2 Questions

[man-alive]

Well I was considering getting an order of DP chickens not to long from now (Straight Run), and was just wondering...

A) The earliest I could butcher say a Buff Orp.
B) Would I have to deal with my roosters fighting before they got old enough to butcher...

 

[BirchHatchery]

A 4-5 months all the dual propose breeds i have raised have been tougher than leather to eat

B no they wont fight they make a pecking order but if raised from chicks-butcher time they be fine i use to raise large numbers of roosters in barns untile we butcherd them 30-40 at a time

 

[galanie]

I've done an Orp at 11 months, rested it in the fridge for three days, slow cooked it, and it was a bit chewy but not tough by any means. Same with a 6 month old polish roo. Guess it depends on how you handle it after butchering.

 

[peteyfoozer]

We butchered (2) 5-month old Buff roos and they made the best fried chicken dinner I ever had!

 

[PatS]

I've roasted a year-and-a-half old Buff Orp roo in the oven at 325, like a turkey. Rested him a few days in the frig before. Put some broth in the bottom of the roaster. He didn't seem tough at all. We have routinely eaten them at 4-6 months and they were wonderful.

Our roos usually start crowing pretty aggressively and getting testy with each other about the 5-6 month age range, which is when we do the deed.

 

[man-alive]

Thank you all for your replies. I mainly wanted to know about the roos fighting before butcher time. That being said I also wanted to know if you guys looked down upon eating a chicken earlier than is the suggested grow time for DP breeds, not that I want to eat it right out of the shell mind you, but would a week or two make a difference

 

[EggsForIHOP]

Quote:
We have had several "straight runs" of chicks where the roos all grew up together and besides minor sparing between them we never had any issues...as far as when to process...just as long as you realize younger means smaller you won't be disappointed. Wait until they get cornish game hen sized and that's what you will have - less meat, but also less time and effort...let 'em go a little longer and of course you'll get more...or pick the biggest one or 2 at a time and process them slowly on demand and you won't have to take up a much freezer space...it's all just what you make of it really

 

[mstricer]

Quote:
Any earlier then 6 months (and even then) there won't be that much meat on them. They grow frame first then pack on pounds. The only DP that I liked was a Marans roo.