Best age for processing marans

[Chic Chick]

What would be the best age to process marans cockerals? What about maransXaustralorps?
Thanks for any advice.

 

[Mahonri]

I've always been taught, as soon as they start to crow!

But seriously, if you want tender meat, 16 weeks.

 

[pringle]

Yeah some were around 4-5 months.

 

[Chic Chick]

Thanks.
I have some in the bator right now that are for butchering and replacements. I can hardly wait to taste them because I've heard they are the best!

 

[pringle]

Yep nothing like home grown chicken,its the best!

 

[Chic Chick]

LOL I have lived on home grown chickens all my life - just never ate a marans before...

 

[Sunny Side Up]

I had some Cuckoo Marans roos that got nice & HUGE by 20-24 weeks. But I was able to sell them at our county Fair so never got to eat them. I process my standard & mixed-breed roos when they get big, anywhere from 16-24 weeks, some even older. There's never been an issue with meat not being tender, but I always cook them slowly with something for moisture, broth &/or veggies.

 

[petrelline]

Marans have a reputation for being the tastiest chicken. I've eaten them and I'd agree that they're pretty darn tasty but not significantly, noticably tastier than any other chicken. Maybe 2-3% tastier. It's age and pasturing that accounts for the vast majority of a chicken's flavor, IMHO.