Question about a dual-pupose flock

[pringle]

Quote:
just stick with the idea that the birds are their for food. i raised ten cx's, talked to them, and could just about tell them apart but when it was butchering time i really had no problems taking the knife to them. You just got to keep in mind that the birds are their for food from day 1, and if theres a few cockerels, too bad for them.

Yeah I know what you mean but you can butcher cornish x's at 8 weeks not 4-6 months.

 

[Lil_Miss_Farmer_Chick]

Thanks Pringle, I think the 5-6 months sounds just about right, by then the roo's will be making me crazy!

 

[annanicole18]

Quote:
I had a BO and some BSL roos and it took almost 6 months to make them worth it. never again i will be going with meaties only unless i get the space to let them free range alot more to get their own food. the feed to meat ratio was terrible not to mention 6 roosters crowing!

 

[FreedomLover]

I'm also going to go with BO Chickens. All the roo's (except the best one) and the worst of the hens will become dinner. I don't care that it will take 4-6 months for them to grow out.

IMHO the flavor difference between a 4-6 month BO will far outstrip the flavor of an 8 week old Cornish X. I'm not concerned about "feed to meat" ratio so much as growing a flavorful nutritious chicken.

For a small "broiler" chicken (1-2.5 lbs which would most likely with a heritage breed chicken will be 1 lb lol) cull at about 3 months.

For a decent "fryer" chicken (2.5-4 lbs) cull between 4 to 5 months.

For a traditional "roaster" chicken (4-8 lbs) cull between 5 to 12 months.

All of this information I got from another link I found on another post here on the forums. If I can find the link I'll add it here.

 

[dchickenman]

Wow, thanks for all the info, advice & opinions everybody. Making this new guy feel welcome!

 

[ButchGood]

I too am going to raise dual purpose birds. I ordered 12 male buff orpingtons and will get them about April 6-8th. I wondered what age would be the best time to process them.

Im waiting for some Buff Orp and Australorp Roos to get some weight on before I process them. They are 16/17 weeks now. I'm planning to butcher at 20 weeks.

 

[ButchGood]

I'm also going to go with BO Chickens. All the roo's (except the best one) and the worst of the hens will become dinner. I don't care that it will take 4-6 months for them to grow out.

IMHO the flavor difference between a 4-6 month BO will far outstrip the flavor of an 8 week old Cornish X. I'm not concerned about "feed to meat" ratio so much as growing a flavorful nutritious chicken.

For a small "broiler" chicken (1-2.5 lbs which would most likely with a heritage breed chicken will be 1 lb lol) cull at about 3 months.

For a decent "fryer" chicken (2.5-4 lbs) cull between 4 to 5 months.

For a traditional "roaster" chicken (4-8 lbs) cull between 5 to 12 months.

All of this information I got from another link I found on another post here on the forums. If I can find the link I'll add it here.

Thats what Im doing. Culling down to the best Roo. I think the winner is a big Australorp. I have 2 BO's, 1 Australorp and 10 RIR roo's bound for freezer camp in the up coming weeks.