Mixed breed, mostly free range, dual purpose flock

[Penny spender]

Am I asking for trouble? Im new to the idea of growing them out and processing my own for meat.

I have a few batches of babies being hatched now and will likely process around end of November (my best guess on what I've read). I will be taking them somewhere not doing it myself. Do you think my small flock will survive the rooster grow out stage, or will it be all out war? My flock rooster is very good natured if that makes any difference. Are they worth growing out in the first place, or do I try to give them away as soon as I can tell sex? I expect I will have between 6-10 to process (9 babies currently hatched with more EE due this week)

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I keep my grow outs in a stag pen as soon as I can identify gender. They usually start trying to mate before I am ready to process my heritage and mixed breed, even bantams... around 22-24 weeks is when we like the size. But we do our own and cull as needed for attitude. Boys will be boys and antics can get pretty rowdy. There is NO set date in when you have to process... do it when it's right for you. We have experienced differences with pin feathers left behind at different ages with plucking, and the amount of connective tissue if skinning. Also my Sussex are much easier to process than the Marans, so there will be other individual differences as well... but they may not be as important to you since you will be paying a processor.

If they are integrated together all when still barely turning red... they can usually handle each other pretty well. But trying to add late comers is always more difficult EVEN with the look but don't touch introduction plan.

So I kept my head roo in the stag pen as well and move around as needed. He was good to young introductions and reared them up. After loosing him... the cockerels are running holy havoc on each other. Oddly my EE crosses are the ones who have been the biggest jerks.

I will add that learning how to dispatch and process a cockerel is an invaluable skill to have should one of your hens ever face a need.

You can decide the value of having humane raised meat that you know how it was treated every single day (for us even until the last moment)... verses letting them to go feed someone else so you don't have to deal with the drama of the flock antics. It's a challenge... but if you get it set up right it is also VERY rewarding and a little entertaining. Chicken TV is a favorite past time of mine. My Silkie boys will often be sparring before a couple weeks of age. I had one crow at 4 weeks, which he learned from my dogs howling. And I OFTEN have young boys trying to mount their flock mates by 8 weeks old. I can see why some people choose broilers. But I am growing the birds I like as a labor of love. Feeding my family is a side benefit of a hobby that has too many more to list in this already excessively long response!

 

[1 acre willows]

The marans are a good stewing bird had 2 with a smaller cornish x in a dutch oven on the grill weekend before last. .... man that was some good eating..... leg bones just pulled right out...... lost of down feathers on them boys

 

[Mosey2003]

You will want to separate the males by around 12 weeks. It depends on what you consider worth it to you, they'll probably butcher out at about 3lbs if you let them go to 18-20 weeks.