Dark cornish weeks before cull?

[archeryrob]

How many are raising regular cornish and how many weeks do you wait before slaughter? I was wondering on the 16 and 20 weeks and the sizes they might be. I am wanting to make a sustainable flock and won't be killing most of these I have now. I have 10 hens and 4 roos and plan to only kill 2 roos for sampling and leaving the rest for breeders to make eggs to hatch for meatties.

How are you all weighing your chickens? Some kind of sling and scale or trying to get one to stand still on a kitchen scale, which my wife is not going to be fond of or require just a chicken one.

 

[Mosey2003]

For live weighing, a loop of twine on a fish or luggage scale. Loop around their legs and hang them upside down. After processing, I use my kitchen scale.

 

[archeryrob]

I was considering weighing them alive, as they grow. Then making a chart to evaluate what the future week cull dates might be for their kids.

 

[LilyD]

I have a postal scale I can put a bucket on and zero it out which works great for the babies and young chickens as I go. I also have a luggage scale that I can use to weight them before and after processing.

 

[Compost King]

I went with the bathroom scale and weighing myself hold the meat bird and not holding the meat bird. Its actually a bit of a pain and I do it about 5 times to ensure its consistent. I recommend the luggage scale method but get a good one.

 

[LilyD]

This is the one I use for the younger ones it goes up to 10lbs so you can use it for processed birds too if they are less than 10lbs after processing.

 

[Morrigan]

If you go for the hold 'em while you weigh yourself route, I would recommend doing it at night. Just bring a flashlight so you can read the scale. My chickens are extremely easy to pick up and handle at night. I do all my chicken exams and treatments at night.

 

[Compost King]

If you go for the hold 'em while you weigh yourself route, I would recommend doing it at night. Just bring a flashlight so you can read the scale. My chickens are extremely easy to pick up and handle at night. I do all my chicken exams and treatments at night.

I ended up bringing the chickens inside since I do not have a flat surface outside that my scale will work accurately on. And its not easy to do inside while keeping it from dropping a deuce on me or the floor.