Is it ok to wait till 12 weeks to do Cornish Cross?

[Buzymomibe]

We have 9 x-cross that are coming up on 10 weeks. Due to some unexpected issues I won't be able to process them for like 2 weeks. Will it be ok to wait till 12 weeks or will that make then too old and they turn out tough?

Thanks in advance,

Theresa

 

[greyfields]

They will be very large. Very very large.

But they shouldn't be 'tough'. 'Tough' is a rather loaded term and means a lot of different things to different people.

 

[LoneCowboy]

You might lose a few to heart attacks but they should be ok. They'll be very large. I wouldn't go over 12 weeks though.

 

[minifarmer]

My cornish crosses are 10 weeks old right now. I just butchered my first male, not my biggest one, mind you, just my slowest one! (I have them in a 20' x 20' area, with electonet fencing, that I move every 2 days.) With neck and giblets removed (saved, but not weighed with the carcass) he is exactly 10 pounds...so if your birds gain like mine did, figure 10+ pounds for the boys, and maybe 8 for the girls.
The last time I raised them I butchered at 6 weeks and they were 3.5 to nine pounds (neck and giblets weighed with birds). Good luck!
I let them go this long because they're still VERY mobile! I kind of want to see how big they can get!