Barred Rock Butcher Age

[Stacykins]

So I got some extra males as wamrth packing peanuts with an order I got from Ideal Hatchery. They're barred rocks! At what age do you think they'll have a decent enough carcass to process? At least I wasn't sent a scrawny breed to fill the box, like leghorns!

 

[Elke Beck]

16 weeks for a pretty scrawny carcass. 20 weeks or more will give you a better carcass, but they will cost you in feed.

 

[donrae]

I think 20ish weeks is when you start losing weight gain and start feeding more for maintenance instead of growth. Some folks go by the simple formula of butchering when it starts crowing.

 

[enola]

For the tenderest, tastiest meat I butcher the weekend after he starts crowing. I separate cockrels from pullets as soon as I am sure they are males. I feed them 1/2 grower crumbles 1/2 scratch feed fermented and get at least fair carcasses.

 

[Viva-Lena]

Mine all started crowing at 11 weeks? Is this odd?! And I don't think their carcass would be worth butchering them now. I have a butcher date set for 20 weeks. Does the maturity / crowing affect the meat taste?

 

[Viva-Lena]

Also mine are all free range so I am aware they probably won't be as large and possible a little tougher.

 

[pipemum]

I just butchered all of my packing peanut roosters (buff brahmas) at 14-17 weeks old. Surprisingly, despite increasing their protein and fatty food content for fast growth, there was NOT much of a size difference between the 2 I butchered at 14 weeks and the rest later in the weeks. I had to butcher as they matured to crow (no roosters allowed). I've eaten two so far--even on the 14-weekers, there is enough meat for four meals (with hearty side dishes, lol) --though the carcasses do seem scrawny. I crockpotted one, and smoked the second. Small but delicious! As far as I know, crowing does not affect taste, and these guys has testicles as big as their hearts. Huge...I think they were going through a testosterone surge or something, because I haven't seen chicken testes that size before. Anyway...if you have the time, the feed, and can have roosters crowing, I'd wait as long as possible before butchering to get them to decent size.

 

[Stacykins]

I just butchered all of my packing peanut roosters (buff brahmas) at 14-17 weeks old. Surprisingly, despite increasing their protein and fatty food content for fast growth, there was NOT much of a size difference between the 2 I butchered at 14 weeks and the rest later in the weeks. I had to butcher as they matured to crow (no roosters allowed). I've eaten two so far--even on the 14-weekers, there is enough meat for four meals (with hearty side dishes, lol) --though the carcasses do seem scrawny. I crockpotted one, and smoked the second. Small but delicious! As far as I know, crowing does not affect taste, and these guys has testicles as big as their hearts. Huge...I think they were going through a testosterone surge or something, because I haven't seen chicken testes that size before. Anyway...if you have the time, the feed, and can have roosters crowing, I'd wait as long as possible before butchering to get them to decent size.

The nearest neighbor is 1/4 mile away, so crowing isn't an issue here. They can hear my roosters, I can hear their donkey. The sounds of the countryside are lovely!

 

[Viva-Lena]

Great info. I am in same boat when it comes to neighbours 1/4mile away. And they are consuming very little feed as they free range. I go thru about a bag (20kg) every 2-3 weeks for 35 chickens. (Maybe that is a lot!? But compared to winter I used a bag a week!)