Step By Step Guide

 

Step-by-Step Guide to Raising Meat Chickens

Step 1: Choose Your Breed

Pick fast-growing Cornish Cross for 6–8 week processing, or Freedom Rangers for slower growth (9–11 weeks) and stronger immune systems.

Step 2: Set Up Your Brooder

Keep chicks warm (90–95°F first week), dry, and draft-free. Use a heat plate or lamp, pine shavings, and chick starter feed.

Step 3: Feed for Growth

Use 22–24% protein starter for the first 3 weeks, then move to 18–20% grower feed. Provide clean water at all times.

Step 4: Move to Pasture (Optional)

At 3–4 weeks, move chickens to a mobile tractor with fresh pasture daily. This boosts flavor, reduces smell, and improves health.

Step 5: Rotate and Manage Daily

Rotate pasture daily to avoid disease. Refill water/feed and check for signs of stress, limping, or overheating.

Step 6: Know Your Butchering Window

Cornish Cross: harvest at 6–8 weeks. Freedom Rangers: 9–11 weeks. Look for full breasts, developed legs, and slowed feed intake.

Step 7: Process Humanely

You can process at home or use a USDA processor. Chill quickly after dispatching. Clean, bag, and freeze immediately.


Final Tips

Raise in small batches. Record weights. Test different breeds. And always keep biosecurity and cleanliness in mind!


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