New Hampshire Red Bigger and Shorter Feathers / Roo??

[junebuggena]

You can't really rely on what Tractor Supply employees say. Most of the time they have no clue what kinds of chicks they have. And they are notorious for breed mix ups and selling meat birds as layers/pets.

 

[MattH]

You can't really rely on what Tractor Supply employees say. Most of the time they have no clue what kinds of chicks they have. And they are notorious for breed mix ups and selling meat birds as layers/pets.

For size comparisons, I got these chicks 2.5 weeks ago. When I first picked the chicks out, they had just gotten the shipment in, so I felt confident in the pullet selection. However when I went back to get my replacement I feel they had been mixed together and labeled as straight run. When would be prime time to pawn this cockerel off on somebody. I would like it to go to a good home. I have someone in mind (a neighbor) and he will be treated well there. Would it be better to let him go now, or when he is ready to go out in a coop, around 6-8 weeks?

 

[junebuggena]

For size comparisons, I got these chicks 2.5 weeks ago. When I first picked the chicks out, they had just gotten the shipment in, so I felt confident in the pullet selection. However when I went back to get my replacement I feel they had been mixed together and labeled as straight run. When would be prime time to pawn this cockerel off on somebody. I would like it to go to a good home. I have someone in mind (a neighbor) and he will be treated well there. Would it be better to let him go now, or when he is ready to go out in a coop, around 6-8 weeks?

You can sell him now, or wait till later. I honestly think he's a meat bird though, so he should go to someone that is willing to process him, when the time comes. He is already the size of a month old chick, but he is clearly the same age as the others...

 

[MattH]

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You can sell him now, or wait till later. I honestly think he's a meat bird though, so he should go to someone that is willing to process him, when the time comes. He is already the size of a month old chick, but he is clearly the same age as the others...

I have 2 Brahmas. One is a layer hen and the other is a rooster. They are both HUGE birds that are considered meat birds, not layers. I've had them for a year in my flock and there hasn't been any issues. They weren't amazingly bigger than the others untill about 6-8 weeks. So when will I know for sure, what are the disadvantages of keeping a "meat" bird in a flock of layers.

 

[junebuggena]

Brahmas are a jumbo breed, but they aren't a commercial meat bird, they are more of an ornamental breed. Broiler hybrids are bred for early, rapid growth. By the time they are 8 weeks old, they are big enough for processing. By 12 to 14 weeks old, they start to get too big for their bodies to support their weight. They are intended to be processed at just a few months old. They are not bred to live long, healthy lives.

 

[MattH]

Brahmas are a jumbo breed, but they aren't a commercial meat bird, they are more of an ornamental breed. Broiler hybrids are bred for early, rapid growth. By the time they are 8 weeks old, they are big enough for processing. By 12 to 14 weeks old, they start to get too big for their bodies to support their weight. They are intended to be processed at just a few months old. They are not bred to live long, healthy lives.

That's unfortunate. I'd hate for something to happen to the bird if I can't get rid of it. Is there a big market for people looking for commercial meat birds? Any specific place I can try to get rid of it at?

 

[junebuggena]

Put an ad up on craigslist or your local buy/sell facebook page. Lots of people prefer to raise their own meat birds rather than buy meat at the grocery store.

 

[MattH]

I gotcha. I posted a craigslist ad this morning. I don't have Facebook. Thanks for your help.

 

[mymilliefleur]

I agree that your chick is most likely some kind of broiler. It is also a cockerel. TSC is notorious for getting their chicks mixed up.

 

[enola]

I stood in TSC one day and watched someone who knew how to sex barred rocks, pick out every single pullet and two roosters to go with them. They were labled straight run.

The next woman in line wanted 4 barred Rock pullets and two sex link pullets. The TSC employee did know that straight run meant males and females, what he didn't realize was the other customer had bought all the pullets. He told the poor woman that if she bought straight run she would get one half males and one half females.

To save her the agony of raising all roosters, I told her there was not a single pullet in the tub. She was happy, but he wasn't.