COST TO RAISE (Freedom Rangers vs. Cornish Cross)

[@rebeccaoliver5306]

Chicken math nerd here. Plugged your numbers into a spreadsheet and here's what I calculated for the costs to raise: Freedoms $2.66/lb and Cornish $2.69/lb. So close. … Great info comparing your costs of this to grocery store and farmers' market prices. Thanks for sharing. BTW - love the whiteboard usage!!

[@SowtheLand]

chicken math nerds UNITE!! 🤓 nice! thanks Rebecca!

[@pegpeg3939]

@@SowtheLand I love the white board too.. really helpful in following along

[@ruthgail]

the cornish cross are a meat bird, however the freedom rangers are more realistic chicken( more good fat and good meat) as Lorraine said in the taste video.

[@dandylion6775]

Thanks for sharing the real price of real food !!! All the best to Penelope, Lorraine and you ...Don't forget Bernice !

[@martyfowler3072]

Thanks for a thorough explanation on the cost of raising chickens 🐓

[@batpherlangkharkrang7976]

Hi..... Jason and Lorraine nice to see your video thank you for sharing your video homestead chicken farmer garden 👋 bye 👋 bye 👋 bye 👋 🐔🐓🐥🎥👍👍👍

[@nickjuly4998]

Love seeing different peoples perspectives on the meat birds. Thanks !

[@lizhaydon2250]

But you are a family of 3 so I'd say your bird size is good. It's good to see your experiment. And your birds were not too fat that it affected their health.

[@WayneWatson1]

Thanks for the breakdown. I agree, raising your own, you know exactly how they were raised. If you know the farmer that raised em, that's fine if you just need a few birds a year or something. Nice job. Be safe, be good, God bless

[@terribowles5085]

Any day you can do chicken math is a good day! Thanks for the cost analysis. It was truly fun and interesting to watch/learn!

[@theJustinRhodesShow]

Great info. What a grand experiment! I knew this took a lot of time, so I appreciate this.

[@shawnfortenberry5941]

Always enjoy watching your channel, keep doing what you’re doing

[@chcnsac]

Thank you for the cost breakdown and the taste test vlog. Plus the tips on where you get them and the feed. Very informative!

[@Isabel_fit]

I love your videos where you crank out the numbers!!! I’m an engineer who wants to run my own homestead so numbers are really my strong suit ☺️ thanks for producing these type of videos!

[@aler5233]

Good morning, my friend, the owner of Laugh beautiful you give hopes how I wished to live in this beautiful countryside

[@zb5797]

This video was one of the best videos on raising chickens and the price point. Would love for you to do more videos like this, as it was highly informative and someways felt interactive as a viewer.

[@erika_is_growing]

Awesome video! It was very informative and along with the taste test, provides the best advice for people considering raising meat birds.

[@patriciamorrisett7565]

Good morning SOW THE LAND Have a blessed day.

[@opalvalentine3330]

I just wanted to drop a simple little thing here and tell you I seen you on the hollar Homestead helping him with his floor I just wanted you to know what a beautiful human being you really are God bless you and your family

[@AlaskaGram]

Love the video! Very helpful! Keep on doing what you're doing, learning a lot from your practices!!!

[@jamesmoore5603]

don't forget to include the pay back of the fertilizing the land...

[@debbieschaffner2581]

Great comparison! Good breakdowns on price! I think the Cornish Cross usually weigh 5-6 because they are given so much grain and are breed for grain consumption. Thanks for sharing!

[@lisawilson8651]

Thank you for sharing your wisdom on this. Being "wordy" is like teaching and we really watch you for the lessons learned from your experience. Blessings to you and the family!

[@SowtheLand]

thanks Lisa

[@margaretbedwell58]

Great break down on the cost....I like the looks of the Freedom Rangers but since I buy chicken at the store only God knows what kind of bird I am getting. My county doesn't allow having chickens for meat or for eggs. Have a Blessed day.

[@4philipp]

Margaret Bedwell don’t ask your county for permission.

[@JerryB507]

I feel your pain, Margaret. I too live in an area that, while they may say they are farm friendly, will not allow chickens on my .20 acre property.

[@majorphoto]

get outta that county!

[@geraldfranz9085]

Good time to move. Why support a county that doesn't support you ? Jus sayin 😎👍

[@Minnesota_Mama_Bear]

Fun to watch the different homesteads doing their own nerdy chicken math. This was a fun experiment to watch. Thank you for sharing!

[@quinnacres7504]

Really helpful for making a decision on meat birds for spring

[@chelemichele1524]

Your cornish cross were beautiful compared to others I've seen.. . Have a wonderful day 🌻🌻🌻

[@40intrek]

The foster farm factory birds often go for 99 cents a pound so Unfortunatly low cost high volume will win the masses. That being said, a lot more of us then even just a few years ago are realizing the benefits of raising our own food, even if it's just a little. Thanks for doing what you do..

