Processing an EE roo

[MuranoFarms]

I have way too many EE roos and I can't seem to sell or even give them away. They are 3 months old. If I decide to process them, at what age should I do it?

Thanks.

 

[Illia]

7-9 months is when my EE roo gets his meat in, and that is about when I decide who to keep and who to cull. Most of their features have filled in for desirability and undesirability.

 

[momofchicks]

I processed my EE roo at 16 weeks. Someone had told me that if you let them get too old they get tough. This was our first time ever raising chickens and culling them. He wasn't real plump but very delicious. I'm not sure if you have processed before but you want to put them in an ice bath right after and then leave in the frig over night for rigamortis to ease up. Good luck!

 

[Illia]

I think the age to toughness thing may vary on breed and opinion - I once culled a Barred Rock roo that was a year old, and everyone said he's too tough to be used for anything besides stew. I made fried chicken out of him, and it was good.

 

[MuranoFarms]

I figured it was a bit longer then the meaties, but wasn't sure.

Thanks!

 

[kooltex]

EE's are very tasty!

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

We processed one at 22 weeks, yummy!



ETA: I process when I have too many or they personally irritate me (squabbling will do it

), if they will live peacefully in a pen or pasture (with the horses) then they generally live longer.

This article is great about cooking "heritage" or homegrown chicken www.albc-usa.org/documents/cookingwheritagechicken.pdf

 

[shotgunner78]

I ate an Americauna roo yesterday.He was 5 and a half months old and the best chicken I've ever had.

 

[Kim_NC]

I like 16-18 weeks. However, I've kept them to 22-23 weeks and they were not tough. Did a 10 mo old EE once, he was too tough.