Weight for Butchering?

[tiogallo4vida]

I have 3 Cornish X Rocks and they are 4 lbs each. i think they are five to six weeks old and im getting worried about them. i have raised out animals before but i have never had one that looked like it was having so much leg problems. i can find information about Cornish Hens but not for Cornish X Rocks. When should I butcher them?

 

[missnu01]

Whenever you want really. When they reach the size you are looking for, but most people butcher them between 6 and 10 weeks. Some people keep a cornish cross for a year or more...We have 9 right now that we will probably process around 8 weeks or so depending on their size and such. They are known to have leg issues. If they aren't doing well try not feeding them all the time. Let them run out of food for a bit each day. I feed mine once in the morning and then that is it...if they run out, then they run out. I need to get a larger feeder though so I know they are getting enough to eat in that time...I won't worry as much once they are out of the brooder. They can find their own food if they are super hungry. That will help them with their weight, leg, and heart issues...getting a little exercise every once in awhile. Ours seem to be doing well, but we just got them on the 6th...so it hasn't even been a full month yet and they are really big...at least 3x the size of the laying breed chicks we got at the same time. Sorry for the rambling, long story short process them when you are ready, but don't let them go too long or they might start having some issues...Mine get around fine, but their stomach and breast area is always dirty because they are so low to the ground...

 

[AgroUrica]

I have 3 Cornish X Rocks and they are 4 lbs each. i think they are five to six weeks old and im getting worried about them. i have raised out animals before but i have never had one that looked like it was having so much leg problems. i can find information about Cornish Hens but not for Cornish X Rocks. When should I butcher them?

Those birds are about ready to harvest. Leave them much longer struggling to get around and they'll haul off and die on you, especially if warmer than normal weather sets in.

 

[ozarkchicks]

4 lbs seems sort of small, if you can I'd grow them out a bit more. Like previously mentioned feed them once in the day and they'll have to move around more to get food, also don't sit the food right in front of them; this will help them get a little excercise to help with the leg issues. I've seen chickens who literally scoot around between the feeder and the waterer and that's the only movement, if that's the case it's time to butcher

 

[tiogallo4vida]

thank you very much.....im going to do the deed on Wednesday

 

[AgroUrica]

By Wednesday they'll probably be 6 lbs.

 

[ozarkchicks]

By Wednesday they'll probably be 6 lbs.

agreed!