4lb or more finished carcass bird?

[Newchickenguy]

Can somone tell me what breed of non Cx chicken would fill the requirments of being dressed out at 4lbs and go from chick to processed bird in 16wks. If have experience processing these types of non cx birds could you tell me how long you have done this for. I want to make sure it reproducable.

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

A cornish.

Thats all I can think of thats 4 lbs in 16 weeks.

 

[Oregon Blues]

Reproducable? Not much choice available. The birds that make it to that size in that time frame are all hybrids. The heritage breeds that get that big are slow growers.

 

[1muttsfan]

A good-quality Delaware cockerel can make 4# in 20-22 weeks, they are about the fastest-growing breed apart from hybreds. The hens are also excellent egg layers of large brown eggs.

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

Can somone tell me what breed of non Cx chicken would fill the requirments of being dressed out at 4lbs and go from chick to processed bird in 16wks. If have experience processing these types of non cx birds could you tell me how long you have done this for. I want to make sure it reproducable.

I raised Freedom Rangers this past summer. I started butchering at 9 weeks, taking the 1/4 of the birds (chosing the largest), doing the next 1/4 at 10 weeks (again picking the largest) 1/4 at 11 weeks and the rest at 12 weeks. The pullets averaged around 4 lb processed and the cockrels around 4 1/2 pounds.

 

[syount]

I just raised 25 Freedom Rangers. I processed at 8.5 weeks and averaged just under 4 lbs. I fed 21% protein flock raiser.

 

[milleryardchx]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...e-pics-and-weight-of-our-last-dorking-rooster the dorking chicken gives you a 4lb bird in 16 weeks and naturaly breeds and hens go broody so you have a functioning flock. meat eggs chicks.

 

[Oregon Blues]

I just raised 25 Freedom Rangers. I processed at 8.5 weeks and averaged just under 4 lbs. I fed 21% protein flock raiser.

Freedom Rangers are a hybrid. OP specifically asked for a reproducible bird. That means a purebred, or a cross he can do at home. Hybrids won't work.

 

[cutechick2010]

Freedom Rangers are a hybrid. OP specifically asked for a reproducible bird. That means a purebred, or a cross he can do at home. Hybrids won't work.

I actually didn't realize the Freedom Rangers were a hybrid, myself.

 

[WalkingWolf1]

Freedom Rangers are a hybrid. OP specifically asked for a reproducible bird. That means a purebred, or a cross he can do at home. Hybrids won't work.

I won't get into the "Hybrids won't work -- mantra" at this time. It has been well covered previously. If you haven't raised these birds then you're only repeating someone else's opinion.


Freedom Rangers will reproduce and will produce fairly consistent carcass quality compared to the original birds (many threads here on BYC with some that go multiple generations). These pics are from FR roo X FR hens to produce F1 offspring. These babies were huge -- especially compared to other chicks we had hatched. We now have a CX roo on FR hens (https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/698833/freedom-rangers). FR will be ready for processing in 10-12 weeks and will dress 4lbs or better -- the flavor is more "chickeny" than the CX..


Square, squatty babies. You could feel the meatiness on them at 1 day old. Looking forward to watching these grow out. Currently have 1 dozen eggs in the incubator for a larger comparator group. Also look forward to comparing growth of these birds to the CX x FR in the near future.







CX roo with FR hens.