Restart?

[Farmgal101]

If you are hatching chicks you have to deal with the males,
best to make a plan and stick to it.
'Restarting' isn't going to change that.
It's not easy, kept my first extra cockerel(bought with the flock) in a pen all winter while I got up the courage and equipment to slaughter them.
It's still not 'easy', but sure feels good to have the job done, peace in the flock yard, and food in my freezer.

I slaughter cockerels at 13-16 weeks, before they start causing chaos and while still tender enough to grill for that crispy skinned deliciousness. Not much meat but the grilled bones make for some excellent stock. Anything older than that I pressure cook until meat is done and is saved aside, then a couple more hours to get that bone broth.

Resting the cleaned carcass in fridge for 48-72 hours for rigor to pass is essential for chewable meat from any bird(except maybe CX?). Tho no homegrown bird I've eaten, layer or meat breed, is as soft as a grocery bird, they are more 'toothsome'.

Thanks for the input!Im not sure what to do, there is not enough meat on their body to cull them. We already tried with the one and ended up throwing it away.I would consider keeping all the hens and one roo.just not sure what to do with all my extra roos if no one wants them.

 

[aart]

We already tried with the one and ended up throwing it away.

Why did you throw it away...did you even cook it??
No, there's not much meat,
not like a grocery bird or a home grown Cornish cross,
but it's delicious and if you were hungry enough, you'd eat it with relish
Put them on craigslist for free, no questions asked, someone will eat them.

 

[Farmgal101]

Why did you throw it away...did you even cook it??
No, there's not much meat,
not like a grocery bird or a home grown Cornish cross,
but it's delicious and if you were hungry enough, you'd eat it with relish
Put them on craigslist for free, no questions asked, someone, will eat them.

We threw it away bc there was no meat on its body..No we didn't cook it.I will try craigslist.

 

[ronott1]

Thx for the suggestion!and my male duck is separated from the chickens he is in a pen by himself which is why I would like to add some more hen ducks!I have not been able to get rid of the roos bc noone wants them but i would like them to go to a good home...guess it might have to lead to me culling some, but they
dont have any meat on there bodys so it would be pointless.We culled one a while back for meat and didn't eat it bc there was no meat on the chicken!

they may seem like they do not have much meat but the will make great soup!

 

[Folly's place]

Soup, soup stock; wonderful! many people don't like the bland mushy Cornishx birds found at the store, and will be delighted to have your excess cockerels.
Mary

 

[Farmgal101]

Soup, soup stock; wonderful! many people don't like the bland mushy Cornishx birds found at the store, and will be delighted to have your excess cockerels.
Mary

they may seem like they do not have much meat but the will make great soup!

We might try to make a soup and see if there is actually more meat then what we thought

 

[aart]

Skinny but delicious.
First Cockerel harvest, only took breasts, legs, neck and upper wings...long story.

Made great 'Rooster n Noodle'.

Whole cockerel grilled...bones made killer broth.

 

[Farmgal101]

Skinny but delicious.
First Cockerel harvest, only took breasts, legs, neck and upper wings...long story.
View attachment 1333571

Made great 'Rooster n Noodle'.
View attachment 1333575

Whole cockerel grilled...bones made killer broth.
View attachment 1333569

That looks delicious!

 

[aart]

That looks delicious!

It was!!

It takes some time and acclimation to get used to eating layer breed chickens,
they don't look or taste like grocery birds.

 

[keesmom]

We might try to make a soup and see if there is actually more meat then what we thought

There will be less meat than what you'd get from baby Cornish X of course, but there will be more meat than you expect. More importantly there will be much more flavor in that chicken stock! Excellent in soups, stews and chicken-based sauces.