Growing chickens for meat is different than raising them for eggs.
And you’ll be surprised to know that the growing method also hugely differs.
But, both are great choices for self-sustenance and that’s why I started it a few years back.
In my homestead, I have two separate coops for the egg-laying hens and meat chickens.
You can also raise them for selling and start earning a sustainable amount after a few months.
So, if you’re interested to grow a new breed of chickens for delicious meat, here’s everything you need to know!
From the best meat chicken breeds to the growing techniques, you’ll find every detail in this post.
So, are you already excited?
Why Raise Chickens For Meat?
Raising chickens for meat is beneficial in multiple ways for homesteaders.
It ensures a great source of animal protein to the family that’s healthy and safe. Unlike the ones you purchase from the supermarket, homestead chicken meat doesn’t contain harmful chemicals.
If you’ve been planning to switch to an organic lifestyle and you’re a non-vegetarian, raising chickens is a great idea. Also, chickens are quite low maintenance if you compare them with other pets like dogs or cats. The process will be cost-effective and you’ll be rewarded with delicious meat.
Thirdly, chickens are quite easygoing, and raising them in the backyard won’t be difficult at all. All they need is a little pampering with nutritious food and water to stay active all day long.
So, overall, raising chickens will be perfect if you are looking forward to sustenance.
What Breed Of Chicken Is Best For Meat?
Though you can raise any breed of chicken for meat, some provide better flavor and more flesh than others.
And so, it’s really important to consider the chicken breed. Worry not as here are some chicken breeds that you can raise for meat.
Cornish Cross
It’s the most popular meat chicken bread available in grocery stores. Cornish Cross gets ready for harvest within 16 weeks and weighs about 8-12 pounds. However, caring for this breed is a little challenging.
Bresse
Breese is also a well-known meat chicken breed as it’s quite tasty. This breed gets ready for harvest within 20 weeks and weighs around 6-7 pounds. However, Bresse chickens are more expensive than other breeds.
Cornish Roaster
This iconic meat chicken breed provides large breast and thigh pieces. Though it’s hefty, the harvest time of Cornish Roaster is more than Cornish Cross. And the jumbo-sized chickens may suffer from leg problems.
Orpington
Unlike the broiler chicken breeds, Orpington is a dual-purpose pet as you can also raise it for eggs. The harvest time of an Orpington chicken is 18-24 weeks and it can weigh up to 10 pounds when fully grown.
White Jersey Giant
Just like Orpington, White Jersey Giant is also a dual purpose-breed. But, it’s more popular for the premium quality meat than the eggs. You can raise this breed for meat but need to wait for the complete growth.
Buckeye
If you’re looking for a chicken breed to raise in winter, Buckeye will be a perfect choice. Apart from producing good meat, this breed is also known for its disease resistance. You can harvest the breed within 20 weeks.
Cornish Game Hen
Though this breed isn’t that popular among meat lovers, you can raise it if you’re fond of fine fiber and tender meat. Cornish Game Hen belongs to the Cornish family, which ensures its meat quality and friendliness.
What Is The Difference Between Meat Chickens And Egg Laying Chickens?
Meat chickens or broiler chickens are usually quite larger than egg-laying ones.
Meat chickens contain a good amount of muscle, which is the main source of meat. Also, broiler chickens usually grow faster than egg-laying chickens.
Broiler or meat hens lay eggs but in a smaller amount than egg-laying chickens. That’s why homesteaders specifically choose these breeds to raise them for meat.
On the other hand, those who prefer to raise chickens for eggs generally avoid these breeds.
How Long Does It Take To Raise Chickens For Meat?
It depends on the breed mostly.
Some breeds grow really fast and mature within 8-12 weeks. Others may need more than 16 weeks to mature and get ready for harvest.
So, if you want to raise a breed that grows faster, you need to know its growing time.
Or else, you have to wait for a certain period of time until the bird matures.
Do Meat Chickens Need A Coop?
As a caring homesteader, you need to avoid keeping your meat birds and the egg hens together.
That’s because there’s a high chance of hybrid eggs that’ll be poor in quality. Also, if the natures of these two breeds are different, there’s a high chance of trampling.
While the egg hens need a proper coop to roost at night, meat chickens need a different kind of shelter.
Here are a few options that you can choose from.
Brooding Space
Chickens love to stay warm and cozy without being overcrowded in their brooding space. And the brooding space each chicken might need is at least 5-7 square inches. During the cold season, they need well-insulated brooding space.
Moveable Chicken Pens
Today, there are so many movable chicken pens available that you can consider for your cheeks. These are also called chicken tractors or movable chicken coops. These portable coops are quite easy to move at night or in harsh weather.
How Many Chickens Should I Raise For Meat?
