They can be processed at any age, just depends on how much meat is worth your while. Doing it by or before first crow attempts will mean a smaller amount of meat. I live in town and have EE too. I process my slips by the crow (I can have boys and have my breeders but do not want any additional crowing). I skin rather then pluck and don't eat organ meat. So when I finish I have neck, back, wings, legs, thighs, and breast and usually end up w/ around 3ish lbs of meat give or take some ounces.
Are you doing it yourself or taking to a processer?*Sigh*
With all the disgusting GMO corn being pumped into these frankenbird broilers and the factory farm processing of chickens and washing them in ammonia before selling them, I decided there is no way I can feed that garbage to my kids.
So I sucked it up and after many, many years of being vegetarian I bought my family some meat birds. I couldn't wait the full 8 months to a year for heritage breeds, but didn't want the cornish cross freakish birds either, so we went with Freedom Rangers. They are so beautiful and unfortunately a lot of them have more personality than our "pet" chickens we raised from chicks for eggs.
They only have a few weeks left until they meet their demise, and I am having overwhelming anxiety about it. I mean, I always knew we were getting them for meat. And I know it's what is best. But it just sucks. A lot! I guess I never really thought about how hard it was going to be, and I really don't know how I can go through with this!
I tried both slicing w/ a killing cone and chopping w/ a hatchet HATED both, never tried clubbing or wringing, wouldn't be able to bring myself to those, also never tried broomstick, but would try those long before clubbing or wringing. I do not have good enough aim for the hatchet. I do killing cone and pellet gun, it works for me. Doing it w/ a buddy helps if that is possible (wasn't for me, but would have been a great help) a glass of wine (or two) doesn't hurt. The killing needs to be quick and decisive but after that give yourself time. After the killing act whatever it is , before the death tremors start walk away, meditate, sing a song, pray, drink your wine, whatever it takes. Especially when you first start those death tremors no matter how often you tell yourself are involuntary reactions get you every time! The first few you will have to FORCE yourself seriously, keep at it, it does get better.
Your welcome.
I think that one-year time frame is incorrect. I spoke to the breeder of my Ameraucanas. These were bred for exhibition. He said they were perfect at 5 months. I just processed my first bird, a Silkie cockerel that was 5.5 months. There was a lot more meat on the bird than I thought there would be. I've had a really hot summer, with 30 or 40 days over 100F, so getting weight on them has been a challenge.
