After keeping hens for eggs we realised how important it was for chickens to be free range, whether they were laying eggs or for the table This led us to having a go at raising chickens to eat and now that we've started we will never go back! We've had 2 lots of Cobb chicks which are birds specifically bred to be fast growing table birds.
Here is the week by week process we followed:
Raising Meat Chicks - Day 1
Raising Meat Chicks - Week 1
Raising Meat Chicks - Week 2
Raising Meat Chicks - Week 3
Raising Meat Chicks - Week 4
Raising Meat Chicks - Week 5
Raising Meat Chicks - Week 6
Raising Meat Chicks - Week 7
Raising Meat Chicks - Week 8
Raising Meat Chicks - Week 9
Raising Meat Chicks - Week 10
Raising Meat Chicks - The Business End
We then raised the roosters from the group of Australorp chicks we hatched to eat as we found the Cobb birds to be a bit scary in how fast they grew - it didn't quite seem natural! These roosters took a little longer to grow but we found them to be just as tasty and much more "chicken like" in their behaviour. Plus they are way cuter! We will not go back to the Cobb birds now but plan to keep experimenting with different breeds.
Hi where i can get 20 Cobb chicks birds. I'm interested in raising them at my backyard. Can have contact or address for pickup and the cost.
Thanks
Hi.do u sell meat birds 3 to 4 wks old. I am interested in 6 birds.thks.
Hi there, we don't sorry! I'm not actually sure of where you can buy meat birds either. Laura
Hi there, i sell Cobb chicks, one day old to 8 weeks - for orders email [email protected].
Pick up is in Pukekohe.
Hi we are in nz as well. Keen to get some meet birds. Reading your blog but still not sure what breed to go with.
What meat birds to you now breed/raise. Will have separate egg/pet birds. TIA
Hi Sonya, we now have Rhode Island Red hens that we use for both layers and meat birds. They are our favourites for both, consistent layers and great sized meat birds. We got eggs from Sunset Croft Heritage Poultry and now hatch our own. Laura
Hi, Thanks for the information. Are you able to pass on the names of the breeders you bought the Cobbs and Australops chicks from? Much appreciated.
Hi Heidi! We used to get the Cobbs from a hatchery in Tuakau and we bought fertile Australorp eggs from Sunset Croft Heritage Poultry. Laura
I sell Cobb chicks up to 8 weeks old - Based in Pukekohe, Email for orders [email protected]
Enquiry on who you go throu to get your meat and laying birds and i cant seem to find a hatchery' that will do 25-50 birds
Kind regards Yvonne broughton
Hi Yvonne! We used to get them from a hatchery in Tuakau but we have since stopped getting the Cobb birds as we didn't like them. Now we breed our own Rhode Island Reds for meat.
Hi. Do u sell the rhode island red chicks by any chance? Keen as to get some .
Hi Dia, no we don't unfortunately! We have bought fertile eggs in the past from Sunset Croft heritage poultry. Laura