To start with, you can raise 5 broiler chickens for meat.
Then, you can increase the number to 20-30. This way, you’ll be able to relish 1-2 chickens every month.
I’m presently growing 25 chickens along with fish, pork and beef. That’s why we can’t eat more than 2 chickens per month.
You can increase the number if you want.
7 Tips For Raising Chickens For Meat
Every homesteader needs useful tips to make their gardening successful.
And when it comes to growing chickens for meat, the 7 tips below are going to really help you.
1. Choose Breeds Wisely
I’ve already mentioned some of the top meat chicken breeds that you can consider for raising in the backyard. From the list, you can choose the one that caters to your needs.
2. Keep Chickens Warm
Chicken need proper shelter and warmth but you can’t keep them along with the egg-laying breeds. That’s why it’s really important to provide shelter and tools like heat lamps.
3. Measure the Food
It’s true that broiler chickens tend to eat more than egg-laying breeds. But, it’s not a good practice to overfeed them. So, always measure their food for the day and week.
4. Provide Enough Water
Though my flock is quite forgetful when it comes to drinking water, I always make sure that the tank is full. Summer is the most crucial time when the birds tend to get dehydrated.
5. Keep Birds Clean
Though letting chickens free rangers is the best way to keep them active, you also need to consider cleaning them. And also make sure that their coops are clean all the time.
6. Mark the Harvest Day
Once you’ll start raising a particular breed for meat, you’ll gradually be able to evaluate the harvest day. But, to make things organized, it’s better to mark the day in your calendar.
7. Avoid Attachment
The worst part of growing chickens for meat is that most breeds are friendly and nice. That’s why you need to avoid attachment only with the broiler breeds at the foremost.
What Do You Feed Meat Chickens?
Some great food options for broiler chickens are soybean meals and canola meals.
You can also make a mix of protein supplements with a variety of grains. You can also feed your chickens fruits and vegetables to provide a balanced diet.
Broiler chickens are omnivorous and they can feed on anything they peck at. But, you need to make sure that they eat healthy so that you get nutritious animal protein from the meat.
And the food needs to be packed with protein so that the breed grows faster.
How Much Do Meat Chickens Eat Per Day?
Well, fully grown chickens may eat about 1.5 pounds of food every week initially.
Then, their food intake may increase up to 3-4 pounds per week.
This is the standard figure which can vary slightly depending on the breed you choose.
Is It Cheaper To Butcher Your Own Chicken?
Yes, it’s always cheaper to butcher your own chicken.
You’ll be able to save at least a few dollars by doing so.
But, you need to know the right technique to do it humanely.
How Do You Process Chickens At Home?
Processing chickens isn’t as difficult as it seems at the beginning. All you need is a good set of butcher tools. To make the task easier for you, here are some of my suggestions.
Rubber Vinyl Apron
This is a pack of two waterproof aprons that’ll ensure a clean slaughter. You can adjust the apron with the neck strap. The apron is quite sturdy and reusable.
Poultry Shears Scissors
To clean your chicken with ease, you need this sharp tool that features a 3-mode design. The lock mode ensures a perfect cutting of the meat every single time.
Tihood Meat Boning Hooks
If you want to remove the blood of the chicken after slaughter, you can hang it with these meat boning hooks. The manufacturing brand ensures fine quality.
Yardbird Chicken Plucker
Chicken plucker is an amazing tool that lets you de-feather chicken easily. The device comes with spinning motors to ensure the best scalding process.
Utopia Kitchen Cleaver Knife
To slice chicken nicely, all you need is a good quality butcher knife. If you’re looking for one, you can check this stainless steel made one out from Utopia Kitchen.
How Do You Clean Chicken After Slaughter?
After slaughter, you need to rinse the chicken well using normal or lukewarm water.
Then, you need to cut the feet off and separate the breast from the legs with a butcher knife.
Finally, you can wrap the excess meat with a plastic sheet and place it into the refrigerator.
What Do You Do With Chicken Feathers After Slaughter?
Well, there is a variety of items that can be made using poultry feathers.
Starting from diapers to pillow covers, upholstery padding, and insulation, so many options are there.
But, if you don’t want to recycle the feature, it’s better to throw it to the bin.
Is It Profitable To Raise Chickens For Meat?
Yes, if you only consider self-sustenance, raising chickens for meat is a profitable option.
And if you plan to sell, you’ll definitely make a good business out of it. And the best part of this business is that you can almost double your money and control your losses.
Conclusion
So, is growing chickens for meat an excellent idea?
Yes, it is! But, there are certain methods that’ll help you to get the best results.
I hope the above tips and suggestions will work for you just the way they’ve worked for me.
Below is a Pinterest friendly photo…. so you can pin it to your Homestead Lifestyle Board!!
