Cream Legbars

[k2coppenger]

Does anyone have experience with processing legbars? Most of my hatch from legbars and bcm ended up being cockerels so I intend to process birds for the first time. They are just now 16 weeks. What age would you recommend letting the legbars get to before butchering? The marans are already large and aren't causing issues yet. Some of the legbars are already getting a little feisty...

 

[Parront]

Does anyone have experience with processing legbars? Most of my hatch from legbars and bcm ended up being cockerels so I intend to process birds for the first time. They are just now 16 weeks. What age would you recommend letting the legbars get to before butchering? The marans are already large and aren't causing issues yet. Some of the legbars are already getting a little feisty...

If legbars are anything like leghorns, they will not get much bigger, but they will get tougher after they start to annoy the pullets! Sounds like you need to process them ASAP!

 

[k2coppenger]

If legbars are anything like leghorns, they will not get much bigger, but they will get tougher after they start to annoy the pullets! Sounds like you need to process them ASAP!

I suspected as much. They have been crowing for awhile now but I saw one try to pester a pullet yesterday.

 

[Parront]

They taste good, even if they only dress out to 2lbs.

 

[Compost King]

If legbars are anything like leghorns, they will not get much bigger, but they will get tougher after they start to annoy the pullets! Sounds like you need to process them ASAP!

<--- ditto

 

[Gray Farms]

When I use to raise Cream Legbars I butchered the excess cockerels around 3 months of age. They made nice lil fryers. If yours are 16 weeks, I'd be doing it asap.

 

[Parront]

When I use to raise Cream Legbars I butchered the excess cockerels around 3 months of age. They made nice lil fryers. If yours are 16 weeks, I'd be doing it asap.

Maybe use the pressure cooker, if they get much older.

 

[Gray Farms]

4 month will still be ok to butcher. I'd just avoid high heat methods like frying and grilling.

 

[k2coppenger]

I'll get on it then, as in on Monday. Should I be doing the black copper marans as well or can a wait a little longer on them?

 

[Compost King]

I'll get on it then, as in on Monday. Should I be doing the black copper marans as well or can a wait a little longer on them?

Everyone has their own way of doing things but when I butcher a chicken I prefer sooner (if I am paying for feed) because its not cost effective to see them fill out all the way. The younger the bird the more cooking options you have and the less it costs per pound of meat. I also skin my birds and the younger the bird the easier it is to skin them. Others like to grow them out because they like the flavor of an older bird. If you have more than one try one really young and one a bit older and see which way you prefer. The Legbars however ... take care of them ASAP.