing time: processing. Different rules apply to those wishing to sell birds to customers. If that
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With the recent surge in awareness of how our food reaches our grocery stores and ultimately our tables, many of us choose to raise our own poultry. Today I want to share my learning curve with raising the Jumbo White Cornish Cross broiler from Meyer Hatchery. I’ve been raising White Broilers for approximately 6 years. Over that time, I’ve learned
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Guinea fowl are some of the most quirky backyard birds you can own. Guineas make excellent bug and snake control and will sound an alarm for your flock when there is danger. They are also super entertaining to watch, especially in the spring when the males perform their mating rituals to win over the hens in the flock. First, let’s
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