How To Raise Cornish Cross: Chicken Tractor vs Open Pasture

If you want to raise meat chickens, cornish cross are some of the most common and easy to raise. And raising chickens for meat is a great way to combat food shortages and a must have on homesteads. But what is the best way to raise chickens for meat? A Joel Salatin Style chicken tractor? Open pasture? Whatever system you choose, always make sure it allows for movement when raising meat chickens. Cornish Cross are typically thought not to be great foragers, but in my experience, they do just fine and can make great backyard chickens as well a popular choice for homesteads and farms.

In this video we explore both chicken tractors and raising meat chickens on open pasture and watch as I move a group to a new pasture spot to build biomass and regenerate pasture. This a a great system for homesteads to create food security in a world where food shortages are starting to make news headlines.

The design for this chicken tractor is in Joel Salatin's book "Polyface Designs" which you can buy here:
https://amzn.to/3JhVkA8

What I Use On My Farm:
Chicken 5 Gallon Waterer - https://amzn.to/3K4Tp1P
Chicken 3 Gallon Waterer - https://amzn.to/3Hy7gMw
Chick Mason Jar Waterer - https://amzn.to/33ViEnE
Chick Feeder - https://amzn.to/3IxORAz
Brooder Lamps - https://amzn.to/3Io2OB0
Brooder Bulbs - https://amzn.to/3Is4wl5
PremierOne Poultry Fencing - https://amzn.to/3BYu9Ht
PremierOne Fence Energizer - https://amzn.to/3pnqQVb

PROCESSING EQUIPMENT:

Cones
Single Cones - https://amzn.to/3vCbwGT
Group of 4 - https://amzn.to/3EedVv8
Cone Stand with 8 Cones - https://www.feathermanequipment.com/s...

Scalder
For small scale use a turkey fryer and thermometer - https://amzn.to/37bO37f
Larger homesteads and farms - https://www.feathermanequipment.com/s...

Chicken Pluckers
To pluck just a few chickens use a drill attachment - https://amzn.to/3JB1XwI
For small homesteads - https://amzn.to/3uHdwy9
For large homesteads and farms - https://www.feathermanequipment.com/s...

Knives
Boning Knife - https://amzn.to/3OfIdCu
Breaking Knife used for everseration and parting out - https://amzn.to/3OegCl2
Electric Bone Scissors - https://amzn.to/3JUNoo1

Meat Grinders
For small homesteading - https://amzn.to/36cB2tl
For large homesteading and farms - https://amzn.to/3EeSOIX

Chill Tank
For large homesteading and farms - https://www.feathermanequipment.com/s...
For small homesteads, you can use coolers. A 100 quart cooler can chill 16 birds.