• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Kiwi Country Girl logo

  • Start Here
    • Our story
    • Family
    • Travel
  • Recipe Index
  • Farm & Garden
    • Farm
    • In the garden
  • DIY & Crafts
  • Shop
  • Free Downloads
    • Freezer Meal Storage Guide
    • Free 1 Week Meal Plan
    • Bread Baking Ebook
  • Join The Kiwi Country Homestead
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • Farm & Garden
  • DIY
  • About us
  • Shop
  • Join The Kiwi Country Homestead
  • Free Downloads
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • Farm & Garden
    • DIY
    • About us
    • Shop
    • Join The Kiwi Country Homestead
    • Free Downloads
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Meat chickens

    Meat chickens

    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.

    IMG_6702

     

    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.

    Blue

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Arvind kumar says

      May 01, 2021 at 11:31 am

      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

      Reply
    2. Rakeshwar Singh says

      September 06, 2020 at 8:46 pm

      Hi.do u sell meat birds 3 to 4 wks old. I am interested in 6 birds.thks.

      Reply
      • Laura says

        September 14, 2020 at 8:27 pm

        Hi there, we don't sorry! I'm not actually sure of where you can buy meat birds either. Laura

        Reply
      • Lynda says

        November 23, 2022 at 9:46 am

        Hi there, i sell Cobb chicks, one day old to 8 weeks - for orders email [email protected].

        Reply
        • Lynda says

          November 23, 2022 at 9:47 am

          Pick up is in Pukekohe.

    3. Sonya Kooiman says

      September 03, 2020 at 4:53 pm

      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

      Reply
      • Laura says

        September 14, 2020 at 8:30 pm

        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

        Reply
    4. Heidi says

      May 19, 2020 at 9:43 pm

      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.

      Reply
      • Laura says

        May 27, 2020 at 9:37 pm

        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

        Reply
      • Lynda says

        November 23, 2022 at 9:50 am

        I sell Cobb chicks up to 8 weeks old - Based in Pukekohe, Email for orders [email protected]

        Reply
    5. Yvonne says

      April 28, 2020 at 11:29 pm

      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

      Reply
      • Laura says

        May 27, 2020 at 9:01 pm

        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.

        Reply
        • Dia says

          June 25, 2020 at 11:16 pm

          Hi. Do u sell the rhode island red chicks by any chance? Keen as to get some .

        • Laura says

          August 16, 2020 at 11:46 am

          Hi Dia, no we don't unfortunately! We have bought fertile eggs in the past from Sunset Croft heritage poultry. Laura

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Laura, a country girl from rural New Zealand sharing all things food, garden and living the simple life!

    More about me →

    Popular Recipes

    • Homemade beef burger with fries in the background
      Homemade Burger Patties (Josh's secret recipe)
    • Close up of scoop of cheesy mince pasta with herbs on top
      Cheesy One Pan Mince Pasta
    • Homemade Burrito Spice Mix (or taco seasoning) - the perfect blend of spices to make your favourite Mexican meal in minutes! Perfect for beef burritos, nachos, chicken strips for tacos, refried beans or anything Mexican! | thekiwicountrygirl.com
      Homemade Burrito Spice Mix (with free printable labels)
    • Overhead of bowl with potato salad, chives and tea towel in background
      Easy Potato Salad Recipe

    Winter Warmers

    • Pan of devilled sausages with mashed potato
      Devilled Sausages
    • Bowl of bacon bone and vegetable soup on table with slice of buttered bread
      Bacon Hock and Vegetable Soup (slow cooker and instant pot)
    • Baked mince and cheese pie with tomato sauce and forks with a slice on a plate
      Mince and Cheese Pie
    • Chocolate self saucing pudding in white dish with bowl served up beside it
      Chocolate Self Saucing Pudding

    Footer

    [instagram-feed num=7 cols=7 showheader=false showbutton=false showfollow=false]
    • Recipe Index
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact me

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As a Mighty Ape Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Brunch Pro on the Brunch Pro Theme