Australorps breed Thread

[getaclue]

I too, hope they are ok. He's been off of here for quite awhile now. He's missed.

 

[BlueBaby]

If needed, would you have any hatching eggs available to ship?

By the way, if you are wanting to make arrangements to trade your Australorp eggs with me, you can talk to me in the messenger here if you turn yours on.

 

[CiceroXY]

I chose this breed because I like it but when I have not enough space and I cannot sell them, they become meat birds. After all it's a dual purpose breed.
Two weeks ago I had to slaughter three 7-month-old cockerels and two of them weigh 2 kilos and 300 grams ( I think it's 5 lb circa ) and the third one 2 kilos and 600 grams ( 5,7 lb circa ). Obviously this is their weight without feathers and entrails.
In conclusion I am just curious to know if it is a good result. Should I have butchered them first? or did I do the right thing to wait 7 months? or should I have waited longer?

 

[bruceha2000]

I have no experience here @CiceroXY but I think you waited a reasonable time. Meat birds are bred and fed to get full size way faster (like 8-10 weeks!) than is good for them. Dual purpose breeds don't get big enough to eat until they are much older.

 

[CiceroXY]

First of all thanks for your answer Yes, I know that broilers are invincible in terms of dead weight but I already knew that in fact I just wanted to know from the other Australorp breeders if my BA cockerels dead weight was good or I could have done better.. and at what age they are used to butcher their Australorps
However even if I personally don't like broilers because their meat is too soft and their fast growth doesn't seem natural to me, I have to say they have a lot of positive aspects ( less time and less feed)
Anyway the meat flavour it's an important point for me. In fact generally I do not buy broiler chicks but slower growth hybrids chicks (here they are called Big Rey, Kabir, New Red etc..).
The reason is they can reach very good weight but they also can live longer without having problems with their legs or health issues ( actually the five 6-months-old Big Reys, we butchered recently, weighed twice as much as these 3 Australorp cockerels ).
The fact is that if you butcher after 2/3 months (and you have to do that because broilers can die suddenly cause of weight related health problems), they are still too young and the meat is too soft so it has less flavour in my opinion

 

[ronott1]

I chose this breed because I like it but when I have not enough space and I cannot sell them, they become meat birds. After all it's a dual purpose breed.
Two weeks ago I had to slaughter three 7-months-old cockerels and two of them weighed 2 kilos and 300 grams ( I think it's 5 lb circa ) and the third one 2 kilos and 600 grams ( 5,7 lb circa ). Obviously this is their weight without feathers and entrails.
In conclusion I am just curious to know if it is a good result. Should I have butchered them first? or did I do the right thing to wait 7 months? or should I have waited longer?

That is a good size.

Younger, like 5 months will be a bit smaller but more tender. The thing to do is to process them at the top of the growth curve. They will not grow that much more after about 5 months. You also spend a lot on feed getting them to 5 pounds dressed.

 

[CiceroXY]

That is a good size.

Younger, like 5 months will be a bit smaller but more tender. The thing to do is to process them at the top of the growth curve. They will not grow that much more after about 5 months. You also spend a lot on feed getting them to 5 pounds dressed.

That's a great advice! So do you usually butcher yours after 5 months?

 

[ronott1]

That's a great advice! So do you usually butcher yours after 5 months?

Yes, but only if hey are not crowing too much. Mine usually weigh between 3.5 to 4 pounds. They are very tasty too!

 

[CiceroXY]

Yes, but only if hey are not crowing too much. Mine usually weigh between 3.5 to 4 pounds. They are very tasty too!

Does it also include the head and the legs? I agree! they are tasty

 

[ronott1]

Does it also include the head and the legs? I agree! they are tasty

Not the head and feet.