2019 Chicken Totals

We just spent form 8:30-12:30 getting 29 chickens in the freezer.  We did a laying hen as well and there was one meat bird that got harvested early.  These are 8 weeks, 3 days old so slightly younger than last year, but overall they were just smaller for some reason.  We ordered all males, but had at least 4 females in the group and they were small.  Two adults, a 16 year old hatchet man, a 14 year old, 11 year old and 7 year old who all assisted him, and 9 and 10 year old girls who helped with legs, oil glands and even did a bunch of eviscerating!  Everything totally done in about 5 hours, including all clean up and lunch :)

Total meat for all 30 birds was 158 pounds exactly.  The early harvest was only 2 lbs, 1 oz, so brings average down, but overall we averaged just over 5 pounds each.  We also harvested all the feet, 3 lb, 5 oz of liver, 1 lb, 3 oz of hearts and 3 lb, 8 oz of gizzards for a total of 8 pounds of offal. 

Total feed costs (1 bag starter, 3 of grower, 4 of finisher plus most of a bag left from last year): $226.15
Total chick costs $54.00

Total expense: $280.15
Total meat: 158 pounds

$/pound: $1.77
$/pound (including offal):$1.68  

(does not include feet)

Pork Break Down 2019

We, once again, got a whole pig from Ibelings, which was processed at Sorgs.  Here is the breakdown of costs, including a bit of cost increase in processing.


Costs $150 to Ibelings for the hog and $192.20 to Sorgs.  $15 trucking free, $55 butcher fee (up from $40 last year) and $.65 cute and wrap (up from $.50 last year.)  Total cost is $342.20  We had nothing smoked, didn't ask for the fat and just got it as ground pork, not sausage.  No extra charges, although we did get the bladder for a rousing game of Little House.


Side Pork: 18 pounds, 2 oz, 2 packs
Hams: 35 pounds, 4 packs
Neck Bones:  4 pounds, 1 pack
Jowls: 3 pounds, 10 oz, 2 packs
Pork Steak: 6 pounds, 9 oz, 2 packs
Spare Ribs: 5 pounds, 7 oz, 2 packs
Country Ribs: 3 pounds, 1 oz, 2 packs
Hocks: 7 pounds, 12 oz, 2 packs
Ground Pork: 14 pounds
Butt Roast: 8 pounds, 8 oz, 3 packs
Loin Roast: 7 pounds, 2 packs
Another Roast we couldn't read: 7 pounds, 3 oz, 1 pack
Shoulder Roast: 7 pounds, 4 oz, 2 packs
Liver 3 pounds, 3 packs
Ham Steaks: 11 pounds, 6 packs
Pork Chops: 24 pounds, 12 oz,  14 packs

We did the same cuts as last year, so refer to that for cutting instructions.  Roasts to 3 pounds I do remember.

Total meat: 166.25 pounds, which means $2.06/pound.  Last year our total was around $1.50/pound, so pretty big increase overall, but we'll eat it up in no time I'm sure.