No girls now what?

[jjaazzy]

Local feed store had a chick event and had different deals going on, with the purchase of some chicks you got free feed and these leg horns that I was told were straight run. Being new to the whole thing the only thing I heard was they were 1.00! A 1.00! Well I'll take 20! That's a deal! Or so I though. So off I went, well it's been 14 weeks and in that time another local resident I met through BYC tells me they are all ROSTERS! I was in disbelief thinking Na can't be, well I think they are right, and these things go through feed like no one else. They just buzz saw right through the feed. So I have switched them from medicated chick feed to layer and I guess they will become dinner at some point something that thankfully another neighbor is willing to do. So here's the q's #1 when are leg horn crosses (I think crossed with RIR) ready to eat.
# 2 what is fair to my friend for his service of doing the deed. He gets x of every x chickens.
Any other tips I gladly accept

 

[enola]

If they are 14 weeks old they are probably as big as they are going to get. i butcher all of my you g roosters when they begin to grow. Older than that and the meat starts getting tough.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

If they are 14 weeks old they are probably as big as they are going to get. i butcher all of my you g roosters when they begin to grow. Older than that and the meat starts getting tough.

X 2 -
though I would say go ahead and post some photos of the birds just to be sure as Leghorns are one where cockerel-ism is often misdiagnosed.

 

[Mrs. K]

As far as the cost of processing: are you going to assist him or just deliver the birds? If you are just deliving the birds, then I would think half of the birds would be sufficient payment. And truthfully, if you are going to stay in this hobby, you will always have roosters to process, so you might want to be a bit generous.

Also, AArt strongly recommends aging the birds after processing a couple of days in the fridge so that rigor mortis leaves them. It makes them much more tender.

Mrs K

 

[MysteriaSdrassa]

X 2 -
though I would say go ahead and post some photos of the birds just to be sure as Leghorns are one where cockerel-ism is often misdiagnosed.

This^^ I have an Exchequer Leghorn and I could have sworn she was a rooster and had already decided she was headed for the stew pot when surprise, surprise,, I found her in the nest box a few days later.

 

[enola]

I think pictures are a good idea.

 

[jjaazzy]

 

[jjaazzy]

This picture is from awhile ago I will have to take New ones. Yes, it is something I have struggled I can't do the deed thank goodness I have someone that can. Thanks for the resting tips. I will get some New photos later today.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

The bird primary in that photo - white with brown markings - is not a leghorn, but rather a red sex link and is definitely male - any birds you have that are marked the same (white body, brown/red bits on the wing bows) is a definite male - the definitive sexing by color/pattern is the beauty of a sex link.

 

[jjaazzy]

This photo was,taken back when I thought I had,a,chance cause the combs were different some were large some were smaller then I remembered they were different ages when purchased.