At what age do chicken farmers send chickens to the slaughter house?

[chickenred]

At what age do chicken farmers send the chickens to the slaughter house?
for white leghorns I mean.

Please, if you are an animal rights person, or a person who does not believe in the killing of animals, please dont reply.

 

[Brunty_Farms]

You should probably post this in the meat bird section to get a little more help. I'm sure someone will move it for you.

For white leghorns your looking at 18-24 weeks and if your lucky you will get a dressed weight of 2.5 lbs.

Are these just extra roosters? Or are you planning to get some Leghorn rooster? I ask because there are much better options than leghorns for meat.

Good Luck

 

[Chef]

The average meat bird is processed at 6 to 8 weeks of age.

Chef

 

[substandardtim]

i was thinking this same question. that just seems so young.

does waiting until they are bigger (meatier) really make the meat that much tougher?

 

[waynesgarden]

There is not much of a market for spent layers. Old Leghorns are usually considered a waste problem.

If you're looking for a market for spent layers for the egg farm you're planning, I wouldn't count on making any money there and budget some for their disposal.

Wayne

 

[Marlinchaser]

Quote:
Those that raise chickens for slaughter, do not raise White Leghorns.

 

[Marlinchaser]

Quote:
Its not so much a toughness, but a size thing, how many people want to by a 10lb bird, if you keep cornish X for much more than 8 weeks they get huge. There is also the problem of thier bodies giving out on them because they grow so fast.

 

[WalkingWolf]

does waiting until they are bigger (meatier) really make the meat that much tougher?

Buy a pressure cooker, it makes almost any meat tender. You can also cut down on waste. Even the bones can be used. I put chicken bones in the cooker with water and rice and cook after reaching pressure for 20 minutes. The bones crumple easily. This mixture is then fed to my senior dogs to provide added calcium and prevent hip problems associated with older wolves.​

 

[jvls1942]

Quote:
my uncle was well into his 60's

 

[cmom]

Leghorns are not good meat birds, but great layers.