What's the best weight to start butchering at? Opinions please!

[Milliemay]

So, we just went and weighed 12 of the 51 Cornish x's. We bought straight run. The biggest roo was 8.3 lbs., and the smallest was 5.8 lbs., the hens, biggest 6.5 lbs., and the smallest was 5.75 lbs. What is everyones goal for weight at butchering time? We will be processing ourselves, so we will start with the biggest and work our way down. Thanks in advance for the advice!

 

[halo]

How old are they?

 

[Milliemay]

Oh, sorry, guess that would be good info. They are just over 8 weeks old.

 

[Brunty_Farms]

My goal is 6 weeks.... about 5-6 lbs live weight. This gives me a bird between 3.5 lbs - 4 lbs.

However I havn't hit that goal yet this year.... processing has been at about 45-49 days.

The bigger the bird the more it cost you. When you do a bunch in quanity it is cheaper to raise the smaller ones. A lot of people get the mentality that more meat equals cheaper chicken.... not true.

I can raise two chickens that weigh 4 lbs.... cheaper... than one that is raised to 8 lbs.

 

[fasbendera]

We start at eight weeks. With a straight run you will get a nice variety of sizes. Fryers, broilers, beer butt.

 

[Brunty_Farms]

beer butt... not that's a new term, lol.

I could see me going to the butcher shop and asking for a beer butt.



Any how I know what your talking about, beer but chicken is great. My girlfriend is a city girl and has never had one... and this is twice this week that I've heard the term beer butt!! Hahah...

Time to fire up the grill!!

 

[Milliemay]

No kidding?? I think "beer butt" is the main reason we are raising meaties! Wow, my boys gave me a set of bbq utensils, and a new cool chicken holder just for making beer butts! It is coated so it's easy clean up, and you don't have to use the beer can. We still drink the beer of course. I think beer butts are the best, next to fried chicken and gravy!! The last beer butt we made, it was cool to watch the juice inside the chicken bubbling, YUMMO!

My kids also think the term is fun to say!

Thanks for the advice on weight also!