[@farmerk0341]

Wow! 99 cents per lb? I can only find that price twice a year if I’m lucky. Usually about a buck fifty. But they aren’t organic. I’ve yet to find foster farms organic chicken.

[@greenfish13]

Raising your own chickens really seems to be an ongoing experiment to see how they react, and that's the fun of raising chickens. I miss having chickens so much.

[@cherylwilliams81]

Nice chicken math! Enjoyed this video!🐓Have a great weekend!💕

[@TimBeverly]

I know that a lot of people that are switching back to the heritage breeds of chickens. But, both have their advantages. See you at the HOA... Great breakdown on cost.

[@susanc8170]

Thanks for all the great info. That’s exactly what I wanted to know about the difference between the two birds. Love your channel!

[@s.b.9543]

I love when people break things down! I appreciate this. This is exactly what I do when I am considering purchasing anything. The long term cost. Well done and thank you.

[@PaulaJoDavis]

Great job Jason! I love Nerdy Chicken Math! LOL! Kevin, at Living Traditions does Nerdy Chicken, Cow and Pig math and I thoroughly enjoy all of it! Blessings from NE Missouri!

[@growwhereyoureplantedhomes9166]

Thanks for this video. I've put this video.on my favorites list for the future. You're Loved more than you know

[@JanColdwater]

Don't forget all the eggs they gave you! Plus, you could add table scraps to add to their feed! Great video! 👏👏👏👍

[@sweetpeashomestead3348]

FREEDOM RANGERS!! Glad your going to be raising them.

[@AlpacaMade]

Not good at math either. I did notice the extra 0.08 came from the extra 4 wks...maybe. I was rooting for Freedom Rangers all season and if Lorraine says they are the better cooking bird for fat, I'm going to take her word for it. For 0.08 I want that fat in my bone broth! No chicken passes through my kitchen without ending up in the slow cooker at the end of it's food cycle. The Shepherd doesn't mind her food soaked in bone broth especially when she had a bad lower GI infection and would only eat plain yogurt, bone broth, baby food turkey and forced apple cider vinegar at the drinking stage. Thank you and Lorraine and your family for spec-ing them for us!

[@joanhummingbird3190]

👍getting supplies for coop and getting ready for next years chickens. All I need is freezer and the nerve to process😌😌😌

[@tonyhussey3610]

Just don’t eat for a couple of days, hunger will motivate you...

[@myenchantedlife5262]

I am a chicken nerd so thanks for the numbers I loved it!

[@TheOldMayfieldPlace]

We have been debating on whether to raise meat chickens (we have layers) and this was very helpful. Thank you.

[@larryweller7948]

Thank you for the detailed explanation on raising your chickens. Very interesting.

[@GreenZebraGardening]

I love the video but not raising chickens in LA. lol. I’m going to vicariously love through you.

[@SidBelcher]

Appreciate you sharing Jason, gives us a heads up to make a decision without so much guessing.

[@PetarMandic]

Great breakdown and thanks for great videos. I want to add that total price per pound regardless of bird type must lower. They all are fertilizing your land. So if you could actualy measure amount of chicken manoure they produce and deduct that ... :) The price would be even lower.

[@SowtheLand]

YES! Another reason to raise your own. thanks for pointing that out!

[@4philipp]

The entertainment value is thru the roof

[@ericflory746]

Oh yeah compost is real!

[@SimplyJanHomestead]

Sounds like the freedom rangers are definitely the way to go! I hate eating dry chicken. Thanks for the comparison! I love nerdy math!

[@droptozro]

Yeah your numbers are less. Best I've found(yet not bought) is about $20/50lb bag of organic feed, otherwise the stores sell 35lb-40lb for $24. It makes it much worse.. I really want to work on finding ways to make my chickens be less dependent on this store feed. We tried to hatch our own this year and the meat is obviously way different than what we're used to from CX birds. Then we decided to keep them for prepping gardens and clean up in the winter on the garden patches. The cost of purchasing birds was more expensive than I thought---this is why I'd rather hatch my own. Thanks for showing this breakdown. It's highly appreciated as we prepare to possibly do more meat birds next year.

[@sarayoung3164]

Thanks for sharing your experience and perspective!

[@blueheronfarm3818]

Great breakdown! I do the Cornish cross. They do go through the food, but being done in 8 weeks and having a years worth of chicken, is great! I did 110, was sent 118, lost 4. Mine were smallish this year (3.5#). I personally couldn’t tell the difference in flavor, so I’ll probably stay with the one that leaves me more time to go fishing! 😁 Also, I harvested at just under 7 weeks.

[@latin95]

Great explanation!! Simple and clear!! Thanks a lot, wish I have space to do chickens :)

[@chickengal1661]

Thank you for the breakdown on the meat chickens!

