2 Questions

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

 

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.

 

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

 

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.

 

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

 

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.