I process early when....

[Island Roo]

Finish this sentence: "I process early when...."

I've got some meaties at 7 weeks now. The plan is to take them to 9 weeks but I have one with a purple comb, one with dark skin and very few feathers and one that is breathing heavy. Those three will be processed tomorrow.

This group seem even more like frankenbirds than previous batches from the same hatchery. And they went on pasture earlier.

What is a signal for you to process early?

Can you feel ascites in the abdomen of a live bird?

 

[IAFarmGirl]

I will process early any bird that does not seem to be doing well. I would rather process early than lose them altogether.

 

[Elke Beck]

The bird is:
not doing well
bugging the other birds
aggressive toward people
too loud, particularly crowing

 

[Life is Good!]

When there are too many and they block the gate so I cannot get in to feed them! Silly birds.

When they begin crowing, consistently, loudly, often.

When I cannot physically hold them in my hands - yes, I 'size them up' periodically, more often towards the end.

When they are food aggressive towards another bird, especially consistently. I'll mark the back of the birds who are aggressive with Blu-kote (the antiseptic spray) or who are larger - that way, I can find them again, as they'll go 'first'.

When we run out of feed, again, or when I'm at the feed store 3x/ week!

 

[bigredfeather]

......when they grow faster than I thought they would.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

[jerseyrooster]

When im hungry and want chicken..lol