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[ScottM]

As I'm buying 6 unsexed chicks, and can only keep the hens, at what age can we butcher the males? We are in an urban area and don't want ANY crowing. Are the males going to be worth the effort at that early age or ?

Scott

 

[AAJ]

I think you should be able to butcher them at that age.

 

[berniezahm]

Be aware that some rooster chicks will try to crow at 8 or so weeks of age. Not often but it does/can happen.
You should be able to process the young cockrels at 12 or 14 weeks of age and get something close to fryer size. Dumore feeds (carried by Tractor Supply Company) has a starter grower feed that is pretty high protine, 20% I think.
Don't feed the chicks 20% till after about the 8th week. To high a protine feed to early can cause some growth abnormalities. I would suggest only feeding it to the Roosters your trying to fatten up. Feeding guides are printed on the back of the bag, best to follow those.
You should know that unsexes chick (straight run) may be 50% roosters. If you could buy pullet chicks instead the likely hood of getting a rooster goes way down. However the sexers at the hatcheries are not 100% all of the time. So you might still get a rooster.
Good Luck, enjoy the chickens.

 

[ScottM]

thanks for the info re specific weeks. Our coop will really only handle 4 birds comfortably so I'm hoping for the mathematically expected number of 3 hens or better. Of course that's going to mean that I'll get 5 roo's for sure

 

[Red&Yellow]

You didn't mention what breed(s) you're getting. I had some white Rock crosses (my own backyard crosses, not the Cornish/Rock crosses) that I butchered at about 10 weeks. They hadn't crowed yet. But I was pretty impressed with their size. (Once I figure out how to post pics, I will)

 

[ScottM]

They will be Ameraucanas, or if the person isnt selling purebreds, Easter eggers. Truly I don't care so long as they are cold hardy.

 

[ScottM]

And lay coloured eggs

 

[mstricer]

You can order girls only at Meyer Hatchery. As the weather gets better I do believe they will ship as little as 3 chicks. I know my pet chicken does the same.

 

[HHandbasket]

Yeah, but nothing tastes quite like fresh rooster that you've raised yourself. We have recently learned that joy ourselves.

 

[ScottM]

Being I'm in Canada, cross border chick shopping isn't an option.