raising meat birds in a suburban environment? Update!

[SJ]

When it crows it goes!!! lol

 

[sydney13]

Quote:
Are you saying cornishX don't crow at all, ever

Iv'e been doing a little reading and found that most people's leghorn roos start crowing at 1 1/2 to 2 months old. what age would you guys say would be the minimum that you could processes them at?

 

[Farmer_Dan]

we did 20 fatties in the city last year. TONS of POOP! Hardly any noise, and we used a tractor so we were able to paint a nice even swath of chicken droppings across the lawn. This year, the lawn is AMAZING!

Yes, we slaughtered under the swing set (figuratively)

 

[augustmomx2]

We live in city limits on about 3/4 of an acre. I am on my 3rd batch of meaties and will never go back

I raise 25 CornishXs in a tractor, that does not move. I layer straw and DE to keep the smell down and after they are gone, allow the area to compost a little on its own, scrape it into my garden (when not in use) and allow my layers to scratch it down. We keep them in the back-corner of our lot and have very tolerant neighbors. I raise mine in the Spring and Fall, since the warmer weather makes the poo even smell worse. We have them butchered by an Amish Family, I may process a few roos this summer...if I can do it w/out dh realizing it

 

[PotterWatch]

Quote:
Are you saying cornishX don't crow at all, ever

Iv'e been doing a little reading and found that most people's leghorn roos start crowing at 1 1/2 to 2 months old. what age would you guys say would be the minimum that you could processes them at?

They do crow if they get old enough but I have never had any that crowed before processing.

If you are looking to process leghorns, they are always going to be skinny. Leghorns aren't meant to be meat birds and are generally very light-bodied. They probably wouldn't get to a decent processing size until around 20wks. That is just a guess based on the leghorns I have had in the past that I didn't use for meat but maybe someone else has some experience processing them.

 

[misslady]

I'm sure there is a processing place near you that would do the butchering for you for a small fee.
Otherwise, if you end up with extra laying roo's that you don't want waking the neighbors you can always try to rehome them on craigslist.

 

[sydney13]

So that order arrived and luckily all birds look good and healthy. I was expecting 2 or 3 extra roos added for warmth but to my surprise they sent 13

I'm pretty sure they are rhode island red males because they are reddish, brownish. I gave them all to a friend who was interested in getting some cockrels for meat but kept two for myself. I put them under a broody chicken who seem to be enjoying being a mother.
So anyway, at what age can you butcher a rhode island red roooster, and how far along with crowig would they be?

 

[jerseyjeff]

My Cornish crowed this morinig for the first time. 7 weeks plus 2 days....