11 week males - trying to mate females?

[Ridgerunner]

Sure! I’m not sure if a cockerel at less than 16 weeks needs special cooking to be edible. We expect to cull no later than June 22, possibly sooner. Therefore not older than 16 weeks I think.

If you are used to store bought chicken and plan to fry or grill him you nay find the meat kind of tough or maybe even a little strong-flavored. He looks to be maturing early so the hormones will start to have an effect. Some people fry or grill up to 16 weeks and are quite happy with the results. Others have younger cut-off dates. You can certainly try and see how it goes.

But if the results are not great, the way I cook an older cockerel is to cut him into serving pieces, coat those with herbs, and cook him in tightly sealed baking pot at 250 degrees. For one that young 2-1/2 hours is plenty. For older birds I sometimes go 4 hours at 250. Others have their own recipes.

 

[aart]

Some people fry or grill up to 16 weeks and are quite happy with the results.

That's what I do...crispy grilled skim, mmmmmm....then the bones get pressure cooked into a killer stock.

Very important tho is to 'rest' the cleaned carcass in fridge for 48-72 hours until rigor mortis has passed before cooking or freezing, meat will be much more tender...but still 'toothsome' as I like to say. If you've never eaten a layer breed, expect to go thru some acclimation, they are nothing like a grocery bird or even a CX.

But if the results are not great, the way I cook an older cockerel is to cut him into serving pieces, coat those with herbs, and cook him in tightly sealed baking pot at 250 degrees. For one that young 2-1/2 hours is plenty. For older birds I sometimes go 4 hours at 250.

Any liquid added to that pot? Crock pot or oven?

 

[lazy gardener]

I've not had my coffee yet. DBL??????? The only thing I can add to excellent advice already given, is separate those cockerels from the pullets. IMO, grow out pen is crucial.

 

[aart]

I've not had my coffee yet. DBL??????? The only thing I can add to excellent advice already given, is separate those cockerels from the pullets. IMO, grow out pen is crucial.

That threw me too....but...

dark brown leghorn

 

[lazy gardener]

Thank you. Didn't know that was a standard abbreviation, but as you well know... I've been accused of making up my own abbreviations on more than one occasion!!!

 

[aart]

Thank you. Didn't know that was a standard abbreviation, but as you well know... I've been accused of making up my own abbreviations on more than one occasion!!!

Yes, yes you have!!

 

[Acre4Me]

That threw me too....but...

Thank you. Didn't know that was a standard abbreviation, but as you well know... I've been accused of making up my own abbreviations on more than one occasion!!!

LOL! I had fairly strict teachers for English and writing and did define my abbreviation (as taught), but in a sort of lazy way....I didn't state the full name immediately followed by the abbreviation in parenthesis ...I put it in the next sentence. So, you really can make up any abbreviation you want lazy gardener, just define it the first time you mention it, and then you can use it throughout your writing as the abbreviation only. Of course, things are a bit more relaxed on a forum....

 

[Acre4Me]

That's what I do...crispy grilled skim, mmmmmm....then the bones get pressure cooked into a killer stock.

Very important tho is to 'rest' the cleaned carcass in fridge for 48-72 hours until rigor mortis has passed before cooking or freezing, meat will be much more tender...but still 'toothsome' as I like to say. If you've never eaten a layer breed, expect to go thru some acclimation, they are nothing like a grocery bird or even a CX.


Any liquid added to that pot? Crock pot or oven?

Love crispy grilled skin!!! I need to buy a pressure cooker....haven't taken the plunge yet.

 

[lazy gardener]

LOL! I had fairly strict teachers for English and writing and did define my abbreviation (as taught), but in a sort of lazy way....I didn't state the full name immediately followed by the abbreviation in parenthesis ...I put it in the next sentence. So, you really can make up any abbreviation you want lazy gardener, just define it the first time you mention it, and then you can use it throughout your writing as the abbreviation only. Of course, things are a bit more relaxed on a forum....

Yeah, I did that and got smacked for doing so on numerous occasions!

 

[Acre4Me]

Yeah, I did that and got smacked for doing so on numerous occasions!

LOL! Thats too bad! It is standard practice in writing if wanting to use an acronym. Lets say for example I was on BYC and wanted to talk about two groups of chickens ...one in area A, another in area B. So I use "Chickens in Area A" (CIA) and then Area B (CIB)...obviously not talking about the Central Intelligence Agency of the US (CIA as it is normally used). Again, it is a forum....not like someone is writing a published formal paper where using a common acronym (like CIA) for something totally unrelated might get some expected negative attention...geez!