Please advise on meat bird chicks

[Xouie]

did ya do any!?!?

I did! After a weigh-in (total bird weight 154 lbs) Sunday afternoon, I chose two pullets and a cockerel in the 6 lb range who were well-feathered. I left the 7 lb boys for later because they still haven’t feathered out and I think they may be a hassle to pluck.

Haven’t weighed the processed birds yet, but they are GORGEOUS! There was just a little fat that’s going to flavor them up perfectly tomorrow roasted with red potatoes.

 

[3KillerBs]

Haven’t weighed the processed birds yet, but they are GORGEOUS! There was just a little fat that’s going to flavor them up perfectly tomorrow roasted with red potatoes.

Mmmmm!

When should we come over?

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Not sure which of us has furthest to drive, @3KillerBs. North Carolina to SF Bay, or N Fl Panhandle to SF Bay... Does sound like @Xouie had a very productive and flavorful culling!

 

[aliciaplus3]

we have discovered with our cx that its best to "restrain" the wings when processing so that they do not break their own wings when flailing around. most of ours fit in the cone fine but the few that were too big we hung by their feet( like we do for our heritage cockerels and turkeys/ducks) and had to deal with broken wings, doesn't affect the flavor just the presentation of the bird

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I do all my birds hanging from the feet. While I've done few, I've had no issues with broken wings (yet?). Curious as to the set up? I had a convenient 4x4 in the ground, attached a couple blocks to the side of it, then extended a hook from that, which my scale hangs from. The bird then hangs via band wrapped around both legs from said scale. Even a 14# cornish had some small distance between its body and the 4x4, so when it flapped, the wing could only move a few inches before contact.

Also, I decapitate with a very SHARP knife - not sure if that matters?

Perhaps I've just been fortunate.

 

[aliciaplus3]

I do all my birds hanging from the feet. While I've done few, I've had no issues with broken wings (yet?). Curious as to the set up? I had a convenient 4x4 in the ground, attached a couple blocks to the side of it, then extended a hook from that, which my scale hangs from. The bird then hangs via band wrapped around both legs from said scale. Even a 14# cornish had some small distance between its body and the 4x4, so when it flapped, the wing could only move a few inches before contact.

Also, I decapitate with a very SHARP knife - not sure if that matters?

Perhaps I've just been fortunate.

sounds like your birds have been bigger than the ones we struggle with.... we have a pole stretched between 2 posts at shoulder height ( for a 5 foot 2 inch person) and we hang most of our birds from this by bailing string wrapped around the feet one string per foot. then take a pipe cutter and remove the head in one fluid movement. the smaller cx would experience broken wings because their joints and bones are still so tender. with the cone that same size bird would be fine. the bigger birds no wing dislocations .
we live at 6000 feet above sea level so we feed our cx on a restricted schedule and it can take 8-10 weeks to get a 6-7 pound live bird we like to get them over 5 pounds live weight to process but have done a few at 4 pounds live

I find it interesting to "see" (via the contact here) what others are doing and what the results are.

 

[Xouie]

Two of the birds dressed out at 4.5 lbs, one at 4.75 lbs. It’s very cozy in the roaster:

 

[U_Stormcrow]

sounds like your birds have been bigger than the ones we struggle with....

12.8# live weight and 13.4# live weight. But at 26 weeks, and 30 weeks, respectively (don't ask)

 

[Xouie]

12.8# live weight and 13.4# live weight. But at 26 weeks, and 30 weeks, respectively (don't ask)

Awesome, just awesome.

 

[Tre3hugger]

Nice @Xouie they look great!