[@Rosethatwantstomove]

Meyer hatchery has mix of heavies I believe at $.35 each if you buy 100 or more at a time. Butchering time is about the same as freedoms.

[@maryseifert4750]

Totally enjoyed this video...this kind of info is my kind of thing...lol 😁 thanks for sharing 👍👍

[@fridomsnowbird5398]

Hey Jason, great video! You could also buy 10 to 12 extra freedom rangers and keep them past processing and raise them to produce eggs so that you can incubate your own chicks. That way you are more self sufficient. Freedom rangers lay a large brown egg.

[@AlmostHomestead]

Great comparison and very helpful information for when we raise meat birds. I am leaning toward freedom rangers as well. Thanks!

[@homesteadingintheheartland8106]

We are doing meat chickens for first time next yr, and bees. Moved to farm last Aug, did the 2K sq ft garden and got 10 egg layers this yr. It's time everyone get back to basics w the food shortages on the horizon. Thanks for sharing great information as usual, God Bless!

[@yvonne1400]

I have to say this Jason, I follow several who raise meat birds and your chickens always look healthier. Their feathers and all look so nice. Your chickens are well taken care of.

[@yvonne1400]

I think it's because you don't crowd then with so many in 1 tractor.

[@lynnshookburch5522]

I love what you guys are doing!! Keep on doing you💗

[@ronmack1767]

Enjoyed the video Jason. Very interesting information. Y'all take care and God bless

[@BostonRocks76_Carmen]

Thanks for sharing. Whenever I finally get to homestead (in three years if all goes well) I definitely want chickens. So thank you for doing the math for me!

[@joedecook]

Yeah. On organic feed, at 8 weeks, our cornish cross come out to average 5lbs dressed. Are cumulative average, this year, is $1.606/lb. We free feed during daylight, only. We have a conversion rate of 2.4. We start them under and Ohio brooder, on grass, from the beginning. It's a little challenging to keep the drafts down, but has worked for us. Thanks for sharing!

[@Bamaman14k]

Very interesting, so they're just about the same price. I think I would still rather have the broilers though. Thanks for sharing your homestead with us, Jimmy

[@mccormickshiddenhomestead1147]

Berneseeeee!!! Thank you for this. I have never used our birds for meat...eggs only. I am a little afraid to try and butcher by myself...having no experience and not much equipment.

[@TheTinkerersWife]

I appreciate your costing things out. For city dwellers without pasture it would be far too expensive but finding a friend who is able to do this, that would be the way I would go.

[@Jw-no7id]

Coming from someone who is just investigating the possibility I think this is a great video. The only thing that would skew your numbers would be for someone like me that would have to go through the set up costs for raising and processing the birds.

[@MattRandles]

great breakdown, thank you! + i think if you used the 4.2 in the price per pound calculation, it actually makes the freedoms a few cents less than the cornish at 2.62?

[@PaulJWong-yk8uw]

great math. I'm from ontario Canada and did a heavy red broiler (basically a freedom ranger). 13 weeks and similar results. I ended up feeding twice as much! but prices here are a bit lower maybe, but thats canadian. cost to raise 13 week chicken is 8.45, after the butcher fees (can't sell without that in ontario), it's about 13 dollars a chicken... or 3.25 per pound. without butcher fee its about $1.90 per pound. thanks for posting! this was helpful in my own number crunching.

[@luwinfield8818]

Enjoy your channel. I like the Freedom Rangers also.

[@jchny00]

The other point here is the store bought chicken is loaded with salt 2% brine. Its why I prefer to keep our own chickens. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@OMGaNEWBIE]

Hi Jason - Thank you for remembering to state your name at the beginning of the video. Excellent Video - Very informative presentation. Keep up the great work. Say Hi to your lovely family for me.

[@jeannewhitaker1950]

That was some useful information! I’m moving next year and getting chickens. I’d never really considered meat birds but it looks Do-able and makes sense. Thanks!

[@SowtheLand]

very easy to do! you will be surprised. thanks

[@perpetualfarmer8635]

As a Nerd, I thank you sir!

[@mimicolvin3200]

I would love to raise chickens if I had the land to do so. I love your videos and keep doing what you’re doing. I learn a lot from the both of you. Be safe and God bless you and your family.

[@hermitld]

Great discussion Jason, thanks for the info!

[@lucretiawrolstad3997]

Thank you for the chicken math. I'm ready to raise meat chickens now. I have layers...past 10 years and will continue to.

[@claudiareyna4835]

Thanks Jason. This video was very informative. 👍🏼

[@jeannel1065]

Good information. I was surprised at how expensive, $3/each, the chicks were. I like the idea of finding someone to split the chicks with to get a quantity discount. If it is too hard to harvest 60 chickens at one time, it might be nice to raise two or more batches offset by 3 or 4 weeks. You already have the infrastructure to raise two batches at a time. Your freezer space is a limiting factor for keeping birds for yourself. You could sell any excess or can whole chickens. Math nerd AND retired engineer. I just naturally try to find improvements, even if you don’t want or need a better way! Your price per pound is reasonable for the quality you get.

