Raising Roosters to Butcher Myself

[Thedukelife]

Hi, I am raising Plymouth Barred Rock, Buff Orpington and Black Copper Marans. We have extra roosters from the sexed chicks we have sold. I was wondering what week most of you would recommend butchering the roosters. I was think 19. I saw somewhere else that at 20 weeks they begin slowing down dramatically with the amount of weight they put on. Any ideas.

 

[Pork Pie]

I think that you have accidentally posted here, on the New Members Introductions forum. I've read that some people prefer week 16 - you've seen other suggestions, so I'd go with whatever suits you.

Best wishes
CT

 

[drumstick diva]

I think you meant to post on the meat birds thread.

 

[Thedukelife]

For some reason the only forum I can start is this one.. It never allows me to start anywhere else. But thank you guys!

 

[Pork Pie]

For some reason the only forum I can start is this one.. It never allows me to start anywhere else. But thank you guys!

Are you using your phone, or a pc?

From a mobile - https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/16183/mobile-feedback - there should be a thread there that should help

From a pc - https://www.backyardchickens.com/g/...en-snakes-texas-rat-snake/sort/display_order/

 

[Egghead_Jr]

I prefer 14 weeks of age. They still grow well after that but are consuming near adult rations at 12 weeks. Your feed to meat ratio is down the drain if you wait for them to reach roasting age and size. And of course at roasting age you can't broil or fry them or the meat is too tough. At 14 weeks you'll have 2.5 to 3.5 lbs dressed birds you can rest for few days then split in halves for the grill. or you can be feeding 1/4 lbs per day per bird for another 6 weeks or more to have a 4.5-5 lbs dress bird for the oven.

Don't get me wrong. We raise and eat boys at roasting age too. With a lot of birds coop space and feed costs will be major factors as they grow. 50-70% of the cockerels are culled at 14 weeks for summer grilling and most economical feed to meat you can get from dual purpose birds. I should learn how to fry chicken as you can still fry them to 18 weeks of age. Popular roasting age is 20-24 weeks. I've roasted year old breeders before but brined them first. Year and over is typically stew birds.

 

[Hybridchucks]

RIP birdies

!

 

[Pork Pie]

RIP birdies

!

You mean "Roast in Peace"?

 

[Hybridchucks]

You mean "Roast in Peace"?

LOL

 

[Thedukelife]

Hey guys, thanks for the feedback and I finally figured out how to post in the correct area. If you would like, I have a more detailed version that I posted in the meat bird ETC section. Here's the link. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-butcher-extra-roosters-i-hatch#post_18420228