This is supposed to be a Golden Comet but... looks like a male!

[Chickiemama1010]

Actually, I just sent the spare cockerels to the freezer, last week. I was going to keep just one, I did have 7 all together. Unfortunately, the one I was going to keep got eaten by a raccoon just the day before they went out, and the coon got another 2 the day we sent them to process.

But aussie roos are known to be fairly well behaved. they can get rather large, and generally have blunt spurs so if they do come after you its not as bad as with some breeds. I had a roo that would go out of his way to chase me clear across the farm, well out of "protecting the girls" range. Hes gone to freezer camp too. If youre not familiar w/keeping adult roos, i suggest you read this article. It was by far the most valuable piece of info I have gained on BYC. It has saved my sanity, saved my rooster, and allowed my girls to get to have a man in their lives.

 

[Chickiebaby8]

Quote:
I am so sorry about the coon attack. That is horrible. Do you process the birds yourself? How big should they be when they are processed? Some of mine seem kind of bony right now!

 

[Chickiemama1010]

We got an Amish man that does it for us for a buck a bird. They were bony, and absolutely zero fat. skin is thick and tough. They are better suited for long slow cooking, like a crock pot. Not great for roasting, fried chicken, grilling, etc. They are tasty, but chewy and you cant really eat the skin. Unless you process them at 12 weeks or so, when they havent had a chance to get tough and muscley. Then they are fairly small. Even at 4-5 mnths old, they were fairly small. I cant have tons of roos, I live on the highway AND in a very rural area. I have lost many birds to semi trucks, hawks, owls, coyotes, raccoons, weasles foxes dogs and the like. Mostly the highway though. So free ranging is not ideal here. i do try to get them to fresh pasture as I can. And we are in the process of building a chicken tractor so they can get into fresh ground easier.

How old do they need to be to be processed? I have no idea. i waited till they looked big enough, but went for it before they hit full-on puberty to avoid fights. When I started to hear adolescent crowing attempts, I knew it was time. I dont want fighting and bleeding in the coop. Its really unpleasant,

 

[Slater1995]

Quote:
That comet looks like a rooster to me, although comet roos are sex link I think. My comets are 18 weeks and do not have near that big of comb or waddle.

 

[Chickiebaby8]

Oh my goodness~
My big combed girl just laid an egg! She was in the laying box and left me a prize!

 

[deerman]

"kind of bony"

Thats the reason they are not laying....put them on a good layer.....feed them ONLY a layer feed, bet you will have eggs Mid Aug. if you do.

Hens need to be in good condition, sound like the person you got them from didn't keep them on the proper feed.

 

[Chickiebaby8]

I have them on Layena because that is what is at TSC. Is there a better brand?

 

[deerman]