WHAT DO FEED ROOSTERS TO FATTEN THEM UP TO BUTCHER?

[chickenchickenbulkbulk]

We have 20 roos that we need to butcher or sell. They range from 4 months to almost a year. They need more meat on them before we butcher. What is recommended to put more meat on them. We keep them cooped up.

 

[mirecipes]

For meat/muscle try protein..For fat..try scratch/corn

 

[al6517]

Quote:
I use both at the same time that way the meat is well muscled and good enough fat content to be good and juicey. I feed a high protein game bird feed and straight cracked corn mixed, have had good results fast with this method.


AL

 

[Tad]

mix a 50 pound bag of turkey starter and a 50 pound bag of scratch, and feed it free choice!

 

[chickenchickenbulkbulk]

Thanks for the replies. I have been feeding them the game bird and cracked corn. At what age do you usually butcher?

 

[NurseNettie]

You can butcher them at any age, but usually from 12-16 weeks or so is the most tender meat, and then it gets tougher as you go on--- you can butcher them until they're very old.

It's possible they're as "big" as they're going to get-- if they're not cornish crosses or specically meat birds, you wont' get a huge bird. They're still yummy!!! We've had a lot of rooster stew and rooster pot pies that were out of this world!

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[leellac]

I have 11 I need to butcher. How do You do it?

 

[CalgaryFarmer]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-to-process-a-chicken-at-home

 

[CalgaryFarmer]

Here is another one. it is more graphic.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-eviscerating-cutting-up-your-chicken-graphic