Since we unintentionally ended up with a flock of 6 roosters, we had to make a decision of what to do with them. I tried to sell them and almost had a buyer, but we had no luck. We decided that we were just going to slaughter them.
Hubs was pretty set on doing it sooner than later. They are Plymouth Rock-RIR mixes and we have read that they mature early. However, I think they aren't ready yet at 4 months old. After visiting the County Fair and seeing the sizes of the other roos, I was pretty sure they had quite a bit of growing left.
Today we slaughtered and processed the biggest one. He was meanie and the defender of the boys, and one of my most vocal crowers. This bird has ridiculously long legs, but very little meat. Absolutely nothing on the breast, just back meat!
We are definitely going to have to wait til they get bigger. How much longer do we need to wait though? We still want hens to lay eggs, and I don't know how the timing with that will go either.
I will admit that my flock is very quiet today and almost seem depressed.
Hubs was pretty set on doing it sooner than later. They are Plymouth Rock-RIR mixes and we have read that they mature early. However, I think they aren't ready yet at 4 months old. After visiting the County Fair and seeing the sizes of the other roos, I was pretty sure they had quite a bit of growing left.
Today we slaughtered and processed the biggest one. He was meanie and the defender of the boys, and one of my most vocal crowers. This bird has ridiculously long legs, but very little meat. Absolutely nothing on the breast, just back meat!
We are definitely going to have to wait til they get bigger. How much longer do we need to wait though? We still want hens to lay eggs, and I don't know how the timing with that will go either.
I will admit that my flock is very quiet today and almost seem depressed.
