How to process runty dark cornish? Is it worth it?

[Germaine_11.20]

Hi!

I had to buy 25 dark cornish to get any at all and some are really runts. Has anyone tried processing the runts before and is it even worth it?

 

[dancingbear]

Just process as you would any other bird, if that's what you're asking. If you're asking how to do it at all, with any bird, check out the tutorials in the stickies. And, YouTube videos of Joel Salatin's slaughter and evisceration, there are at least 3 of those, I've watched one on slaughter, 2 on evisceration, and they were tremendously helpful to me.

Dark Cornish are usually meatier than they look, (compared to other breeds) and have good sized breasts and thighs. I'd go for it. But I'm not inclined to waste any of my homegrown meat, runty or not. I fed it, now it can feed me.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Well, that was what I was thinking too, but there are a few that are supremely runty! I wasn't sure if it was like processing quail (which I haven't done yet, but watched the pics of Monarch doing it)

But yeah, they will be more like chickens, just really small chickens.

I appreciate your reply, thank you!

 

[Buster52]

How old are they?

 

[Germaine_11.20]

They just turned 12 weeks. There are some that are about the size of my 5 week Delawares, maybe smaller. Then there are some really nice ones.

But I don't want to have to keep feeding the runts because I would never breed them because they are the slowest and smallest.

 

[Buster52]

Quote:
Well, at 12 weeks, just about any heritage breed is going to be a runt. Mine are 19 weeks and just about right. But I will only be processing the smallest, keeping the biggest roos and pullets for breeding stock.

I do think you should hold out longer. The wait will be worth it. Even if they are on the small side, they will still be good.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

I am going to wait a bit for the medium birds, but the little guys really aren't growing in the last 4 weeks at all. But thank you. I will wait longer on the other ones.

 

[Bossroo]

When you butcher all of them, just treat the runts like a 1 lb. game hen that one can get at the local grocery store.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Honestly, I don't think dressed they would weigh more than 8 oz. (the runty ones that is) I look at them and just shake my head

 

[dancingbear]

I got some dark Cornish pullet chicks from MHM a few years ago, they turned out way undersized for the breed. Pretty, and good brooders, but little.