Chronicles of Raising Meat Birds - Modern Broilers, Heritage and Hybrids

[RUNuts]

You are free ranging. That is a good thing. Healthy birds that look good. Exercise will slow the weight gain. Tastes better too.

 

[Parront]

Thanks. In general, what is the weight difference between live weight and dressed? (I haven't tried CX before, hence the stupid questions---sorry.)

I would say, 5 to 6 pounds live would be 3.5 to 4 dressed. Nice fryer/broiler size to me.

 

[Parront]

Thanks. In general, what is the weight difference between live weight and dressed? (I haven't tried CX before, hence the stupid questions---sorry.)

No question is a stupid one, except the one that is never asked!

 

[BantyChooks]

I would say, 5 to 6 pounds live would be 3.5 to 4 dressed. Nice fryer/broiler size to me.

Thanks! I might give them another week, then. I'm pretty impressed. They eat less than I thought they would and they're fatter yet more mobile than I imagined they'd be on free range.

 

[BantyChooks]

You are free ranging. That is a good thing. Healthy birds that look good. Exercise will slow the weight gain. Tastes better too.

They've started sitting down to rest more in the last week, but they're still fully mobile and even roosting.

 

[Parront]

Thanks! I might give them another week, then. I'm pretty impressed. They eat less than I thought they would and they're fatter yet more mobile than I imagined they'd be on free range.

In the 80's is the last time I raised them, but mine were fine until ~12 weeks, they sat down and would not move. I wanted to keep some, but those were the 10 pounds dressed heavy roasters. They got weak hocks, just could not walk. Large joints, swollen looking. That was the longest I ever kept them. After that 8-10 weeks & done. YUM.

 

[BantyChooks]

In the 80's is the last time I raised them, but mine were fine until ~12 weeks, they sat down and would not move. I wanted to keep some, but those were the 10 pounds dressed heavy roasters. They got weak hocks, just could not walk. Large joints, swollen looking. That was the longest I ever kept them. After that 8-10 weeks & done. YUM.

I'm looking forward to processing some birds with actual chest cavity space for once. I'm used to skinny little layer types that scrape my hands when I reach in past the pubic bones. I did some CX with a friend last year—an all around easier experience. Maybe I'll be able to do them all in a day rather than stretching it out over multiple weekends.

 

[Parront]

I would get them again, now that I can have chickens again, except that some say they are not hardy at my altitude. So, I am studying up on the Red Broilers.

 

[Parront]

I'm looking forward to processing some birds with actual chest cavity space for once. I'm used to skinny little layer types that scrape my hands when I reach in past the pubic bones. I did some CX with a friend last year—an all around easier experience. Maybe I'll be able to do them all in a day rather than stretching it out over multiple weekends.

Easier to pluck, too. Watch the pin feathers, you want to do them before they start to grow adult feathers for easier plucking time. Rjohns is an expert, at dressing birds. I have done 15 in one day, and now I would do less! (Too old for that now)!

 

[BantyChooks]

Easier to pluck, too. Watch the pin feathers, you want to do them before they start to grow adult feathers for easier plucking time. Rjohns is an expert, at dressing birds. I have done 15 in one day, and now I would do less! (Too old for that now)!

I skin all my birds. I tried plucking—even when they're scalded, they're a PAIN. I don't roast them anyway, so there's no point, for my uses.