Butchering Ages

[JacinLarkwell]

Might be better under Meat birds, but most of these certainly are no meat breeds, and it's more or less managing the flock too.

16 weeks is when birds start to develop the hormones that make them tougher when cooked, right? Or do smaller birds get them sooner?

I'm trying to figure out when would be best to process since I've got birds that are about 14 weeks down to 8 weeks and most are bantams.

Also is it really even worth it on some of the bantams to process? I'm just asking because I've got a sebright and 2 D'uccles and they're never going to get very big. I'm all for not wasting a life, but this time... anyone know if they'll be around a quail in size after processing? I could do that soze, but not much smaller before it's not worth it.

 

[Brooks_]

Might be better under Meat birds, but most of these certainly are no meat breeds, and it's more or less managing the flock too.

16 weeks is when birds start to develop the hormones that make them tougher when cooked, right? Or do smaller birds get them sooner?

I'm trying to figure out when would be best to process since I've got birds that are about 14 weeks down to 8 weeks and most are bantams.

Also is it really even worth it on some of the bantams to process? I'm just asking because I've got a sebright and 2 D'uccles and they're never going to get very big. I'm all for not wasting a life, but this time... anyone know if they'll be around a quail in size after processing? I could do that soze, but not much smaller before it's not worth it.

I really don't know anything about bantams, but I would think they'd dress out larger than quail. Maybe cornish hen size?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I really don't know anything about bantams, but I would think they'd dress out larger than quail. Maybe cornish hen size?

The processed Cornish hen in the store is larger looking than my sebright that is currently running around. He's still got a bit of growing to do, but not much.

 

[Brooks_]

The processed Cornish hen in the store is larger looking than my sebright that is currently running around. He's still got a bit of growing to do, but not much.

Oh. Then I know less than nothing about bantams.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Oh. Then I know less than nothing about bantams.

Well, sebright are tiny lil suckers too, smaller than most bantams. I'd be keeping this dude too, but he's got the wrong comb and I can't breed him because of that

 

[Rose Quartz]

I generally butcher my extra boys between 12 - 13 weeks. They do keep growing a little bit up to 16 weeks but I don't find it significant enough to keep them that long. Also I have a rooster I keep all the time and so long as the others are under 14 weeks I don't usually have any fighting problems. Bantams are I've found a lot more prone to fighting.

It really depends on the bantam when it comes to whether it's worth it. Generally I would put 2 bantams in the same bag for the freezer. I've never had quail but I'm pretty sure they were bigger than that.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I generally butcher my extra boys between 12 - 13 weeks. They do keep growing a little bit up to 16 weeks but I don't find it significant enough to keep them that long. Also I have a rooster I keep all the time and so long as the others are under 14 weeks I don't usually have any fighting problems. Bantams are I've found a lot more prone to fighting.

It really depends on the bantam when it comes to whether it's worth it. Generally I would put 2 bantams in the same bag for the freezer. I've never had quail but I'm pretty sure they were bigger than that.

My quail usually dress out between 4.5 and 5 oz for reference

 

[Rose Quartz]

My quail usually dress out between 4.5 and 5 oz for reference

I haven't had bantams in over a year. I didn't have a scale when I had them. I would guess the bantams were about 1 lb dressed out.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I haven't had bantams in over a year. I didn't have a scale when I had them. I would guess the bantams were about 1 lb dressed out.

Oh, okay. That's not too bad then. Thanks

 

[aart]

The processed Cornish hen in the store is larger looking than my sebrigh

Because those birds are just younger CX types.

I slaughter cockerels at about 14 weeks, before they start causing too much grief in the flock and are still tender enough for the grill.