Harvesting dual purpose birds- molting?

[TooCheep]

I raise dual-purpose birds (Barred Rocks, Orpingtons, Australorps) primarily for eggs and I'm now harvesting the older birds for meat. I've harvested two so far, so I'm used to the process.

I have 3 birds currently scheduled to harvest before the winter. Two of them are currently in molt. I don't know if anyone has solid info on this, but does it make a difference in meat flavor/quality/quantity/etc. on whether I cull one that isn't molting, one in mid-molt or wait until after the molt is complete?

If it makes a difference, I feed a 20% all-flock feed and they free range during the day. The area under one of my bushes where they like to rest looks like a chicken exploded there.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Makes no difference whatsoever. I do it all the time. and my dual purpose birds are on 20% CP as well. Just took a pair of 3 yr old SLWs last weekend (and a couple others, as well). Their legs and thighs will be dinner tonight w/ yellow rice and spinach. 4 days rest, long slow cook in the sous vide at perfectly controlled temp.
See also (LONG Thread) and here.

Personally, I prefer to take them to freezer camp at start of molt, rather than feed a bird whose production has either dropped or stopped.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I cull one that isn't molting, one in mid-molt or wait until after the molt is complete?

I'm with the first poster that I rather harvest before or at the beginning of molt.. trying to pluck a bunch of pin feathers is a ridiculous time consuming task in my experience.. too many pin feathers and I'd rather skin it than pluck it.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

.. too many pin feathers and I'd rather skin it than pluck it.

Since i don't fry or bake old birds, I just disrobe them and skip the whole scald and pluck process entire. Only skald and pluck young birds (under 20 weeks or so)

 

[Ridgerunner]

I don't know if anyone has solid info on this, but does it make a difference in meat flavor/quality/quantity/etc. on whether I cull one that isn't molting, one in mid-molt or wait until after the molt is complete?

No, I have not seen any difference in flavor or quantity.

When they are molting they are growing new feathers. That means a lot of pin feathers. If you pluck them they will have a lot of pin feathers. If the hen is black or red then it would make an ugly carcass. If the hen is white or buff they will still have the pin feathers but they will not be as noticeable. You might consider that a decrease in quality. I skin mine so it doesn't matter to me.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I skin mine so it doesn't matter to me.

"Disrobing".

 

[Morrigan]

I'm with the first poster that I rather harvest before or at the beginning of molt.. trying to pluck a bunch of pin feathers is a ridiculous time consuming task in my experience..

This. If you can time it just right, a chicken on the verge of molting is a dream to pluck. The feathers literally fly off. Once there is a true molt going on, it's a total pain. We always pluck as we (depending on age) either eat the skin as part of a roaster, or save it to cook down to schmaltz.

If I miscalculate, and an older hen I otherwise intended to butcher has gone into molt, I wait until she is done. That's just me. The skin is an important part of the bird to me.

 

[K0k0shka]

The skin is the best part of chicken to me, so timing it right is important, to avoid the horrible pin feathers that are such a nightmare to pluck. My chickens' molting schedule is all over the place - some start at the beginning of July, some start in October, and everything in between - so I have no good way to catch them just at the right time pre-molt, unless I do it in the spring. So I'd rather wait for them to be done molting. I deal in very small numbers, so feeding an extra mouth or a couple until done molting isn't a big deal for me. I'd rather feed them a little longer, and have a less frustrating plucking experience.

 

[Hensfoot]

Appreciate folks talking about taking older birds in conjunction with the molting question. I have a few old dual-purpose hens that have stopped laying over the course of the year. It's been tempting to air out the coop by processing them and starting with fresh birds in spring, but of course they went into molt while I was second-guessing myself. Maybe I'll wait until after molt.

Anyone have opinions on how long they wait after molt, or just until the ladies are looking good n' shiny again?