Maximum age for processing Cornish cross chickens. For meat!

[natyvidal]

Hi everyone!

I have been experimenting with this meat breed and I can say they are delicious. I was able to process at two months and at three months and the meat was still tender. I processed a few at 4 months and they were still delicious in the slow cooker or simmering stew.

The problem I am having is that I still have some that it was my intention to finish processing before they were any older but due to family and Life circumstances I might not be able until after December 2.

Questions.
What happens to them if I wait that long?
Will they get sick? Malformations?
I am controlling the feed I am giving them for the last month hoping that it will slow their growth. Is that effective?
I keep them enclosed in a trailer cage where they can’t forage to much or exercise like my free range flock for egg production. Will that work in not turning them tough?
Will they still be edible if I wait any longer to process them?

I am in a quandary here. Never meant to keep them this long but what other options might I have if I can’t process them?

Thank you for your help.

 

[HappyDuckie]

Of course they will still be edible. They may get a bit tough. And the older they are, the bigger they get, which makes them more likely to develop leg problems.