How many weeks should I fatten?

[PurpleCArTires]

I decided its time to harvest my 3 Capons. They have been free ranging since 6 weeks and some are pushing a year now. I've penned them up and intent on "fattening" them a bit and restricting their movement so they can "soften" a bit. I've read on other threads a blend of meat bird mash and scratch should add fat. How long do you think they need to be penned to loosen some of their muscles? Thanks!

PS... If i am totally off base with this, please let me know! (This is my first attempt to "fatten" or "soften", i usually just butcher strait from the field -- but i want these guys to be extra special).

 

[iwltfum]

I'm not sure if you can reverse toughened meat due to age by penning them up. But you could certainly fatten them. I would feed a high carb/low protein diet for three to four weeks. Something like 15-16%protein and a large percentage of the feed would be corn or scratch grains.

 

[aart]

I decided its time to harvest my 3 Capons. They have been free ranging since 6 weeks and some are pushing a year now. I've penned them up and intent on "fattening" them a bit and restricting their movement so they can "soften" a bit. I've read on other threads a blend of meat bird mash and scratch should add fat. How long do you think they need to be penned to loosen some of their muscles? Thanks!

PS... If i am totally off base with this, please let me know! (This is my first attempt to "fatten" or "soften", i usually just butcher strait from the field -- but i want these guys to be extra special).

What breed are they?

I'm not sure if you can reverse toughened meat due to age by penning them up.

I doubt it, but resting the cleaned carcass in the fridge for 3-4-5 days will help tenderize the meat. How you cook will matter too.

 

[PurpleCArTires]

What breed are they?


I doubt it, but resting the cleaned carcass in the fridge for 3-4-5 days will help tenderize the meat. How you cook will matter too.

They are barnyard mutts of RIR/Asia Black, RIR/RSL, and an EE. I do rest them in the fridge normally. They are usually pretty good, but i was hoping to make them even better by actually "fattening" them lol. Like an experiment i suppose.

 

[PurpleCArTires]

Ill weigh them today and feed them the mix over the next two weeks and weight them again at slaughter to see if anything has changed. I know they wont get more meat, but hopefully they get lazy and fat lol

 

[aart]

They are barnyard mutts of RIR/Asia Black, RIR/RSL, and an EE. I do rest them in the fridge normally. They are usually pretty good, but i was hoping to make them even better by actually "fattening" them lol. Like an experiment i suppose.

You can add fat, but the musculature(meat) is not going to increase.

 

[iwltfum]

Oh I think I misunderstood. The extra corn would not encourage a huge amount of weight gain. It would encourage a nice layer of fat to be produced.

 

[PurpleCArTires]

Oh I think I misunderstood. The extra corn would not encourage a huge amount of weight gain. It would encourage a nice layer of fat to be produced.

Thats what I am going for! Extra sloppy fat lol.
As Capons, they are usually fattier than the reg Roos, but I am looking for that extra bit.

I am also hoping penning them up will soften their muscles abit. I dont know. But worth a shot. I kinda think of like a dude who lays on the couch watching TV and eatting chips all day... His muscles get soft and he gets fat. Thats how i want these boys. Lol

Either way, i am in no rush, so maybe it works maybe not. But Ill let yall know how it goes.

I weighed them today. They are 7.10, 5.9, and 4.6 right now.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'm looking forward to this. Capons almost a year old. They have not had the influence of the hormones that make a rooster's flavor so strong and, how to say it, with extra texture. In that respect they should be more like a hen.

It sounds like you've had capons before, the difference here is that you are trying to fatten them some. Wondering if you get marbling or it's just an extra layer of fat. My guess is an extra layer but that's why you do these things.

 

[PurpleCArTires]

I processed the 3 boys today. I weighed them and they all actually lost weight being penned up . Now i know not to do that again. But on the brightside, my 14 month old capon had the most fat i have EVER SEEN! I thought i'd share!