Males, females or straight run?

[moeell1]

We are going to purchase our first meat birds...cornish x rocks...should i get males, females or straight run? Any advice would be appreciated, thanks!

Corinna

 

[redsoxs]

It depends on a couple things...at least it does for me. I order 25 every spring and I go straight run. I butcher in three different batches a several days apart. I do this mainly as I am doing it solo and 8 or 9 birds is plenty to do at one time. I butcher the biggest males first. Then the next remaining biggest birds...they tend to be about the same size as the first batch if done within the same week. The final batch is usually hens - two weeks later than the first to go to to freezer camp - and by now they are big juicy roasters! If they had been males they would have been bigger and my butchering window would have been smaller. That's why I go with straight run.

 

[moeell1]

Awesome, so if we are going to do them all at once, getting the same sex would be best? Thanks!!

Corinna

 

[bigredfeather]

Awesome, so if we are going to do them all at once, getting the same sex would be best? Thanks!!

Corinna

That depends too. If you want them all the same size, get all pullets or all cockerels. The pullets will be 7-10 days behind the cockerels. If you want a variety of sizes to butcher at the same time, go with str8 run. At 7-8 weeks with str8 run, you should have birds that range from 3 1/2 pounds(females) to maybe up to 6 pounds(you might have one or 2). I prefer all cockerels, as they will reach 4-5 dressed weight in 7 weeks.

 

[foulplay]

i agree with everyone. but i prefer straight run chickens the best. when i have to butcher them they range in size from 4lbs to 8lbs so i get a nice variety of sizes for my customers

 

[offgridhermit]

It depends on a couple things...at least it does for me. I order 25 every spring and I go straight run. I butcher in three different batches a several days apart. I do this mainly as I am doing it solo and 8 or 9 birds is plenty to do at one time. I butcher the biggest males first. Then the next remaining biggest birds...they tend to be about the same size as the first batch if done within the same week. The final batch is usually hens - two weeks later than the first to go to to freezer camp - and by now they are big juicy roasters! If they had been males they would have been bigger and my butchering window would have been smaller. That's why I go with straight run.

Thanks for the advice. I will be doing my first butchering next year as I plan to get some chicks for meat. I will be doing the entire process solo. Even at the age of 65, I'm still learning and trying new things. Wish me luck.