my meat Birds I am getting worried

[Richard]

Just an update on My CornishXRocks .They are really putting on the weight now. I weighed them all again today.The average weight of the Roosters is now 8.1 pounds on the 14 th it was 6.7 pounds.The average weight of the hens is now 6.6 pounds on the 14 th it was 5.4. So in 5 Days the Average weight of the roosters has increased 1.4 pounds and the hens has increased 1.3 pounds. The largest Rooster now weights 9.3 pounds the Smallest is 7.1. With the hens the largest is 7.3 pounds the smallest is 5.7 . They will be 7 weeks old on Sunday. When I weighed them today I noticed that about 2 or 3 of the Birds has what seems to be a cough They were eating and I noticed that the one smaller hen stopped opened her mouth and coughed when she did this I noticed that food flew out of her mouth she did this a couple of times everytime there was almost a bark kind of sound and comb changed color for a moment almost a blueish color she is a almost 3/4 of a pound smaller then any of the other hens. When I seen that I sit and watched them for about an hour and seen 1 other hen and 1 rooster do the same thing.So I am thinks about taking them on sunday rather than to risk it losing any at this late stage. What does everybody else think I am I jumping the Gun ?Should I just wait another 9 days ? Sorry for the long post and Thank everyone for their help

 

[MissPrissy]

I think they are ready. If you wait too long they may not make it. If you are doing it yourself start with the biggest first. As their bulk increases so does their appetite. They will eat you into the poor house.

 

[greyfields]

What she said. For every pound of weight they gain now, they'll be eating 2.5 lbs of feed (or costing you around $0.90 per bird).

 

[Richard]

Thats what I was thinking also.So its looks like I will process them on saturday.There will be 4 of us processing them and the only 24 birds so it should not be to bad.My Dad (who is 84 ) he can pluck them all by him self in about 1/2 hour ( he hasnt done one since he was 16) so this should be very interesting as well as entertaining thatnk you both for your help

 

[MissPrissy]

Take photos! We wanna see!

 

[Richard]

I take some pics and post them on sunday

 

[Richard]

Well today I processed 12 of my 24 meat birds .And I was very surprised I was so worried about doing it right everything went fine.It helped that my Dad ,Brother, And My Wife All pitched in to Help .My Dad who is 84 lasted for about 3 chickens and the heat started getting to him So he had to go take a little snooze in the shade of the ceder tree that we have. He just finished Chemo therapy about 3 weeks ago so hes still alittle weak at times .So it was up to My Brother,My Wife and Me they plucked And I slit throats,Scalded,and Gutted . It took us 4 hours to process the 12 birds so I dont think we did to bad.My Wife Made us Fried Chicken and Gravy, Mashed potatoes, Creamed Corn and homemade Biscuits .And I have to say that was the best darn fried chicken and gravy I think I have ever had .The Chicken it just has so much flavor .We are keep 8 whole birds and cutting up everything else into Fryers So we cut up 4 today .We saved all the necks Backs And such to make Stock from which is simmering right now ( following Ms Prissy's receipe)and it smells awsome.Sorry for the long post I will post pics of everything tomorrow when we are all Done

 

[MissPrissy]

Sounds like an awesome supper!