Average Meat Bird Weight

[MKetter]

I processed a chicken for the first time today. It was a 20 week old Wyandotte, and it weighed in at 4 lb. Now, I understand the Cornish Cross are the heavyweights, bred to pack on the pounds fast. But when it comes to other breeds of meat birds or dual purpose breeds, what’s an average weight? Is 4 lb. average?

 

[AinaWGSD]

There's not really an average i don't think. Not only does breed play a part, but breeding has a huge effect. Where did your wyandotte come from? There's a world of difference between a hatchery wyandotte, bred more for egg production and without close regard to type and a wyandotte from a breeder who breeds to the standard.

 

[DemeterAD9]

Weight depends on a few things, gender, feed, and of course age and breed. The average hatchery stock breeds won’t be terribly impressive but IMO one young cockerel around 15 weeks old is enough to feed 2-3 adults.

I try to keep track of my own birds I butcher and how much they weighed before and after processing. Today I butchered 3 15 weeks old cockerels who were sons from a BJG and SLW hen fathered by a blue copper maran. Weights were 4lbs 3oz, 4lbs 9oz, and 5lbs (SLW son). After processing they were 2lbs 4oz, 2lbs 9oz, and 3lbs 1oz respectively. This was skinned with necks and wings attached. These birds were broody raised and fed whatever the main flock was getting, 20% chick starter for the first month or so and then layer pellets and layer mash mixed with chick starter for a 17% protein.

Not too long ago I processed 2 12 weeks old cockerels, different moms but same father as above. These were fed meat bird feed (22%) and while I didn’t get before weights they ended up being 2lbs 6oz and 2lbs 4oz plucked. Compared to the 3 I butchered today I would say they were nearly the same size despite the 3 week age difference.

With 2 other 19 week old cockerels, a RIR and a large fowl mutt they dressed out (plucked) at 4 and 6lbs. So simply put, it varies greatly depending on breed, breeding stock, age and to a somewhat lesser extent, feed.

 

[Ridgerunner]

In addition to what @DemeterAD9 said you can get tremendous differences even with cockerels from the same flock. One time I butchered 17 Buff Rock hatchery cockerels between 16 and 23 weeks of age. All form the same flock but from different parents. They were fed and raised the same. I did not weigh them but it was very obvious that there was a tremendous difference in size from one individual to the other. If you had 10 or 20, average might mean something. But with just one you don't know if you are on the high or low end rather than in the middle.

One time I got eggs from a breeder and hatched them. These were Ameraucana so not that large of a breed, but I still saw a noticeable difference in size as they grew. All raised the same.

For one accidental Wyandotte cockerel 4 pounds at 20 weeks isn't that bad at all. He should make a good meal. And think of all you have learned.