Processing quail sized chickens?

[JacinLarkwell]

I've got quite a few chicks the same height size as quail and when I pick then up, theyre still basically bones since they're still working on growing and not just getting heavier.

Now if the birds in question were cornishx, then they might be better to process at that size, but I don't raise those so I'm not sure

 

[Nabiki]

Did you even read that link? Let me help you!


"Cornish game hen (also Rock Cornish game hen) is the USDA-approved name for variety of broiler chicken, produced from a cross between the Cornish and White Plymouth Rock chicken breeds, that is served young and immature."

You're right. I was reading something else a while back when I was curious about where Cornish game hens came from, and a breed came up. I thought it was the wikipedia article. See what happens when I'm working and social media'ing and the same time?

 

[Parront]

The "cornish game hen" you buy at Safeway is about 18 oz. They are female Cornish Cross about 4 weeks old. The hens are less feed efficient, so growers cull them as soon as they have enough meet on them. I have raised the Cornish Cross meat birds from Murray McMurray and they were about that size at 4 -5 weeks. At 10 weeks they were dressing out to 10 pounds. I did not want any 18oz little birds. I have processed 10 week old Leghorn cockerels and they were about 1lb 8oz, not much bigger, much different shape. Enough breast meat for one person on the BBQ. The Barred Hollands I have now were just short of 2 pounds processed, a little bit of an improvement. Here is what I do with those little guys. This is one cut up ready for the frig. Takes at least 2 to have a BBQ around here. This guy is about 12 weeks old.

 

[Mosey2003]

There just isn't much to them at all at that age unless they're broilers, which obviously isn't what you're talking about.

I suppose if you're going to cull a group anyway, you might find it worth your time to skin them and cut their backs out for a quick butcher. A handful of them would make a pot of soup. I might consider doing some early this year like that. If I do I'll report back, but it won't be impressive I can guarantee.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Why don't we do this?

Of course you can if you wish. Why don't we, other than people just don't think about it? I'll admit it never even crossed my mind. For a relatively small investment in feed you can get a lot more meat. It is inefficient. Considering what you have invested in them at that age for a little more investment you can get a lot more meals.

We all have our own goals and conditions. It may suit you to butcher and eat them at that age but that does not fit my goals.

 

[iwltfum]

I buy 10% more chicks than I plan on butchering but I can only fit 5% more in my pasture pens so if I have has a really successful clutch where I havent lost more than 5% i will butcher them in the field on the day I move them from brooder to pasture at around 3 weeks. They are snack size but if I get a few of them, I'll grill them and make a meal for my wife and I. Doesnt feed much, and I wouldn't do it for a whole batch of broilers, but to have the right amount for the space to be filled to the exact right density is worth it for us. Its complicated, but it does not make sense financially to butcher out such small birds on such a small scale.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I buy 10% more chicks than I plan on butchering but I can only fit 5% more in my pasture pens so if I have has a really successful clutch where I havent lost more than 5% i will butcher them in the field on the day I move them from brooder to pasture at around 3 weeks. They are snack size but if I get a few of them, I'll grill them and make a meal for my wife and I. Doesnt feed much, and I wouldn't do it for a whole batch of broilers, but to have the right amount for the space to be filled to the exact right density is worth it for us. Its complicated, but it does not make sense financially to butcher out such small birds on such a small scale.

Are these meat birds or layinh hens?

 

[iwltfum]

Are these meat birds or layinh hens?

Freedom ranger broilers. They are small at three weeks, but bigger than a laying hen at that age. Baseball to softball size. Maybe half a pound? Just a guess. I never weigh them. I just butcher them in the field and bring them in skinned and gutted just like a quail or patridge.

 

[NatJ]

Processing chicken chicks that are quail sized...

Why don't we do this?

I do it. The smallest I ever did were banty cockerels, about 5 weeks old.

You don't get much meat, so some people think it isn't worth their time. You are the only one who can decide whether it's worth YOUR time.

 

[RoosterML]

The "cornish game hen" you buy at Safeway is about 18 oz. They are female Cornish Cross about 4 weeks old. The hens are less feed efficient, so growers cull them as soon as they have enough meet on them. I have raised the Cornish Cross meat birds from Murray McMurray and they were about that size at 4 -5 weeks. At 10 weeks they were dressing out to 10 pounds. I did not want any 18oz little birds. I have processed 10 week old Leghorn cockerels and they were about 1lb 8oz, not much bigger, much different shape. Enough breast meat for one person on the BBQ. The Barred Hollands I have now were just short of 2 pounds processed, a little bit of an improvement. Here is what I do with those little guys. This is one cut up ready for the frig. Takes at least 2 to have a BBQ around here. This guy is about 12 weeks old.

I did not know that the growers culled the hens due to reduced growth rate. See learn something new everyday. I knew they were slower but not that much slower.