Question about eating different breeds of birds

[Just a Whittle]

Hi!

We are currently setting up our first coop and I have a (maybe stupid) question. If we are buying DO chicks of various laying varieties (aracauna, ameracauna, easter eggers) we are going to get about 20-30 chicks to start with but are hoping to have 10-15 laying hens... so my question is can I have any roos I don't want to have butchered? At what age will I be able to tell who is a hen and who is a roo? How big will roos of these breeds be?

Thanks!!

 

[terri9630]

You can butcher and eat any breed. Just let them get to a size you like. I can't help with the roo quiestion. I was fortunate and both my orders were correct, no extra roos thrown in, so I don't know how early you can tell.

 

[damselfish]

Yes, you can eat any breed. With multi-purpose or laying breeds, you may want to wait until 16 or so weeks to let them get some size on. Even then, they will be relatively thin since unlike meat birds, they're not bred for that fast growth and plumpness.

However, 16 wks is also old enough for them to begin acting roo-like & harassing the hens. So, if you don't want to wait that long, just do it earlier. They may be too skinny-looking to make an attractive roast chicken, but they will make the absolutely best pot of chicken soup or crockpot full of chicken stew you have ever had.

You will be able to tell pretty well who the roos and hens are well before the earliest age you'd think of butchering. If you're not sure, go over to the breed and gender section & post photos.

I recommend ordering what you want rather than hoping for good luck on straight run orders. My luck on the one time I ordered a dozen straight run was 11 boys and 1 girl.

 

[Just a Whittle]

Thanks... they don't have any ameracauna at the local hatchery so I was stuck getting them from a local farm straight run.