Dual Purpose Birds

[price403]

I've had a few roosters crow at 9 weeks. I've also had roosters not crow until over 24 weeks. As a matter of fact I have an easter egger rooster who didn't crow until 3 weeks ago. He was hatched the first week of May. That would make him around 6 months old whn he started. Usually they start at about 18 to 20 weeks.
Older chickens are definitely still edible but need to be cooked low and slow to keep them from being tough. I like to braise them or cook them in the crock pot with some sort of sauce. My wife and I really like Moroccan or Pakistani style braised chicken. You can find plenty of good chicken recipes on www.food.com. I usually only try recipes with really high ratings or recipes that I know would be good from looking at the ingredients.

 

[PunkinPeep]

Quote:
You can definitely cook the older birds. They're wonderful! I've tried the oven, but my very favorite - and incredibly easy method is to just rub the whole bird down in whatever blend of seasoning i like and put in the crock pot on low all day. I don't even add water. The chicken makes more than enough moisture. When it's done, i take the lid off and take the insert out of the heating element and put it in the oven for a few minutes, just to brown the skin.

Some of the best chicken i've ever eaten. Even if i'm going to make soup out of them now, i'll crock pot them and then pull the meat off. Simmering doesn't do nearly as nice a job as the crock pot.

 

[ParadiseFoundFarm]

Thanks!

 

[Buttercup Chillin]

By the time the crowing gets to me, they are ready. I try to wait till they are at least 14 weeks to see how their personalities are forming, etc.

I process around 4 at a time to let the dynamics change and watch and see who's next. So it depends on how many you have to do. I usually end up with a dozen or so from each hatch so it takes me 3-4 weeks to weed out the freezer boys. Mean and loud mouths go first. Then I wait to see changes in them and go with it. By the time your done slowly sending them to freezer camp, you should have a good Roo or two. But I have been known to start hatching as they approach 12 weeks. Then cull the whole lot of them. It happens, especially in the late hatches. But sometimes a years hatchings keeps you looking for better.

Didn't read all the posts, missed the older Roos thing. I like pressure cooking and making Chicken and dumplings. Absolutely delicious.