Pluckers really clean up the skin real good if you have one, but you will likely always see some dark pins. Luckily, once cooked you won't notice them. I like to butcher cockerels between 12 and 20 weeks, depending on if I'm wanting roasters or fryers, but my MIL complains about the roasters so I guess I need to butcher younger when possible right now. Older than that and I soup or coq a vin them.Hi All, I’ve been a sometimes lurker on this thread but @jolenesdad in the meatbirds thread suggested I post here about some BCM meatbird questions. We have a BCM rooster and hen that my daughter bred with the intention of harvesting meatbirds in the fall. I’ve attached their pictures just for fun. We’ve just harvested one 4 month (18 wk) old BCM cockerel and he had nice legs, not a lot of breast, but that’s what we expected from the breed. 4 lb 2 oz dressed weight. However, he had so many pin feathers! We also harvested some 4 mo BCMx Ameraucana cockerels and pullets and they also had tons of pinfeathers. Since the birds are black feathered with pink skin, those pinfeathers really show. I’m wondering if you all have any insight as to ideal age to butcher BCM for meat? Thanks.