Killing birds early

[Mychickshavepowers]

The red rangers broilers i got are supposed to be killed at 16 weeks. If I slaughter early, like8 weeks, will they be cornish hen sized? Or is this a bad idea?
This may sound weird but I don't wanna kill them all at once at 16 weeks. I wanna do 1 or 2 a week. And I wanna start while they're smaller and end when they're larger so I can compare processing and meat.

 

[Acre4Me]

Have you weighed them? Carcass weight is a % of live weight (60% ?).

good plan though. You’ll find what size you like best and can plan accordingly for next batch.

 

[Ridgerunner]

The red rangers broilers i got are supposed to be killed at 16 weeks.

You'll find that we are all so unique in our goals, conditions, and preferences that few of us do what we are "supposed" to do. We tailor it to what suits us. There are general guidelines which may give you some ideas but I see nothing wrong with what you propose.

And I wanna start while they're smaller and end when they're larger so I can compare processing and meat.

An excellent idea. Find out what suits you, not what suits some stranger that you have never met.

 

[Geena]

You can do them however or whenever it's convenient for you and at any age or size. If you start with some of your biggest boys, they should be a nice size by 8 weeks.
With the colored broilers we usually do the cockerels at around 12 weeks when they start to crow, then do the girls about a month or so later.

 

[Parront]

The red rangers broilers i got are supposed to be killed at 16 weeks. If I slaughter early, like8 weeks, will they be cornish hen sized? Or is this a bad idea?
This may sound weird but I don't wanna kill them all at once at 16 weeks. I wanna do 1 or 2 a week. And I wanna start while they're smaller and end when they're larger so I can compare processing and meat.

They will be larger than the Cornish Game Hen in the store, those are 4 week old Cornish Cross females, only about 18 oz dressed wt. I have processed 10 week old Leghorn cockerels, they are about a 1.5 pounds. They are good to BBQ at that age, I cut out the backs. A young bird is nice to BBQ, small is not a bad thing. Just handle them and weigh them and decide when you want to start eating them! I have attached a photo of how I freeze the young ones. This was a 10 week old Barred Holland, a heritage breed that might be smaller than your 8 week olds! This is the breast and wings, no back, in a gallon zip lock freezer bag. I would start eating at 8 weeks old, and I hope you let us know how you like them!