Last Friday, we took the last of our Cornish cross meat chickens in for processing. Finishing School, as I would like to say. And it’s been quite an adventure.

Really, overall, a great adventure. And we were pretty cool with it all… it was not that much work, it was enjoyable work. And nice to know that we gave them a super awesome chicken life… all 12-14 weeks of it. No funky meds, no creepy confinement, everything was super good and humane and we enjoyed them and I think they enjoyed us. If it’s any consolation, this last batch of 14 rode in the back of Blue super content and looking out the windows, not stressed or noisy, but interested and comfortable that we thought to take them for their last ride. A couple hopped up on the back seat and were looking out the front windsheild, perfectly at ease with Maggie in the back seat and me driving. I think that was a good thing. I would hate to have their last hour or so filled with chaos and fright. Instead, they just enjoyed the ride.

So… here is the tally of the costs and efforts.

We bought 26 Cornish cross chicks for a total of $41. (We actually ordered 25 and they sent an extra… and we didn’t loose any birds.)

We have bought 8 bags of grower feed, at $13 each. $104

Processing is $2.00 a bird, whole, and fifty cents each if we want them quartered. We have opted for half and half. 18 at $2.00 whole – $36.00 and 8 cutup at $2.50 – $20.00

Processing total: $56.00

So, we have a total of $201.00. To raise 26 meat chickens.

Our first batch of roosters averaged 4.5 pounds, processed. 12 of them. 54 pounds of chicken

Our second batch was hens, with an extra 4 weeks of growing. 14 of them. They averages a whopping 5.5 pounds on average! 77 pounds of chicken

For a grand total of…. 131 pounds of chicken.

$1.53 a pound for fresh, organic, non-medicated, humanely raised chicken.

Now to be honest, that was 14 weeks of work… but it was enjoyable work. Each day took maybe 20 minutes to feed and water the little guys. And we spent an hour or so each week cleaning out the coop and keeping them clean and healthy. I suppose that we should factor in a bag or two of wood shavings and a couple bales of hay for bedding. Maybe $20 total for that. Still, keeps the cost per pound under $2.00 and frankly, that’s pretty good.

And the nice part is that we have a huge old pile of chicken manure and shavings composting for our spring garden!!! Black gold, you know.

We shared this batch with friends, family and of course, ourselves! And it is such good chicken, hard to explain, but it’s moist and tender, and just favorful. Jessy was the only one that was a little weird the first bird or two about eating it… but now, she’s sold. In fact, we made one for dinner tonight and she must have asked me at least three times when it would be done because it fills the house with the best smell! She likes the idea that we are not eating factory chickens anymore, because that is just a very very nasty route for these birds to go. And that we raised them ourselves and took good care of them. She likes that. I do too.

One of these birds will give us 3 meals, chicken stock and a bowl of pet scraps. Of course, no bones. Those are for stock! We usually roast the whole chicken, and have a nice meal of sliced roasted chicken and it is delishous and easy. Just a few spices, a little garlic, maybe a drizzle of butter and honey and in the oven for a good hour and a half at about 350 degrees. I usually tent it with a piece of foil, but I think I’m going to be looking for a nice little covered roaster from Santa!!!

After dinner, I cut up the remainder chicken for casseroles and rice dish stir ins. Sometimes I make a little chicken salad with it. Always a hit. Chicken pot pie is a favorite as well around here. I like that we can usually make two more meals from that bird. Our 2nd and 3rd meal are light on meat, but I think that is good. We’re certainly not vegetarians, but we do have several days a week that are very light on meat or even meatless. We’ll have a couple meals that are more traditional meat meals for dinner, but then lunch and breakfast will be meatless. It’s just very expensive, meat is, and I think we American consume just a wee bit too much of the stuff. Just saying…

And our little bowl of pet scraps, well, that makes for VERY happy doggies and kitties for sure. We use it to mix in with dry food and for training treats. Needless to say, Ratchet and Evee are very excited when they smell a chicken roasting… they know that the next couple days are going to be doggie-heaven!

Well, that is the final tally for the whole adventure.. our first adventure in raising our own meat! When you combine it with our eggs and of course the entertainment value of Chicken TV, I have to say, chickens are one of the best and easiest of the farm livestock to get involved in. We love our chickens! We have about 50 birds now, and to be honest, I’d have even more, if Jessy would let me! Haha… she doesn’t mind too much as long as that number of free range birds does not go up. I promised her, the 21 free range birds is all we will have. Anything else will have to be in a penned coop. And that’s okay. Too many birds does add to a sort of confusion and of course, too much free range pooping all over! Haha… we want that black gold hen manure for the garden! Not the front porch, cars and lawn!!! Come spring, we hope to have the poultry barn, actually ready to be a poultry barn!!! Why not? Our friends and family will love us for it… fresh eggs and chicken, who can complain???

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