How much meat do you get...

[LilyD]

I know the ones I've done I usually get any where between 4-6 lbs at processing age of 16-20 weeks most I would go is 28 weeks if I am eating it as a fryer after that only slow cooking. I also will cook up hens that are 2-3 years old once they stop laying and slow cook those they are great and usually closer to 7-8 lbs at the time I process.

 

[Doublete]

I know the ones I've done I usually get any where between 4-6 lbs at processing age of 16-20 weeks most I would go is 28 weeks if I am eating it as a fryer after that only slow cooking. I also will cook up hens that are 2-3 years old once they stop laying and slow cook those they are great and usually closer to 7-8 lbs at the time I process.

Thank you! I’ll know which roosters are staying in plenty of time and they should be a decent size

 

[Mrs. K]

They will look very scrawny compared to the store bought birds. I have done what you are suggesting for years. A lot of plucking for not much meal.

As you are in the hobby longer, a few meat birds are worth it, in my opinion. They are the size or bigger than store bought chickens, taste better than store bought chicken, and worth the plucking.

I did mine at 8 weeks, and really will never go back to dual purpose birds for anything but casseroles and soup.

There are many aspects to this hobby, don't have to do them all at once, but I still enjoy all of it.

Mrs K

 

[Doublete]

They will look very scrawny compared to the store bought birds. I have done what you are suggesting for years. A lot of plucking for not much meal.

As you are in the hobby longer, a few meat birds are worth it, in my opinion. They are the size or bigger than store bought chickens, taste better than store bought chicken, and worth the plucking.

I did mine at 8 weeks, and really will never go back to dual purpose birds for anything but casseroles and soup.

There are many aspects to this hobby, don't have to do them all at once, but I still enjoy all of it.

Mrs K

Hmm... 8 weeks? That’s certainly doable. I don’t plan to process myself.. local Amish are very cheap and I honestly can’t do it lol
By then I’ll probably even like my roosters

 

[The Dapper Duck]

Just to throw in my two cents for the timing, you’ll be disappointed at an 8wk dual purpose. You can do a Cornish X then, but I would wait the full 16wk for your birds. No difference in toughness from 8 to 16, in my opinion.

 

[Doublete]

Just to throw in my two cents for the timing, you’ll be disappointed at an 8wk dual purpose. You can do a Cornish X then, but I would wait the full 16wk for your birds. No difference in toughness from 8 to 16, in my opinion.

Oh my dp won’t process til 16.. I’ll have to figure out which roosters are staying or going so will need some time

 

[bobbi-j]

I have raised Red Rangers (also called Freedom Rangers) and was happy with them. Not quite as large as a Cornish X, but easier, in my opinion, to raise than the CX. They don't grow as fast, and don't seem quite as prone to the health problems that the CX tend to have.

 

[Doublete]

I have raised Red Rangers (also called Freedom Rangers) and was happy with them. Not quite as large as a Cornish X, but easier, in my opinion, to raise than the CX. They don't grow as fast, and don't seem quite as prone to the health problems that the CX tend to have.

I’m kind of thinking about getting a handful in a month to raise... but I need to set up a small area away from my layers

 

[bobbi-j]

I’m kind of thinking about getting a handful in a month to raise... but I need to set up a small area away from my layers

I raised my Red Rangers right with my layers. I actually still have the hens I bought last year - they're great layers, too! Mine were the first to lay last fall, laid the longest into the winter and were the first to pick up again this spring.

 

[Doublete]

I raised my Red Rangers right with my layers. I actually still have the hens I bought last year - they're great layers, too! Mine were the first to lay last fall, laid the longest into the winter and were the first to pick up again this spring.

You don’t feed them a higher protein?