When to butcher cornish cross chickens?

[ZebraChicken]

We have 6 cornish cross chickens and there 6 weeks old. Man are they getting big! Probally about as big as a store bought chicken. So when can we butcher them?

 

[BCMaraniac]

Pretty much any time, depending what you are going to do with them.. I bought 6 in mid-February, and butchered them 10 days ago at approximately 9 weeks of age. The largest one(a roo) dressed out at 7 1/2 pounds, and the smallest(a pullet) dressed out at 5 pounds, with the others falling in between.

If you want fryers, butcher a little earlier than if you want roaster/broilers. It is all about your preference. The dressed weight of mine was approximately 70% of live weight.

 

[redsoxs]

I like to raise mine pretty large as I prefer a good roasted chicken over fried. Sometimes they've gotten over 12 pounds - very delicious eating!