Figuring out the Dressed Weight of a Rooster before Processing

[kaylee gee]

I want to know if there is a formula or something to figure the approx dressed weight of a live rooster. A certain percentage perhaps? How much do all those feathers and guts really weigh?

 

[RoostersCrow HensDeliver!]

Its an avg 30% weight loss after butchering. At least that is what I've found with my CornishX, I don't know that it would be the same for a Dual Purpose breed.

 

[kaylee gee]

Okay thanks Anyone know if this is true for dual purpose breeds like RIR and Rocks? I've got some NHR/RIR cross roos that I am wondering the live weight I need them to get to to be a meal for the family lol

 

[RoostersCrow HensDeliver!]

You might want to consider how you want to cook your bird too. The bigger/older that roo gets, the tougher and chewier he gets. I recommend an all day crock pot recipe for a 18+ week old roo, if you and your family has not "acquired" the taste of heritage birds. Not trying to dissuade you from butchering him, just letting you know that there is a HUGE difference between him and CornishX chicken.
I had really high expectations of my first ever heritage cockerel dinner, but I didn't take into account the texture of the meat and we baked him in the oven for only a few hours. He was edible but my jaw hurt from too much chewing to finish my meal. He was an 18 week Barred Rock, I now butcher my cockerels at 14-16 weeks, keep them separate from the females, and feed high protein feed.
Here's the BR roo and his brother after processing

 

[kaylee gee]

You might want to consider how you want to cook your bird too. The bigger/older that roo gets, the tougher and chewier he gets. I recommend an all day crock pot recipe for a 18+ week old roo, if you and your family has not "acquired" the taste of heritage birds. Not trying to dissuade you from butchering him, just letting you know that there is a HUGE difference between him and CornishX chicken.
I had really high expectations of my first ever heritage cockerel dinner, but I didn't take into account the texture of the meat and we baked him in the oven for only a few hours. He was edible but my jaw hurt from too much chewing to finish my meal. He was an 18 week Barred Rock, I now butcher my cockerels at 14-16 weeks, keep them separate from the females, and feed high protein feed.
Here's the BR roo and his brother after processing

At the moment my chicks are 5 weeks old. I will probably roast them, either in my crock pot or a rotisserie. I really just wanted to know how to tell what their dressed weight would be before I process them. I won't let them get over 3.5 months or so, if that is a good age. I feed them Flock Raiser, is that a high enough protein feed, or should I change them to something else?

 

[RoostersCrow HensDeliver!]

20% is fine, they will pick up more protein from bugs and such if they free range.

 

[ChickenJerk]

20% is fine, they will pick up more protein from bugs and such if they free range.

What is the protein content of bugs?

What is the protein content of "and such"?

 

[yinepu]

Quote:
that's impossible to say since we would have no idea what kind of bugs your birds may be able to catch in your yard.. the "and such" is also a variable since we don't know if they may catch a field mouse..lizard.. snake and so on.

 

[bowhunter862]

Quote: I have nothing intelligent to add to this thread and for that I apologize, but I just had to comment since the above quoted comment made me absolutely laugh out loud.