Mob 3 Recap

I'm hoping to get together a more detailed butchering post on the how's and what's of the process, but suffice it to say, the deed is done and the chickens are happily (?) ensconced in our freezer now.  Butchering did not go as smoothly as in the past - we struggled with keeping the scalding unit lit and up to temperature, and several chickens had ascites or "water belly."  Water belly was a new experience for us, and I chalk it up largely to the Cornish Cross's genetics, fast growth, and high feed consumption.  We ended up discarding five birds because of this issue which was a bit discouraging but overall a good learning experience.

So here are the final numbers:

• 40 birds ordered, 42 received
• 5 birds died prior to butchering for a mortality rate of 12%
• 5 birds discarded due to ascites for a total loss rate of 10 birds or 24%
• average weight of the birds was 4.6 pounds (4.6!!!!)
• smallest bird was just under 4 pounds
• largest bird weighed in at a just over 6 pounds, our largest bird ever!
• total cost to raise this flock was $292.45 so after splitting costs and birds with another family, our out of pocket was $146.23
• total cost per pound was $1.86 which is just a smidgen over Mob 2's astounding $1.81

My overall feeling with this mob is we had a completely normal experience with fairly normal loss rates  for this breed.  Even though fewer birds went into the freezer this time, they were heftier birds with a higher average weight so that lowered our cost per pound.  We're pretty pleased with $1.86 per pound, especially after seeing a local grocery store advertise conventionally grown cut up fryers (not organic) for $1.69/pound.  

Our plans for Mob 4 this fall?  We're seriously considering trying the Heritage White meat birds which hail from Plymouth Rock stock.  They're a supposedly hardy, nine week bird, well adapted to outdoor living and foraging with good feed conversion.  It would be fun to try something new and after our water belly and heart attack experience, we're more tempted to broaden our horizons.