weight on butcher cockerels

[Mrs. K]

I ordered straight run leghorns, and have 7 cockerels that will be culled. They are about 12 weeks now, and in a bachelor pen. Pretty lean. Been on chick starter and some wheat scratch. Allowed to free range up to now, but now I think I will keep them confined.

So any ideas on how to fatten these boys up a bit?

Mrs K

 

[Brooks_]

Cracked corn or game bird starter for a couple guesses.

@U_Stormcrow would probably know more about feeding to add weight.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Corn is the historic feed of choice for adding rapid weight. Its cheap(er than the alternatives), readily available, moderately high in some decent fats, very high carbs.

Typically, the "fattening up" process would have started weeks ago, you are already moving from the fryer range to the "stewer" range for me.

 

[Mrs. K]

hmmm, AArt says sixteen weeks. But I agree that layer birds make better casseroles than fried chicken.

What are your age goals?

 

[U_Stormcrow]

hmmm, AArt says sixteen weeks. But I agree that layer birds make better casseroles than fried chicken.

What are your age goals?

I'd have started the corn at 8 weeks, with the plan to cull at 12 and maybe let it slide as far at 14..

And for CX, start 2-3 weeks earlier than that. 6 weeks, with a plan to cull at 9.

 

[Brooks_]

How do you feed it? Free choice, set amount each?

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Its usually added to the feed, reducing total protein, upping fat and calories. Plenty of old books and new have recommends for changing the Cx diet multiple times int heir short lives

 

[Mrs. K]

I have done several of the CX and they make a beautiful table bird, and muliple meals for two.

But this year, I was rejuvenating my layer flock, and to get some assorted leghorns I had to order 25 straight run. Sold half, but 7 remaining roosters. I was, am hoping for a new flock master out those, so left them with the flock to learn some manners and watch them. I left one with the layer flock, a real piece of eye candy just to see how he progresses.

Tension really started rising, and I pulled 6 to the bachelor pad two days ago, which is really the first time I have handled them in quite a while. Much different than the cx haha.

Well, I may just start harvesting them over the next 2-3 weeks. I will up the grain as I work through them. July 2 they were 12 weeks old.


Mrs K