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New Roos for the Stew Pot

post #1 of 7
4/20/12 at 9:53pm
Thread Starter 

I've got four young layer roos (hatched out in March).  Do I butcher them at 8 weeks like my meat birds? 

Regard it as just as desirable to build a chicken house as to build a cathedral.
Frank Lloyd Wright
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Regard it as just as desirable to build a chicken house as to build a cathedral.
Frank Lloyd Wright
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post #2 of 7
4/21/12 at 9:59am

Hmmmm...didn't know Roos were layers.

 

Send them to freezer camp when they are big enough to suite your needs.  Freezer camp roos are feed burners.  At 8 weeks most layer breed roos won't be very big.

http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=39612-bio-bators
http://www.eggzy.net/
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http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=39612-bio-bators
http://www.eggzy.net/
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post #3 of 7
4/21/12 at 10:05am

At 8 weeks, they will be really small.  Maybe at 12 weeks.  Probably longer than that.

Exhibition quality Blue Swedish Ducks and Gray Saddleback Pomeranian Geese,   Hatching eggs available in late winter and spring. NPIP

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Exhibition quality Blue Swedish Ducks and Gray Saddleback Pomeranian Geese,   Hatching eggs available in late winter and spring. NPIP

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post #4 of 7
4/21/12 at 10:20am

Most dual purpose are ready around 18-20 weeeks. It just depends on how long you want to feed them and put up with them.

Rachel BB
 

Well, the kittens aren't so cute anymore and the easter egger cockerels are in the freezer. Plus, I think offering them as "prizes" scared folks off! So, I'm still posting quotes, if you know it let me know. I'm very enamored of this new one, it may hang around for a while!

 

"If I'd known the world was ending I'd have brought better books"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Rachel BB
 

Well, the kittens aren't so cute anymore and the easter egger cockerels are in the freezer. Plus, I think offering them as "prizes" scared folks off! So, I'm still posting quotes, if you know it let me know. I'm very enamored of this new one, it may hang around for a while!

 

"If I'd known the world was ending I'd have brought better books"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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post #5 of 7
4/21/12 at 2:27pm
Thread Starter 

"Hmmmm...didn't know Roos were layers."
LOL!  

I think of my birds as either layers or meat birds.  The roosters are from eggs hatched from my layers ( I have a layer roo- i.e. a large Production Red rooster for my layers) and a meat roo (i.e. a Ranger rooster for the meat hens).  So I didn't mean the roosters would lay- I just meant they were extra roosters from my layer flock and not my meat flock.  Since I am culling roosters that are NOT meat birds but from layer stock my question was:  when should I butcher these guys since they don't develop as fast as meat birds?

Anyways- Thanks donrae for the answer.  Really, 18 weeks is too long to feed them- I think I'll just butcher at 12 weeks and not have a lot of meat.

Regard it as just as desirable to build a chicken house as to build a cathedral.
Frank Lloyd Wright
Reply
Regard it as just as desirable to build a chicken house as to build a cathedral.
Frank Lloyd Wright
Reply
post #6 of 7
4/21/12 at 3:04pm

I am interested in this as well .. I have purchased some breeds that are known to go broody and I want to let nature take its course and eat the roos ..... so I am interested in the responses of those who do this ... thanks for posting!

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. - Hebrews 4:12

 

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/631433/hey-gang-whatcha-think-of-my-plans-and-rooster-issue

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For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. - Hebrews 4:12

 

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/631433/hey-gang-whatcha-think-of-my-plans-and-rooster-issue

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post #7 of 7
4/21/12 at 8:55pm

Consider caponizing when they are 24 ounces.  Delicious later.

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