When to process Standard Fowl

[lauranickerson]

I think I might be a chicken hoarder, I was only going to have 8 chickens on a city lot, after I discovered that I was a master composter and odor eliminator (call me the poopmaster) I went nuts and now have 32 with 25 Golden Buffs on the way from Meyers. At least I have a big yard in a small city that allows chickens and neighbors who love free eggs. I read this thread because I have a few barred rock cockerels and one that is a crowing rooster that needs to become dinner. I have only butchered Cornish X White Rocks so far, the first time was traumatizing but I came out better than the bird did, the 2nd time was a breeze. This time I will be butchering a healthy looking happy rooster and I am afraid it might traumatize me again.

Yeah, it will be my first time doing all this stuff, too. I still haven't done it yet, but just about everywhere I've read, it says to slaughter once they start to crow. Sure enough, one started crowing this week.

I have a few that are mean, and pick on everything from chickens to me, so I won't feel so bad. But there are a few that are decent and nice, and I'd keep them if I could have more, but I can't. Fortunately, I'm not in the city, but one of my neighbors says they heard the crowing when I had chickens quite a few years ago. Hopefully they'll still enjoy it like they said they did a long time ago. Haha.