| The decision to raise your own chickens for their meat | | | | home grown chicken meat. |
| is one that many more people are making. By raising | | | | HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?: How long it'll take to |
| your own meat you will control what your chickens | | | | raise chicks to butcher depends on what type of |
| eat. If you are choosing to feed your family only free | | | | chicks you choose to purchase. You can purchase |
| range chickens, then you can insure your chickens are | | | | fast growing chicks from online hatcheries which will |
| free range. | | | | be ready to butcher in about 15-16 weeks or so. This is |
| COST OF RAISING CHICKENS FOR MEAT: You will | | | | a very fast turn around time. If you choose to raise a |
| be surprised to learn you probably won't save much | | | | standard breed like New Hampshire's or Rhode Island |
| money growing your own chickens for meat unless | | | | Reds then it may take a little longer until they are |
| you plan on raising a large number of chickens and | | | | ready to be butchered. |
| filling up your freezer. | | | | If you are concerned about the treatment chickens |
| ARE ALL CHICKEN MEATS THE SAME?: Meat you | | | | may be in commercial farms while they are being |
| raise yourself may not taste exactly like the chicken | | | | raised for meat then you may wish to raise your own |
| you buy at your local grocery store. Most people think | | | | chicks for meat. This isn't a decision for everyone. |
| the fresh meat you raise yourself actually tastes | | | | Butchering can be hard, especially if you form a close |
| better, while other people think the taste takes some | | | | bond to the chickens. If you are unsure if you will be |
| getting used to. Some people can not tell the | | | | able to handle the butchering, then you can probably |
| difference between the store bought chicken and | | | | hire someone to do it for you. |