what age

[Malibufarmer]

hi i have 18 chicks that a 2-5 weeks old and i want to butcher the roos. i was wondering what age i should kill them. they are RIR buff orpington mixs.

 

[Redneckchick]

It'll probably be after 18-20 weeks before there's enough meat to cull them...Just my opinion

 

[greyfields]

Separate them as soon as you can and get the butcher roos onto a broiler feed, or you'll be disappointed in the results.

 

[Malibufarmer]

i dont know which one are roos yet can i feed all of them broiler feed.

 

[greyfields]

It's probably best to wait. You don't want your pullets over-growing. By about 8 weeks in age, you should notice larger combs on the roos... and then maybe bumps where the spurs will form. Split them up then... and nothing is lost if you miss a roo, or think a pullet is a roo. Just swap them back over to the right pens later if you make a mistake.

 

[Malibufarmer]

half of the chicks are with the moma hen is that oky or do they grow faster in a brooder

 

[greyfields]

Being witht heir mom is OK. Just be sure you are not giving her layer feed and that the chicks can get at it (it's too high in calcium and will be toxic to small ones). Most people shoot for four weeks in the brooder. It can be less as long as the nighttime temperatures aren't dropping too low.