Dual purpose breeds take longer to get to a decent eating size than the Cornish X meat birds. 16 weeks to 20 weeks is the right time. Unfortunately I hymed and hawed about the processing until my unwanted cockerels were around 25 weeks old this year. The only problem with that is they still grow but not at any economical rate so basically I added well over another feed bag cost for no gain other than procrastinating the deed.
Now that it's well done and over with, and not too bad an experience really especially once I got a neighbor to do the axing so I processed them after. With hatching our own chicks it's inevitable to end up with many unwanted cockerels and eventually hens that outlived usefulness other than stew. Next year we'll be shooting for 18 weeks of growth with feeding only non medicated starter-grower feed. Watching them it seems that was the point of little gain for feed for our Orpingtons and they are very similar to type/size of Plymouth Rocks.
ETA: If you click the meat birds forum at top of page is a post-it sticky that has an excellent step by step processing guide with photos. All the forums here have the best informative stickies (old tutorial type posts saved as stickies) top of forum pages.
Now that it's well done and over with, and not too bad an experience really especially once I got a neighbor to do the axing so I processed them after. With hatching our own chicks it's inevitable to end up with many unwanted cockerels and eventually hens that outlived usefulness other than stew. Next year we'll be shooting for 18 weeks of growth with feeding only non medicated starter-grower feed. Watching them it seems that was the point of little gain for feed for our Orpingtons and they are very similar to type/size of Plymouth Rocks.
ETA: If you click the meat birds forum at top of page is a post-it sticky that has an excellent step by step processing guide with photos. All the forums here have the best informative stickies (old tutorial type posts saved as stickies) top of forum pages.
Last edited:
