I've yet to dress a pure bred out, I'm really just getting started, having purchased my first in 2010, and suffered some heavy losses due to inadequate fencing from predators, and what few extra I've produced were sold. The breeder of my DCs told me she had previously sold all those that she did not keep for herself as breeders to be processed, and to only one person. He reported that they dressed at around 6 lbs at 6 months of age. [They are slow growers, so dressed weights like that reflect the fact she was breeding a pretty large bodied line and evidently feeding for maximum growth rates.] I'm guessing my WC will have live weights closer to those weights. I will be stocking my freezer this fall with what do not make the cut to keep, their bodies are more meaty and better shaped than anything other than a commercial white broiler. Their feathering is hard; little to no under fluff and the feathers fit tightly to their bodies. They are always surprisingly heavy compared to dual purpose birds that appear to be larger than they are, and the F1 Cornish X Ameraucana crosses I've done can be separated from the Ameraucanas in the dark when picked off a roost, just by the feel of the additional meat they carry under their feathers.
I've been waitin' all day to see this picture!
Ashes wants to have a project. Try reading one page back I think.
