California - Northern

[debs_flock]

Hi. I raised BR's from chicks a couple years ago. Mine are adults now.
YES! The light colored one is a roo. The dark one (last pic) is a pullet.
Hope that helps ya.
~Dee~

Yup, what she said (and Ron, oops and Zoo)

Deb

 

[JerseyGiantfolk]

Mite season is approaching... I'm ready!

 

[zooweemama]

It's horrible. I am really liking 2 of our suspected roos. But with a flock of under 12 hens - I don't see that I will be able to keep them both. The breeder I bought from did her job well- my chicks (except for one bitey hen) are SO stinking sweet.

Mite season? Oh Lord. DE mixed in with my coop substrate and those sticky strips and that's how I prepare right?

 

[WasabiChicki]

Yup, what she said (and Ron, oops and Zoo)

Deb

Thats what I figured... I never go by color anymore... Combs & tails seem to really be the most reliable way to tell. I know there is a great sexing/breed thread here but its nice to have this little california spot to converse with... thanks guys!

I'll have to take pics of the Brahmas & Wyandottes next; those & the OBs are the ones I cant figure out yet!

 

[WasabiChicki]

Wasabi- Oh my second to the last looks cocky, the last one looks girly to me. But I am newbie to this.

I know where that cocky term comes from now for sure! From day one, this little brahma chick I have stood like that: he is always getting in between me & the other birds, has to perch above everyone else, etc. The personality can truly be an indicator in some circumstances! I'm just hoping now that all the roos get along... at least for a while. I suspect there are half a dozen at this point but i have over 35 hens. We'll see in a couple more months which roos get to be the residence & which become dinner I guess.
At what age do the roos stop growing? Does it depend on their breed?

 

[Hangtown Farms]

I know where that cocky term comes from now for sure! From day one, this little brahma chick I have stood like that: he is always getting in between me & the other birds, has to perch above everyone else, etc. The personality can truly be an indicator in some circumstances! I'm just hoping now that all the roos get along... at least for a while. I suspect there are half a dozen at this point but i have over 35 hens. We'll see in a couple more months which roos get to be the residence & which become dinner I guess.
At what age do the roos stop growing? Does it depend on their breed?

Mean Chicken equals family Fourth of July B-B-Q

 

[debs_flock]

Yes, it's going to depend on the breed. The dual purpose breeds will continue to fill out until they are close to a year old. Meat breeds, like cornish x, would be dead from over growth by then most likely. You also have to consider the tenderness of the meat. I've processed DP roos at 6-7 mos, they dress at around 4+ pounds. I think though in the future, I'll just process them at 4 mos. I processed a maran at that age (dogs killed it) and the meat was much nicer, way more tender. The carcass was still big enough (there are only two of us). You just don't want to process them too young, it just seems like it would be a waste of life for the amount of meat.

Deb

 

[ronott1]

Quote: Yes, it's going to depend on the breed. The dual purpose breeds will continue to fill out until they are close to a year old. Meat breeds, like cornish x, would be dead from over growth by then most likely. You also have to consider the tenderness of the meat. I've processed DP roos at 6-7 mos, they dress at around 4+ pounds. I think though in the future, I'll just process them at 4 mos. I processed a maran at that age (dogs killed it) and the meat was much nicer, way more tender. The carcass was still big enough (there are only two of us). You just don't want to process them too young, it just seems like it would be a waste of life for the amount of meat.

Deb

I was talking to my Mom last night and she said the roosters should not dress out at more than two pounds for Dual purpose breeds. She said she preferred the 1.5 pound birds LOL. I think we have been messed up by the huge chickens they sell in the stores. We do not have a correct grasp of what a chicken should be any more since we are used to the 5 week old hybrid monsters they sell now. Since they are smaller, they cook faster so it would be easy to over cook them and make them dry.

Also, the breast will be smaller and the drumsticks and thighs a lot bigger. The five month old Partridge Rocks we processed last weekend were a bit over 2.5 pounds. The two week younger Red Star packing rooster were just over 2 pounds and delicious.

Ron

 

[debs_flock]

Also, the breast will be smaller and the drumsticks and thighs a lot bigger. The five month old Partridge Rocks we processed last weekend were a bit over 2.5 pounds. The two week younger Red Star packing rooster were just over 2 pounds and delicious.

Ron

Wow, they were small. The two I processed last weekend were hatched for the New Year's hatch, so they were slightly over 6.5 mos. One weighed 4# 2oz and the other 4# 4oz, dressed. They were both Black Sex links (black star). A cross of HQ welsummer over BR.

I've decided to go with a 4 mos cut off, because we just don't need that big of a bird, so no point in feeding, caring for & listening to all the crowing

Now most of my birds I'm raising are light weight breeds, so they will be a much smaller carcass, probably more like your Mom's 1.5#. We prefer the dark meat anyway. I've got LOTS of cockerels. Full grown they are only about six pounds live.

Deb

Deb

 

[sewandgrow]

I too have found the breasts on my processed birds much smaller. I also think the dark meat is darker & it all has a totally different flavor than stor bought. I don't fry orBBQ them though I use them for soup or chicken & dumplimgs. Even the texture is different. It is all such a study.!!!!!