Here are my numbers and notes for Cornish Cross meat chickens, 2026. This is my second year raising them and I tracked all costs. See pictures for a breakdown. Ask me anything.
Two years ago I went through the process of registering my property as a farm and qualified via the USDA for a 30x50 High Tunnel through NCRS. This is our 2nd year, first full growing season using it. We have even begun to sell garden plant starts and vegetables.
I bought my poults (3) from the local Farm store on 3-31-26 and brooded in my garage. Then, once age and temperature permitted they were moved to a John Suskovitch chicken tractor and surrounded with a Premier-One electric fence. I gave them new grass four times to spread out fertilizer. When I started brooding I scheduled processing at 14 weeks on 7-23-26.
Thoughts- It wasn’t cheaper, but the quality of life and meat is there. Turkeys are easy compared to Cornish cross chickens. We really enjoyed raising them.
Total cost for 3 birds= $221.61 Total cost per pound= $4.10 lb Math on picture #2
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