Eliminating dependence on commercial stock feeds

[Aeon]

Hi Gary & members
I have recently been looking for slow growing broilers ( meat chickens) I can raise organically and provide them with as much home grown food as possible. The problem however is that as far as I can tell, unlike the States where they have cool breeds like the 'freedom Rangers' - broilers who grow out slowly, with reduced rates of broken legs & heart failure, and natural behaviors like foraging and flying-
our 'organic' breeders simply buy day old commercial chicks and put them outside but they still grow out in about 6 weeks ready to eat.
It looks as though I may have to raise such chicks myself if I cant find any slow growing broilers but can I keep up with their incredible appetites with things like BSFL, grass, quail eggs and the like? I would love to get off my 'addiction' to stock feed which really increases the cost of raising ones own meat. I'd love to hear what you all think about this issue and how I might introduce broiler raising into a microponic system which includes layers, fish, quail, muscovies, & plenty of fruit & vegies.
Cheers,
Aeon

[kellenw]

Aeon,

A good production strain of White Wyandottes would fit well with your plan. Look into "pastured poultry" for a way to cut down or even eliminate the need for commercial feed products in your operation.

Slow grown chicken is WAY better tasting in my opinion.

[GaryD]

Hi Aeon,

Great to hear from you again.

I've been kicking the same questions around in my conversation with Jason.......here. You might find some of that helpful.

Gary