[@jeanettedickey6748]

Glad Penelope is getting healthy food.

[@Bright_iiii_s]

Price is well worth the effort. Good job!

[@CamoCorner2023]

Thank you sooo very much for the breakdown!!!! I'm still trying to convince my husband to raise chickens to begin with! Now I have a price breakdown to show him and how to fix my backyard. There is a 200+ year old Oak tree in the back yard that gives great shade. There are spots in the area that he wanted to till up and throw seed down to get the grass to grow in richer and I may have the solution for it!!! I will probably get the argument about "building" the Chickshaw mini-me, but I'm not worried about that (yet). I am putting together a spreadsheet of the full cost (Premiere 1 fence, Chicshaw, feed, etc). I know to pick my battles, so I am coming into this discussion "armed" and ready!!

[@CamoCorner2023]

forgot to say, husband wants guineas!! (???)

[@windywillowfarmstead898]

Loved the experiment! I am excited to someday do my own chickens in a chicken tractor. You all are an inspiration.

[@francineclave2207]

Thanks for sharing. A lot of good solid information there!

[@evanmurry6173]

Awesome video thank you for all the info. My family and I just moved to Iowa from Oregon and are working/planning on the new set up at the new house. Keep the videos coming 👍🏻

[@deercreekhomesteading9468]

Great video we love to watch you at Deercreek homesteading 😀

[@bazzolaws]

Jason, to compare with store organic price, you also have to consider to the cost to you of consumables plucker hire', ice, heating of water and shrink wrap to be realistic, I agree the thrill of growing and harvesting yourself is the real motivation,

[@carolpourier732]

Well Done Jason!!

[@KyAl2]

Love the math/economics on this. Technically to compare to WholeFoods or Farmer's market prices, the cost of the bag should be included in the prices per chicken.

[@carollove8752]

It’s worth it since you have a farm. If you and Lorraine had a 9-5 job plus the farm it wouldn’t always worth it. Then again to know exactly what you are putting in your body will always be worth it. There’s no price tag on that!

[@ericflory746]

I have Isa Browns and holy moly Cornish and Freedom's eat Way more than mine.

[@debbie2663]

I love the nerdy math videos. 🙏❤️🙏

[@pineyhavenhomestead8947]

I believe I will go with the Freedom Rangers next year when I do meat birds for the first time. I think they are a more natural bird. Thank you so much for sharing. Have a Blessed Week **HUGS & PRAYERS** from Kelly and critters at Piney Haven Homestead.

[@MandyLeeLilac]

Having met Bernice myself, I can attest to the fact that she is living the cosseted life of an egg layer on Jason & Lorraine’s homestead, and she is not part of the meat birds. 😆 I’ve seen several here asking if she would get harvested herself, and she and her fellow egg layers will not be eaten. #waitingonbernicemerch 🐔 Davis went through the 6 whole chickens from your meat sale quickly, as we knew he would 😂, proclaiming it “the most delicious chicken ever.” Loved knowing what he was eating was raised ethically. I’d love to have a chicken tractor or chickshaw built and just go at it... but as we discussed before, it isn’t the right thing for us right now. In the meantime I’ll just keep watching yours and all of the other NC homesteaders here on KZbin 😄

[@elizevanniekerk9944]

Very good analysis and thank you for sharing👍🏻🙏🏼💕

[@BroqueCowgirlHomestead]

I hatched my own Cornish crosses. I am at almost 7 weeks, and have 4 bags of feed in them so far, and one more bag to go. I will be at $4.82 per bird when we butcher.

[@McMurrayHatchery]

Great video. Love the white board comparison. You can definitely let the Cornish Cross go another week or two if you're not having issues with them. And, males will be bigger than females. Love the Rangers, nice pasture birds if you have the time to raise a slower growing bird. :)

[@diannemiller4754]

I'm raising both Cornish cross and big red broiler from Murray McMurray. We are processing our first batch of crosses tomorrow. The second batch is a week old as well as the broilers. I can't wait to discover which I like raising best.

[@bridgescwr6136]

I appreciate you work and time!

[@dianehall5345]

I like the cornish cross however, if you let them go 12 weeks, some will break their legs! They were bred for 8 week meat production. Very good comparison. Nothing like raising your own meat birds!

[@fionamitchell950]

Lovely! Great video, Jason! So interesting, even for a non chicken keeping person like me!!😂

[@CountryViewHomestead]

Good to know! I'll be getting chickens soon so thanks for the info 😊

[@ArthurValencia9438]

Thank you for another informative video. Art in CA