Hens MUCH fatter than the roosters?

[CobaltChick]

Hey guys, I culled four of my meat chickens today, and I noticed something strange immediately. However, I couldn't find any information about it online, so I decided to ask around.

After all of the fun of plucking the chicken, I started to take out the guts. When I gutted the roosters, there was virtually no fat whatsoever. I mean it. Nothing. But when I got to a hen, all of a sudden I'm pulling out a massive amount of yellow fat. It was so strange... Has anyone else experienced that before? It's my first time culling a hen; I've only done cockerels previously so I'm curious on whether or not this is normal. They've all been raised the same way. Maybe they were just lazier -_-

 

[CobaltChick]

No one knows? Hmm... I guess I'm lost.

 

[Elke Beck]

Hens have fat reserves inside their bodies for when they are broody and are eating very little for about 21 days. Roosters will get fat reserves, but not as much.

 

[CobaltChick]

Huh. I never knew that. However, this hen was most definitely not broody what-so-ever. She was less than twenty weeks old. I'm not sure why she had a good pound of fat inside of her... Thanks though

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[Life is Good!]

Our CX pullets always have more fat on them that cockerals. It was more noticeable in the FR's though.

Pullets get fatty around their backsides especially by their pelvis.
Cockerals get fatty along the tops of their thighs.

So now when I go to the grocer, I stand in front of the chicken display and know who was who!

Ok, I did that once and creeped myself out....and now we don't have to buy chicken from the store anymore!

 

[CobaltChick]

Ahh... Then I'm not alone.

Thanks for helpin' me out

 

[Elke Beck]

Huh. I never knew that. However, this hen was most definitely not broody what-so-ever. She was less than twenty weeks old. I'm not sure why she had a good pound of fat inside of her... Thanks though

Think of it like young women getting fat reserves in the form of curves as they go through puberty. Although they do not have a baby, their bodies are preparing for it by storing energy and nutrients. Same with hens -- they don't have to ever have gone broody for their bodies to be prepared with fat reserves so they are ready to go without eating long enough to hatch eggs. If the hen was nearing the start of egg laying, she would also be preparing for sitting on a nest.

 

[CobaltChick]

Ahhh.... Thanks for the help guys