table bird help

[shamie]

hi all,was wondering if i bought 6 week old chickens,roughly how long wud it take 2 fatten them as table birds,and wat breeds wud be suitable for this, thanks in advance, am finding this forum very interesting and helpful !!

[ADG]

if you bought cobs or ross birds at day old they would more or less be ready if shed reared at 6wks old

[Magpie]

If you bought commercial chicks ("Cobb" breed here in NZ) they would be ready for slaughter at 6 weeks of age.

I have Rhode Island Reds, which are ready at about 16 - 20 weeks, Dorkings a little earlier, and Wyandottes earlier still (about 14-16 weeks.)

For cost comparisons, I only use free-range supermarket chicken to compare - you will never raise them cheaper than commercial hell-hole chickens.

[shamie]

thanks lads,was thinkin dat i wud keep them free range and maybe organic as well, figured that it wud cost much more than supermarket chickens, but have heard that the difference in taste is unbelieveable !!!

[red]

if you go for traditional breeds, think maran - we are trying australorps this years. kill around 20 weeks.

if you keep them FR they wont fatten up as fast.. but you know.. nicer life and all that.

[Magpie]

I have them free ranging, and feed grower's mash ad-lib. (Haven't been able to get Meat Bird Mash yet) They are still a good size at slaughter, but I find their drumsticks a little tough. Next time, I think I will FR them, and then have them in a smallish run for a week before slaughter.

[Thurston Garden]

In addition to the breed, what you feed them will make a huge difference. I finished my Sasso birds on Turkey pellets after weaning them off poultry growers pellets.

And yes, the tase is vast, not to mention knowing what has or has not been pumped into them.

[7cats]

we bought15 chicks in june & had 5 who were cockerals we have eaten 3 but they were very tough & stringy they werent any breed just normal ones from the market fed on a mix of maize & wheat & freeranged all day we have 2 left to eat but my partner dosnt like them stringy does anyone know off a way to make them tender & a way to stop this happening with the next ones please?

[milkchurns]

we bought15 chicks in june & had 5 who were cockerals we have eaten 3 but they were very tough & stringy they werent any breed just normal ones from the market fed on a mix of maize & wheat & freeranged all day we have 2 left to eat but my partner dosnt like them stringy does anyone know off a way to make them tender & a way to stop this happening with the next ones please?

i hope this bit of info will help. dont fed them any food that as any antibiotics in it.this may sound still but make sure they are happy and not stressed when they are been killed,carry them under your arm and lighty rub the back of their neck.make sure you snap their neck.when you have them culled let them hang for a day

[Magpie]

7 Cats - that's why I am going to confine them in the last week or so. We have had our FR-ing too, and their drumsticks tend to be tough. So I'm hoping that by making them work/walk less in the last week or two, that'll help. Also, eating them just as they begin to crow - any later and they get tougher.

We don't hang ours, by the way, and don't notice any ill effects - just make sure they are bled out completely and immediately.

[7cats]

thanks for the info Iv put 1 in a small pen we will despach him next week & roast him very slowly in the woodburner oven hope hes nicer than the last 2,

[JulieSherris]

Part of the hanging process is to let the muscles relax - without this, you can get 'tough' meat....

We have a mix of free ranging birds here - marans, a RIR rooster, a white dorking rooster, some brown hens & 2 delightful green-legged partridge hens.
So far, I have 8 chicks between 4 & 6 weeks & a further 11 eggs in the incubator. I was looking to despatch mine at around 20 or so weeks and beyond.
The older egg birds will also end their time in the pot - but in the meantime, they're enjoying a life of layers pellets (growers pellets for the meat birds) rolled oats, rolled barley, and any of the contents of the garden that they choose - apart from the veg garden which is fenced off... next spring it will also have large 'Chooks Keep Out' signs!!

Shamie, whereabouts in Galway are you??

[shamie]

hi julie, im living in moycullen, bout seven miles from galway city, where r u situated ?, also i am goin to buy pol pullets soon, could you recommend anyone that i could buy from, thanks, shamie

[JulieSherris]

Ah, Moycullen's a nice part of Galway

We've moved up the top of Galway - almost on the Mayo/Roscommon borders, near Glenamaddy.

I know quite a few folk with POL's at most times - depends on what breed?
When you're a bit more ready, give me a shout - some of my young chicks will be hens (fingers crossed!) you're welcome to come & look see if they will be any good to you - maybe do a swap for something?
They are about 7 weeks old right now.

I'll ask about & see what other folks have, as well for you.

[shamie]

thanks julie, i wud b interested in talking to u bout d hens, i havent a clue, and ive gone to a few of the sunday poultry sales, but thought that not all the sellers were 100% trustworthy, wud like to get gud layers, but also like to have a flock that would be nice to look at, maybe 3 or 4 different breeds, maybe 12 birds , but 4 different types, your advice is welcome, thanks shamie