Skinny birds help fattening..

[MakNat]

I have some mutt roosters that were given to me.. They are skinny. I feel bad, but my DH wants to send them to freezer camp. But at least for now they are going to be in a much better situation then before. They are in a coop thats 8 by 8 ft. 5 of them... I bed it will rich alfalfa hay that is raked out and refreshed every few days.. Was wondering the best Scraps to put weight on them? I feed them corn and grower, and a little layer... They seem not to like it much... Just wondering..

 

[silkiechicken]

They'll never be "fat" like the birds from the store, they just don't have the genetics to be that way. Just give them good grower feed and some corn will give them some yellow fat. Beyond that, enjoy the more flavorful meat.

 

[dancingbear]

I butcher my extra roos from whatever I have, and that's generally either heritage breeds or mutts. Some of the mixes get pretty meaty by the time they're 20-25 weeks old, some never get very big. They all eat a combo of layer mash, corn, distiller's grain (to boost protein) and black oil sunflower seeds, a handful of dry cat food or dog food here and there, garden scraps, table scraps, whatever they can forage, as they free range daily.

They very seldom have any fat on them to speak of. They just don't get fat like broilers do. I've even put them on extra carbs in a separate pen for a couple of weeks (to spare the hens, the roos get to be a real nuisance, but figured I may as well fatten them up) before butchering, and they were still just as lean.

They taste great though. My DH never cared for stewed chicken, but he loves these crock pot-cooked roos. The flavor is wonderful, and the broth is amazing.

You might do a forum search on cooking these kinds of birds, to get ideas well ahead of time, so you won't be at a loss about what to do once they've been sent to freezer camp.

 

[rhoda_bruce]

How old are these roos supposed to be? I have killed leghorns in the past and they were skinny, but the meat was good and the savings on feed afterwards was good also. They look more skinny, before you cut them up in pieces. Afterwards, the pieces don't look so bad. And I prefer a little skin over meat and less fat.

 

[BirchHatchery]

whoooooooooooo AMEN to that a fellow leghorn eater yaaa that what im tawkin about!@!!!!!!

 

[debbie.h]

My birds are only about 2lbs after being butchered. May be small but they sure are delicious!