Rhode Island Reds

[raspeary]

Do they make good meat birds? If so, when are they ready for butchering?

 

[raspeary]

anybody?

 

[wyo-helpmeet]

I wish I knew, I def. want to know.

 

[wyo-helpmeet]

According to eHow & wikipedia, they are raised for meat birds. Will post if I find an age, but it says 8.5 pounds. HTH

ETA: from wiki

"Meat

Rhode Island Reds are also bred for meat, with Roosters weighing in at 8 1/2 pounds, the Hens slightly less at 6 1/2 pounds; cockerel at 7 1/2 pounds; pullets at 5 1/2 pounds."

 

[wyo-helpmeet]

I found this thread on your question.

 

[Mahonri]

My grandfather said that 12 week old RIR roos were the best chicken meat ever.

 

[greathorse]

The original RIR was bred for meat and egg production. The old heritage RIR still mature quite well at 12-14 weeks. I have a nice group of exhibition RIR and the roosters at 12 weeks will make a great 2.5 lb broiler. That is about the size we used to get at the grocery store. With the new mondo genetics we feel like anything under 3.5 to 4.5 lbs at 42-45 days is not worth the trouble.

The hatchery stock is really a great egg producer, but my roosters would have very little meat on thier little bones. Not sure they would be worth it. By the time they get big enough to eat they could be a bit tougher than we are accustomed to.

 

[njredneckgirl]

They were the first birds we ever butchered and they looked like rubber chickens when we were done, not much breast meat. We never butchered RIRs again.