In addition to the possibility that Lulu might hatch a chick or two right around the end of the month, we’re also getting ready for the 50 red broiler chicks arriving on August 7 or 8. Because of course we don’t have enough to do around here.

We’re splitting the chickens three ways with two other couples. We’ll do the raising and donate the space and labor. We’ll all share the costs of chicks, feed, straw, etc. Mike and I will likely bear the cost of any additional fencing we need for the run since we can reuse it later. Plus we’ve got enough lying around that we’ll likely only have to buy a few fence to put it up. Everyone has agreed to help butcher when it’s time. We’ll have ourselves a nice big head chopping party around here.

The plan is to put them into one of the box stalls in the barn. The stalls are 10′x10′ with dutch doors to the outside. We’ll keep them inside under lights until 4 weeks. By then we should have up a run that’s 10′x20′ or so (need to figure out how much fence we have) and open the doors to let them outside. They’ll be “free range” as defined by the USDA, if not actually pastured.

I’ve decided to go this route for a couple of reasons.

1. Broilers aren’t that interested in grazing anyway. There are tricks to make them more enthusiastic but generally they’re happy to eat whatever you give them. They’ll get plenty of weeds, grass and bugs to supplement their organic grower mash.

2. We’ve got a coyote problem and at least this year I’d rather not worry about them out on pasture, we’ve got enough else going on.

3. This is a modification of how we raised broilers/fryers when I was a kid and it’s a method I’m comfortable with for this first try. We might change it the next go around.

Why red broilers you ask? Well mostly because they look more like chickens and not freakish industrial meat blobs. Also because they grow a bit slower (11 to 12 weeks versus 8 to 9) and so are less prone to leg issues and dropping dead for no reason.

Since we already own a couple of heat lamps and chick feeders / waterers it should be easy to get set up for their arrival. My biggest worry now is whether I’ll remember exactly how to gut a chicken. Good thing my folks are coming to visit in late September. My mom has promised that we can practice on Felix the extra rooster. Of course we’ll need help from my dad and Mike as well since I’ve never mastered the hatchet maneuver (and I don’t mom has either?). Anyone else have any roosters they want to dispatch?